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Apple’s CarPlay has become an integral part of modern driving, offering a seamless connection between iPhone users and their cars. With iOS 18, Apple has made significant updates to CarPlay, focusing on enhancing the user experience, boosting functionality, and improving safety features. Here’s a breakdown of the key features and changes brought by iOS 18 to Apple CarPlay.
With iOS 18, Apple gives users more control over how their CarPlay looks and feels. You can now personalise the CarPlay home screen, selecting from a variety of wallpapers and arranging app icons to suit your needs. Widgets, a feature introduced in iOS 17, have been expanded, allowing users to add third-party widgets for quick access to information like weather, battery status, and upcoming calendar events. This new level of customisation lets you tailor the CarPlay experience to your personal preferences.
Listening to music, podcasts, and other media content is a core part of the CarPlay experience, and iOS 18 has introduced several updates in this area. The media interface has been revamped, with larger album artwork, improved playback controls, and smarter recommendations based on user preferences. Apple Music now displays curated playlists more prominently, and users can quickly browse new releases and popular tracks directly from the CarPlay interface.
Apple’s integration of SharePlay into CarPlay is another game-changer. SharePlay allows multiple people in the car to queue up music or media, giving passengers more control over what’s playing. This collaborative experience makes long journeys more enjoyable, as everyone can contribute to the soundtrack.
iOS 18 has further refined Apple's focus on minimising distractions for drivers. The Focus Mode feature, which was first introduced in iOS 15, now offers a dedicated driving mode that’s even more adaptable. This mode silences non-essential notifications, auto-replies to messages, and limits app access to only those that are essential for driving.
Moreover, this driving mode can now be set to activate automatically when connected to CarPlay, making the transition from phone to car seamless. This feature encourages safer driving habits and reduces the temptation to check phones while on the road.
Electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain popularity, Apple has recognised the need for better EV management within CarPlay. With iOS 18, CarPlay now includes integrated support for managing EV charging. Drivers of electric vehicles can view nearby charging stations, track the charging status, and even schedule charging times through compatible apps.
Apple Maps will also now offer optimised EV routes, considering charging station locations and battery life, providing peace of mind for drivers undertaking longer journeys.
With iOS 18, CarPlay continues to refine how users interact with their messages and communication apps. Siri is now more contextually aware and faster at reading and responding to messages, even across multiple messaging platforms. New dictation improvements make responding to messages more natural and quicker, reducing the reliance on typing when on the road.
Moreover, CarPlay’s integration with third-party communication apps has been enhanced, giving drivers more options for how they communicate without compromising on safety. Whether using WhatsApp, Telegram, or Apple’s native messaging app, CarPlay users will experience a smoother, more integrated workflow.
With iOS 18, CarPlay continues to refine how users interact with their messages and communication apps. Siri is now more contextually aware and faster at reading and responding to messages, even across multiple messaging platforms. New dictation improvements make responding to messages more natural and quicker, reducing the reliance on typing when on the road.
Moreover, CarPlay’s integration with third-party communication apps has been enhanced, giving drivers more options for how they communicate without compromising on safety. Whether using WhatsApp, Telegram, or Apple’s native messaging app, CarPlay users will experience a smoother, more integrated workflow.
With iOS 18, Apple CarPlay has introduced enhanced integration with the Find My app, bringing new levels of convenience for users on the go. Drivers can now access Find My directly through CarPlay, allowing them to easily locate friends, family, or even lost Apple devices without needing to take their eyes off the road. The system offers real-time updates, showing the location of selected contacts or items on the dashboard display. This integration helps drivers stay connected and aware, whether coordinating meetups or tracking personal belongings, all while maintaining a focus on safe driving.
