Apple’s iOS 26 update is making one of its most impactful moves yet inside the car. CarPlay, the iPhone-powered dashboard experience, is getting a full refresh that’s not just about aesthetics but about real, functional upgrades too. The update, expected this fall, is all about giving you better access to useful info while keeping your eyes on the road. And if you’ve ever struggled with a cluttered screen or clunky interactions, this one might feel like a big leap forward.
Key Takeaways
- Live Activities will now appear in CarPlay, bringing real-time updates like delivery trackers and sports scores to your dashboard.
- Widgets are now supported, giving you instant access to app data like calendars or smart home controls all in one place.
- The new “Liquid Glass” design introduces a sleek, modern look, along with compact call notifications and customizable wallpapers.
- Messaging becomes more practical with Tapback reactions and the ability to pin conversations.
Live Activities Come to CarPlay
One of the most attention-grabbing features in iOS 26 is the addition of Live Activities to CarPlay. If you’re familiar with how it works on the iPhone’s Dynamic Island, the concept is similar here. It delivers live, time-sensitive updates on your dashboard screen.
That means you can now track your Uber Eats order or check a football score without opening a separate app. It’s subtle but helpful. Having those updates readily visible, without extra tapping or distraction, is the kind of improvement that really fits the driving experience.
Widgets Give You More at a Glance
Until now, CarPlay dashboards were relatively limited in what they could display. But iOS 26 introduces widget support, and that opens up a lot more possibilities.
You’ll have the ability to customize a widget panel with snippets of app information. Maybe it’s your next calendar event, or a smart home widget that lets you open the garage as you approach your house. And with Apple opening this feature to third-party developers, we’re likely to see some creative, app-specific widgets showing up down the line.
A New Look That Actually Feels Fresh
CarPlay is also getting a visual redesign that Apple calls “Liquid Glass.” The name aside, what you’ll notice is a more refined and cohesive look that mirrors the rest of iOS 26. App icons and UI elements now appear semi-translucent and polished. The whole interface feels lighter, more modern, and a bit easier on the eyes.
There are also functional design improvements. Incoming phone calls, for instance, no longer take over the whole screen. Instead, they pop up in a smaller window, allowing you to stay focused on navigation or media playback. Plus, you’ll be able to change wallpapers, which adds a nice personal touch even if it’s mostly aesthetic.
Messages Get a Smarter, Simpler Touch
Apple is finally making messaging on the go feel more intuitive. While voice-driven messaging via Siri has been helpful, sometimes you just want to acknowledge a message without saying a word. That’s where Tapbacks come in.
Now, when someone sends you a message, you can quickly respond with a thumb-up, heart, or “Haha” reaction. It’s subtle, quick, and doesn’t interrupt your drive. Apple also lets you pin conversations in Messages now, which can be handy for keeping key threads, like a daily group chat or family messages, easily accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will my car get the new CarPlay features?
A: Yes, if your car already supports CarPlay. The new features are part of the iOS 26 update on your iPhone and will work with any car that has the feature. There is no need for a new vehicle.
Q: Which iPhones are compatible with iOS 26?
A: iOS 26 is expected to be compatible with iPhone models from the iPhone 11 and newer.
Q: Is this the same as the next-generation CarPlay announced earlier?
A: No, this is a standard update to the current CarPlay system. The deeper integration announced earlier, which controls a vehicle’s dashboard and climate controls, is called CarPlay Ultra and is a separate development for select new cars.
