iOS 26 Upgrades CarPlay in Five Ways

Apple today announced iOS 26, and the upcoming software update includes several new features and changes for CarPlay in vehicles.

CarPlay Liquid Glass Light
The first iOS 26 developer beta is now available, and a public beta will follow next month. The update will be released later this year.

Liquid Glass Design

CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark
When you are using CarPlay with an iPhone running iOS 26, the new Liquid Glass design extends to the CarPlay interface. Like on the iPhone, the new look includes more shimmery app icons and translucent user interface elements.

New Messages App Features

CarPlay Messages TapbacksCarPlay Pinned Messages
Starting with iOS 26, you can respond to messages with standard Tapbacks like a heart, thumbs up, or exclamation marks directly through CarPlay.

Plus, you can now view your pinned conversations in the Messages app on CarPlay.

Compact View for Phone Calls

CarPlay Compact Phone Calls
CarPlay has a new compact view for incoming phone calls, so that you can still see other information on the screen, such as turn-by-turn directions.

Live Activities

CarPlay Live Activities
CarPlay's Dashboard screen can now show Live Activities, letting you keep track of things like a flight's arrival time at a glance.

Widgets

CarPlay Widgets
The regular version of CarPlay now has a customizable widgets screen, for things like calendar appointments and HomeKit accessory controls.

Widgets were previously limited to CarPlay Ultra.

All of the other new features and changes outlined above are also coming to CarPlay Ultra.

Related Roundup: CarPlay

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Top Rated Comments

Johnny907 Avatar
5 weeks ago
Funny how the only one of the five that means anything to me is the minimalized incoming call notification. The rest? Who cares. Widgets? Live activities? No.
What WOULD have been awesome is parity across all vehicles. Taking 5-10 minutes every time I get into a new rental car to redo all the carplay settings is such an unnecessary chore. Why can't it just pull my preferences and load a familiar layout right from the start? It's my phone, which means it's still me, and I want my layout whether I'm driving my F-150 at home, a Honda Civic in LA or a CX-5 in Boise. At least give us a toggle for "keep personal preferences across all vehicles," Apple. It's not hard.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SigurTom Avatar
5 weeks ago
Does "Liquid Glass" remind anybody else of Windows Vista Aero? Can't wait for iOS XP!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Le Big Mac Avatar
5 weeks ago
I love all the new ways drivers can distract themselves from the important task at hand of keeping their car on the road and not hitting another car, person, bicyclist, etc.

Don't get me wrong - I love carplay and it offers a load of benefits. But the more opportunities for interaction the more it contributes to safety hazards.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
5 weeks ago
Looks like a solid update
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
@Brett Avatar
5 weeks ago
Will test these out later on this morning. iOS 26 is a huge update. 15.96gb on 16 Pro Max.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kurtfoster Avatar
5 weeks ago
Looks interesting. CarPlay is one of the few things that Apple makes that I’ve had minimal trouble with over the years. Can’t wait.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)