Thats why it can be pretty frustrating if CarPlay isnt working as it should.

Warning: Dont try fixing CarPlay while driving.

Pull over so that it’s possible for you to safely solve the issue without being distracted while driving.

Using Apple CarPlay with a car’s entertainment unit.

Hadrian/Shutterstock.com

This will prevent CarPlay from disengaging when your iPhone locks.

Wired CarPlay?

Disconnect and Reconnect

Sometimes, CarPlay disappears for no reason.

“Allow CarPlay While Locked” setting in iPhone Settings.

Tim Brookes / How-To Geek

Other times, it simply doesnt initialize in the first place.

This only works for wired CarPlay setups.

Wireless CarPlay?

Airplane Mode enabled in Control Center on an iPhone.

If theres a problem with iOS, there might be a problem with CarPlay.

you’re able to rule out crashes and bugs byrestarting your iPhoneas you normally would.

The easiest way to do this is to just ask Siri to cycle your iPhone.

Option to restart an iPhone with Siri.

If youre asked to enable or set up Siri, follow the instructions.

If its orange, tap it to disable Airplane Mode.

While youre there, ensure that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled (the relevant icons should be blue).

A VPN app showing that it’s disconnected.

That said, the throw in of cable can make a difference, so avoid the cheapest flimsy cables.

Apple switched from Lightning to USB-C in all iPhone models produced in 2023 and later.

Audio Problems?

A cracked and frayed Lightning cable you definitely shouldn’t use.

Tim Brookes / How-To Geek

This can result in issues if that app in question crashes or bugs out.

The easiest way to solve this issue is tokill the app as you normally would.

you’re free to now launch the app and retry.

Apple USB-C to Lightning Adapter

Apple

Crashed apps can cause all sorts of issues, from wonky behavior to black unresponsive screens.

you could do this under configs > General > Software Update.

On top of this,many cars now receive over-the-air software updates.

An iPhone mid-way through the iOS update process.

nikkimeel/Shutterstock.com

These updates add new features and fix old issues, even those associated with CarPlay.

To do this, head to options > General > CarPlay and select your vehicle.

Use the Forget This Car option to wipe the slate clean.

“Forget” a car in CarPlay settings to start over from scratch.

Be aware that when you next connect to CarPlay, youll need to set up CarPlay again from scratch.

This includes things like your wallpaper, home screen layout, and any prefs you might have changed.