iOS 26 Brings Widgets, Video Playback, and a Fresh Look to CarPlay

Apple is rolling out a major update to CarPlay with iOS 26, giving the in-car interface a fresh new look and several long-requested features. Announced at last week's Worldwide Developers Conference, the update introduces glanceable widgets, Live Activities, richer app experiences, and a refined design that brings it in line with the rest of Apple's platforms.

The updated interface adopts Apple's new Liquid Glass design language, featuring icons that adapt to light and dark mode for a more consistent visual experience. It's a significant visual shift that aligns with the broader UI overhaul across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS.

Smarter and Less Distracting

One of the more practical changes is how incoming calls are handled. Instead of taking over the entire screen, calls now appear as compact banners—allowing drivers to stay focused on navigation or media while still seeing who's calling. The Messages app also gets key upgrades, including support for Tapbacks and pinned conversations, bringing the in-car messaging experience closer to what users expect on iPhone.

Widgets, Live Activities, and App Enhancements

With iOS 26, CarPlay now supports widgets and Live Activities, making it easier to check things like weather, calendar events, or delivery status at a glance. These elements appear on the Dashboard and update in real time. Apple notes that many existing iPhone widgets and Live Activities will work in CarPlay automatically, with no changes needed from developers. Widgets that aren't suited for use in the car can be flagged to prevent them from appearing.



App support is also expanding. Audio apps can now display live sports scores in the Now Playing screen. Navigation apps gain multitouch support and can provide metadata for secondary displays such as the instrument cluster or head-up display. New app categories—including EV charging, fueling, parking, and even quick food ordering—can now integrate with CarPlay to help drivers get more done without reaching for their phone.

CarPlay Ultra and In-Car Video Support

These improvements are coming to the standard CarPlay experience used by millions of drivers—but they're also part of CarPlay Ultra, Apple's deeply integrated system that recently debuted with Aston Martin. CarPlay Ultra extends Apple's interface across multiple screens in the vehicle—including the instrument cluster—while still preserving the automaker's unique branding. It works wirelessly and activates as soon as the iPhone is detected.

Another new feature is AirPlay video support in the car. When parked, users can stream videos from their iPhone to the CarPlay display—ideal for waiting in the car while charging or picking someone up.

The new CarPlay features will be available this fall with the release of iOS 26.

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