What’s New in CarPlay on iOS 26
iOS 26 delivered the biggest CarPlay overhaul since it launched. If your dashboard suddenly looks different — or you want to unlock what changed — here’s the full rundown of what’s new.
Widgets on CarPlay (the headline feature)
The single biggest change: CarPlay now has a widgets page. Swipe right from the main screen and you get glanceable, live widgets — clock, weather, calendar, music, battery and more — arranged in vertical stacks.
You add them on your iPhone under Settings → General → CarPlay → your car → Widgets. And because they’re real widgets, third-party apps can offer their own — so you can go beyond Apple’s stock set with fully custom widgets, themes and even a matching startup sound. Full walkthrough: how to add widgets to CarPlay.
A refreshed, cleaner look
CarPlay got a visual refresh in iOS 26 — rounded elements, updated typography and a more modern feel that lines up with the rest of the system. Dark mode looks especially good now, and you can keep CarPlay Always Dark to avoid the daytime light theme.
Messaging upgrades
- Tapbacks — react to a message (thumbs up, heart, etc.) by voice, right from the dashboard.
- Typing indicators — see when someone’s replying.
- Pinned conversations — your most important chats stay up top.
All still hands-light and voice-first, as CarPlay messaging should be.
Live Activities
Time-sensitive Live Activities — a flight countdown, a sports score, an arriving ride — can now surface on CarPlay, so you’re not reaching for your phone to check.
Better for more screens
iOS 26 improved support for a wider range of car displays, including compact and unusually shaped screens, so widgets and the new layout adapt more gracefully across vehicles.
How to make the most of it
The new widgets system is where the fun is. Instead of settling for stock tiles:
- Grab CarTheme and design widgets that match your car.
- Apply a theme for a coordinated wallpaper-plus-widgets look.
- Add a startup sound so the car greets you when your phone connects.
New to CarPlay entirely? Start with how to set up CarPlay. Something acting up after the update? See CarPlay not working: fixes.