Making use of your iPhone in your vehicle can be really useful. For instance, you can play music, listen to podcasts and also use maps for navigation. However, it is essential to do all these tasks keeping safety in mind.
Hence, Apple CarPlay comes handy as it gets connected with your iPhone and you can use smartphone’s features on a bigger display kept in front of you. This way, there will be minimum distractions and you can avoid road accidents as you get to focus on the road.
In this guide, we are going to check out how to use Apple CarPlay.
How To Use Apple CarPlay
Apple CarPlay will get automatically connected to your phone with the help of a USB cable. If it doesn’t get connected on its own for the first time, then you can unlock your phone and it will pop-up an option that will ask if you want to connect your iPhone to CarPlay.
The display will start and show the home screen of your phone. It will show all the recently used applications in the left column alongside audio control and map options.
If you want to see more apps from your iPhone, you can simply tap the view button, which is placed on the bottom left. You can also swipe to the left that will show you more apps installed in your iPhone.
All the applications that are compatible with your app are going to appear on the CarPlay display. If you want any particular application to start then you simply need to tap on it once.
You can connect your iPhone with a standard USB cable, which is used for charging your smartphone. Another way to connect your device with the iPhone is by utilizing the Bluetooth option. It will allow you to go wireless and the USB cable won’t come your way while driving.
However, before connecting CarPlay wirelessly it is advisable to check the user’s manual to learn if this feature is available. Here’s how you can do the same:
- Simply turn on the Bluetooth mode of your Apple CarPlay
- You will notice that there is a voice command button placed on your steering wheel. Visit for at least five seconds to activate.
- Now, you can unlock your iPhone and go to the Settings app and choose General.
- Select the “CarPlay” option that will be visible under the “General” menu.
- You will see a list of vehicles appearing in this option and from here, you can choose your vehicle’s name (mostly company name and model number will be written).
Please note: You need to do this setup only one time when you are installing it for the first time, after that it is going to get connected automatically.
How To Utilize Voice Command
When it comes to using voice commands on the iPhone you always rely on the Siri application. Even with the Apple CarPlay, Siri works exactly the way you think it does. It will help you to execute any command, similar to what you used to give via your iPhone.
To start Siri, you can simply press the voice command button located on the steering wheel and then ask a question or give a command. If your steering wheel doesn’t have a voice command button, then you can simply tap and hold the Home button on the display that will start Siri and you can command anything you like.
Here are some of the popular commands to try with Siri:
- Navigate home
- Text [name of contact] I will be late
- Play [song name/artist name]
- Call [name of the contact]
How To Customize Display Of CarPlay
- Open settings
- Tap “General”
- Then goto “CarPlay”
- Tap on your car’s name
- Choose customize option at the top
- Now, you can hold and drag the icons to customize
How To Stop Apple CarPlay
After arriving at your destination and ending your journey, all you need to do is turn off your vehicle and your iPhone will function the way it used to before connecting it with the device. Whereas, if you were using a USB cable to connect, then you can simply unplug the USB and you are good to go!
Conclusion
Installing Apple CarPlay has become popular since it first launched in March 2014. Since then, the popularity has been increasing due to its features and how it makes driving easier.
Gone are the days when you have to struggle using the small screen of your phone to navigate the unknown routes. Now, you can simply view the navigation on a bigger screen and also listen to music or podcasts on your way. It is easier to change the song without unlocking your phone over and over again.