- iOS 26 will inaugurate Carplay’s largest overhaul for years
- Expect large improvements to cards and other popular driving applications
- Live activity widgets allow you to display more information on the screen
In September, Apple users will receive a notification to update their many devices to iOS 26 – which is undoubtedly one of the biggest updates of its products in recent years.
In addition to a new “Liquid Glass” interface, the Californian technology giant will introduce a number of new features and updates of applications that will benefit those who like to connect their iPhone and use Carplay’s convenience on the road.
We can say that the hottest new feature involves live activities that make its debut in the Carplay environment, acting as a practical widget which can sit alongside navigation instructions and audio applications to give easy to digest updates on important live events.
In the examples that Apple has published so far, live activity appears to be a flight tracking application that shows the progress and flags of the flight if it is delayed or not – very practical to collect friends and family at the airport.
Other uses of the flow include live weather updates, continuing sports scores or monitoring the progress of Uber Eats delivery. But this is not the only update to come on Carplay in iOS 26 – here is what changes others …
1. Keep personal things
The new liquid glass look will also allow carplay users a greater control over how their carplay system. Rather than simple, simple and dark modes, there is also the possibility of slightly customizing the background from a pre-selected wallpaper list.
Users can also choose a “transparent” appearance which offers more separation between the icons of the application and the background. The first information, like that of the Tom guide, claim that which is less entertaining and easier to use during driving.
2. First answering machine
In the current generation of Carplay, incoming text messages are mainly managed by Siri, which means that the responses must be composed using vocal prompts.
Anyone who uses Carplay regularly knows that it can be a little delicate, with an often noisy car environment confusing Siri, causing scrambled messages. Personally, this often takes me several attempts to write a coherent response.
In iOS 26, Carplay will offer a “tapback” function to incoming messages, allowing quick responses via a pre -peeling list of current responses – just as you can on an iPhone at the moment.
This cancels the need to compose a message, because you can simply answer with “I drive, you call later” or something for this purpose via a single tap.
In addition to this, Apple built in calls for calls, which brings together the appellant’s information and the book to the driver, so that you can decide if you have to interrupt this fascinating podcast and take the call.
3. Home screen heroes
In addition to the possibility of personalizing the appearance and feeling of carplay to a certain extent, Apple will also introduce widgets into a dedicated panel, which will allow you to organize things like a digital clock, a calendar and even shortcuts at the Apple house.
This configuration can act as a global shortcut to more integrated iPhone content. For example, click on a calendar entrance could also reveal any associated location, which will then open in a choice of choice mapping.
Overall, it should be less necessary to recover your iPhone and interact with it when the steering wheel, which is not only distracting and dangerous, it is also very illegal in many countries.
4. Video on demand
After WWDC 2025 this summer, Apple discreetly revealed that Carplay would allow videos to be read on vehicle infotainment displays via its AirPlay streaming standard, which means that users could enjoy the content when they are stationed.
However, there are some major warnings, the first being that all entertainment applications do not support Airplay, so you will not be able to watch Netflix, for example.
Second, we reported earlier this year that car manufacturers will have to allow this functionality 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 legislation.
This is not a massive problem because many modern vehicles already offer a number of popular streaming services natively via their different infotainment systems. But the possibility of broadcasting video could also be a boon for those who have older or less capable infotainment systems.
