How to Customize CarPlay (and Unlock Hidden Secrets)

We love using CarPlay for navigation, music, and radio. But some other favorite uses aren't necessarily as well-known so we're sharing the additional ways we use CarPlay here.

How to Customize the CarPlay Screen

You customize the CarPlay screen on the iPhone. It's easy to add and remove apps, and you can do it any time on your iPhone—even when you don't have CarPlay active. Here's how:

1. Open iPhone Settings.

2. Tap General.

3. Tap CarPlay.

   

4. Select your car for settings specific to it.

5. Tap Customize.

6. Use the plus sign (+) or minus sign (-) to add or remove apps.

7. Tap and drag apps to change the order they appear on the CarPlay screen.

The next time your iPhone connects with CarPlay in your car, the changes transfer.

Hidden CarPlay Tricks and Secrets

Using CarPlay is straightforward. Turning it on is as easy as connecting your iPhone with your car, and the interface is similar to your smartphone. Here are a few hidden secrets buried in CarPlay you may not have run across.

Create a Radio Station

Create a radio station when you want to hear more music similar to the song you are listening to in Apple Music.

Tap the button with the three dots in the Now Playing screen > Create Station to set up a radio station from the current song.

Find Your Car

You can also use the Maps app's Show Parked Location feature to locate your parked vehicle. You need to turn on Location Services and a setting in the Maps app to allow your iPhone to remember where you parked your car—when you're disconnected from your vehicle's Bluetooth.

First, open Settings > turn on Location Services > tap System Services > and enable Significant Locations.

From there, return to Settings and tap Maps > Show Parked Location.

Avoid a Ticket

This feature can be easy to miss, but when you have the turn-by-turn directions turned on in Maps, the speed limit of your current location displays on the screen.

It doesn't work with every street, but it covers most highways.

Apps Compatible With CarPlay

Apple makes it easy to install apps: Select them on your iPhone, and they appear on your CarPlay screen.

If you use more than eight apps, you can swipe to the next screen just as you do on your iPhone. Among the apps potentially available for CarPlay are:

• Music Apps: You aren't limited to Apple Music. CarPlay supports alternatives such as Spotify, YouTube Music, and Tidal You can listen to your music no matter where it's located.
• Radio Apps: Sirius XM Radio, CBS Radio News, iHeartRadio, and Pandora allow you to listen to actual radio stations or create your own custom radio stations. Have a favorite local station? Check to see if it has an app. Many radio stations are moving into the App Store.
• Podcast Apps: If you're addicted to podcasts, you aren't limited to the Apple Podcasts app. Some of the podcast player apps available are Overcast, Downcast, and Pocket Casts.
• News Apps: There are a few great apps for getting your news fix on your daily commute. NPR One is designed with the commuter in mind. The MLB app is a must-have for baseball fans.
• Audiobooks: In addition to audiobooks available through the Books app, you can also install the Audible or Audiobooks.com app.
• Messaging apps: Whether you prefer the Apple Messages app or WhatsApp Messenger, CarPlay has you covered.
• Navigation: In addition to Apple Maps, you can use Waze, Google Maps, or Sygic.