- iOS 26 will usher in CarPlay’s biggest overhaul in years
- Expect big improvements to Maps and other popular driving apps
- Live Activity widgets allow more information to be displayed on-screen
This September, Apple users will receive a notification to update their numerous devices to iOS 26 – which is arguably one of the biggest updates to its products in recent years.
Alongside a new “Liquid Glass” interface, the Californian tech giant will introduce a number of new features and app updates that will benefit those who like to plug in their iPhone and make use of CarPlay convenience on the road.
Arguably the hottest new feature involves Live Activities making its debut in the CarPlay environment, acting as a handy widget that can sit alongside navigation instructions and audio apps to give easy-to-digest updates on important live events.
In the examples Apple has released so far, Live Activity appears as a flight-tracking app that shows the flight’s progress and flags if it is delayed or not – very handy for picking up friends and family from the airport.
Other uses for the feed include live weather updates, keeping up with sports scores or tracking the progress of an Uber Eats delivery. But it isn’t the only update coming to CarPlay in iOS 26 – here’s what else is changing…
1. Keep things personal
The new Liquid Glass look will also afford CarPlay users greater control over the way their CarPlay system feels. Rather than simple Light and Dark modes, there is also the option to lightly customize the background from a pre-selected list of wallpapers.
Users can also choose a ‘transparent’ appearance that offers more separation between the app icons and the background. Early insights, like this one from Tom’s Guide, claim that is less distracting and easier to use while driving.
2. First responder
In the current generation of CarPlay, incoming text messages are chiefly handled by Siri, which means responses have to be composed using vocal prompts.
Anyone that uses CarPlay on a regular basis knows that this can be a little hit-and-miss, with the often noisy car environment confusing Siri, resulting in garbled messages. Personally, it often takes me several attempts to draft a coherent response.
In iOS 26, CarPlay will offer a ‘Tapback’ function to incoming messages, allowing quick replies via a pre-populated list of common responses – much like you can on an iPhone right now.
This negates the need to compose a message, as you’ll simply be able to reply with “I’m driving, call you later” or something to that effect via a single tap.
On top of this, Apple is building in Call Screening, which gathers information from the caller and delivers it to the driver, so you can decide whether or not you need to interrupt that fascinating podcast and take the call.
3. Home screen hero
Alongside the ability to customize the look and feel of CarPlay to a degree, Apple will also introduce widgets to a dedicated panel, which will allow things like a digital clock, a calendar and even Apple Home shortcuts to be organized on a home screen for effortless viewing.
This set-up can act as an overall shortcut to more iPhone integrated content. For example, clicking on a calendar entry could also bring up any associated location, which will then open in a mapping service of choice.
Overall, there should be less need to pick up your iPhone and interact with it when behind the wheel, which is not only distracting and dangerous, it’s also highly illegal in many countries.
4. Video on-demand
Following this summer’s WWDC 2025 show, Apple quietly revealed that CarPlay would allow videos to be played on vehicle infotainment displays via its AirPlay streaming standard, meaning users could enjoy content when parked up.
However, there are a couple of major caveats, the first being that not all entertainment apps support AirPlay, so you won’t be able to watch Netflix, for example.
Secondly, we reported earlier this year that automakers will need to enable this feature separately to the rest of the CarPlay functionality, so it will be added on a case-by-case basis, taking into account local laws and legislations.
It’s not a massive issue, as many modern vehicles are already offering a number of popular streaming services natively via their various infotainment systems. But the ability to stream video could also be a boon for those with older or less capable infotainment systems.
