How to Fix CarPlay Not Working on iOS 15

Is your CarPlay not working after the iOS 15 update?

With Apple CarPlay, you can easily listen to music, make calls, receive text messages, and use apps on your iPhone while driving—without compromising your safety. Some users, however, discovered CarPlay issues after upgrading their phones to iOS 15

If the CarPlay disconnects as soon as you start playing a track, or you can no longer reorganize apps on the car radio screen like you used to, don’t worry. These issues may be due to upgrade glitches, hardware issues, or newly changed restrictions.

Whatever the case, we’re here to help you restore the functionality of your CarPlay. We’ve listed different potential solutions below, along with easy-to-follow instructions. Here’s how to fix a CarPlay that’s not working on iOS 15. 

Let’s get started! 

1. Check the Cable First.

Your CarPlay issues might not have anything to do with the iOS 15 update at all. The culprit could be simply the cable. Maybe, it isn’t connected properly, or it is no longer in tip-top condition. To rule out this possibility, plug the cable into another USB port in your car. If it doesn’t work that way, it’s time to buy a new one. 

CarPlay not working on iOS 15


2. Download and Install Further iOS 15 Updates. 

It’s normal for new software upgrades to have a few glitches. Apple developers continue to work to resolve those issues and release updates that come with patches.

update iOS

iOS 15.1 and 15.2 beta versions are already out. If you’re ready to jump to the beta builds, download and install these further updates to see if they can fix CarPlay issues.  If you wish to wait for more stable updates, you can try our other solutions below.

3. Ensure CarPlay Isn’t Restricted.

If the cable isn’t the cause of your problem, and you’re hesitant to add beta updates to your system, the next thing you should do is check if CarPlay is enabled and not restricted. You should look at both the Screen Time and Allow While Locked settings on your iPhone. 

Here’s how to check if CarPlay is restricted:

  1. First, go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Select Screen Time.
  3. Then, choose Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  4. Now, tap Allowed Apps
CarPlay not working on iOS 15
  1. Next, look for CarPlay on the list. Make sure that the toggle button beside it is green and active. 
  2. Lastly, exit the Settings app and try to use your CarPlay again.

Here’s how to check if the Allow CarPlay While Locked feature is active: 

  1. Go back to the Settings app.
  2. This time, select General and then tap CarPlay.
  3. On the next screen, tap the name of your car on the list.
  4. Next, look at the toggle button beside the Allow CarPlay While Locked option. Switch it to green if it’s currently inactive.
CarPlay not working on iOS 15
  1. Finally, exit Settings and test your CarPlay.

4. Disable Equalizer to Fix CarPlay Not Working on iOS 15.

If your CarPlay problems are specific to music playback, consider disabling the equalizer in your iPhone’s settings. It’s an instant fix for many iOS 15 users. 

Here’s how to perform this quick troubleshooting method:

  1. First, open the Settings app.
  2. Select Music.
  3. Then, tap EQ
disable EQ on iPhone
  1. On the next screen, select the Off option. 
  2. Lastly, restart your iPhone and reconnect your CarPlay again to test it out.

5. Turn Off or Set Dolby Atmos to Auto. 

Does your CarPlay crash both when you attempt to play music and after ending a phone call? The Dolby Atmos setting could be the culprit. In iOS 15, when you try to set Dolby Atmos to “Always On,” you’ll see a message about the feature being supported by only limited speakers. That could explain why your CarPlay crashes.

The fix is simple—set Dolby Atmos to Auto or turn it off. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Start by opening the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Select Music from the list.
  3. Then, tap Dolby Atmos.
  4. Now, choose Off or Automatic.
set Dolby Atmos Automatic
  1. Finally, reboot your iPhone and reconnect to CarPlay and see if it no longer crashes. 

6. Re-Install CarPlay to Make It Work on iOS 15. 

If your CarPlay still crashes after performing the fixes above, it’s time to consider re-installing CarPlay. Doing so helps refresh the ability of CarPlay to connect to your vehicle’s infotainment system and function properly.

Here’s how to “forget” CarPlay and install it back again:

  1. First, shut the engine of your car. 
  2. Then, navigate your way to the Settings app on your iPhone.
  3. Select General.
  4. Next, tap CarPlay.
  5. Select the name of the car you’re driving and hit the Forget This Car option. 
CarPlay not working on iOS 15
  1. After a few seconds, start your vehicle and connect the cable of your iPhone.
  2. Then, go back to the Settings, hit General, and select CarPlay.
  3. This time, tap Available Cars and choose the name of your car. 

Does the issue persist? We have one more potential solution for you.

7.  Reset All iPhone Settings to Fix CarPlay Not Working on iOS 15.

At this point, try restoring all your iPhone settings to their defaults. It’ll resolve your CarPlay issue if it’s caused by a random bug mismatching the settings during the iOS 15 update. You just need to reconnect your phone to your car after this fix. 

While resetting all settings doesn’t remove data or media on your phone, it will eliminate any customized phone settings. Consider that before performing this fix. 

Here’s how to reset your iPhone settings:

  1. First, open the Settings app on your phone.
  2. Next, select the Transfer or Reset iPhone option.
  3. Tap Reset and then hit Reset All Settings.
reset all settings
  1. Type your passcode to confirm your choice.
  2. After that, your iPhone will automatically reboot. Reconnect it to your car.

Since it’s a hard reset, your iPhone will work like it’s brand new. Your CarPlay will likely function properly and make your driving experience great again.

That wraps up this guide. Let us know which method has worked for you. And if you experience more issues after updating your iPhone to iOS 15, feel free to leave a comment below. We’ll try to address those issues in our next posts. 

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂

Author

  • Mako Young

    Mako is a staff writer at Saint. He's been writing about tech for more than a decade. When he isn't reading about the latest news on Apple, he's busy studying cybersecurity, cryptocurrency, cloud computing, and other IT-related sectors. His exceptional work graces technology and Apple-related blogs like How-To Geek, VEED.io, Macgasm, onMac, PhotoWorkout, GameRant, and many more. He also has a Bachelors in Computer Science and has been writing since 2018, with over 400 posts published. LinkedIn X (Twitter)

1 comment
  1. Thanks for the guide. All good tips but unfortunately none work for me. I upgraded my iPhone 12 mini to iOS15.1 and CarPlay no longer works on my VW. The phone won’t even connect. I plug in the USB lightning cable, the head unit briefly says connecting USB then nothing happens. However, I can still connect an old iPhone 6.1 and CarPlay works fine.
    So, I tried the solutions you suggested. No joy. Then I contact Apple support and a rather belligerent tech support person asked me if I’d contacted the car manufacturer.? When I said ‘no’ she told me I had to get the head unit upgraded, that Apple had sent out upgraded CarPlay software to all car manufacturers for them to roll out. When I responded I wouldn’t have upgraded to iOS 15.1 had I known this she told me it wasn’t possible to downgrade and I just had to contact VW.
    Another Apple support employee was much more helpful, took onboard that an older iOS was working with CarPlay, and helped me reinstall iOS 15.1. Even though I tried this twice, sadly this didn’t work.
    Searching around I see no mention of head units being upgraded for CarPlay. Others have reported problems with 15.1 on twitter but no one has said CarPlay has stopped altogether.
    Any suggestions? Anyone else suffering the same problem?

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