Apple CarPlay is a helpful feature for secure driving using your iPhone. Not only can you listen to music, but you can also use your phone to start the car and open your vehicle’s doors. If you completely rely on this service while driving, it might be unpleasant to you if the CarPlay keeps disconnecting when in use.
CarPlay ensures your safety with its wide variety of features like built-in routing, talking on the phone, message dictating, and using the Apps on your phone on the car’s screen.
Moreover, since most functions can be accessed by voice, the driver does not need to get distracted while driving. You can also ensure safety because you do not have to look at the small iPhone screen now and then.
If you face the problem of Carplay disconnecting while driving, this article is for you. We will look into the causes and possible fixes for this problem.
Reasons Why CarPlay Keeps Disconnecting Randomly:
While CarPlay is unquestionably clever and advantageous as you can utilize your telephone without compromising security, this can, in some cases, have glitches and can keep disconnecting, making it unusable throughout your drive.
There can be many reasons why CarPlay keeps disconnecting and reconnecting randomly in your car. We have listed some commonly known causes below:
1. Carplay Not Enabled:
This can sometimes occur when you disconnect and reconnect your Phone with your Car. If the CarPlay feature has been disabled, the feature can be disconnected in between. Most Apple devices turn on CarPlay only when they find your phone connected to a registered and compatible vehicle.
Sometimes, when a small change in connection is detected, the CarPlay can become disconnected and disabled.
2. Connectivity Issues:
Although you need not work about connectivity issues while using wireless CarPlay, sometimes a messed up internet connection can cause some Apps on your Phone to not run properly. This can interfere with the working of CarPlay.
Other than the internet connection, if your Bluetooth connection has any issues, it can also cause the CarPlay to keep disconnecting.
3. Faulty Lightning Cable:
If your USB cable is broken or your USB port is dirty, you may have trouble connecting your Apple device and using CarPlay. This can be the reason why CarPlay is not working in your Car. However, if you use the wireless method to connect to CarPlay, you need not bother about this being a cause.
You can consider checking your USB cable for any defects or dirt accumulation.
4. Outdated Version Of iOS:
Apple CarPlay is a built-in feature on most Apple devices, making it rely on up-to-date software to work properly. Hence, if you find CarPlay randomly disconnecting and reconnecting, it could have something to do with the version of iOS you use on your Phone.
If you have not updated your Phone in a while, we recommend you check for any pending updates that can be the cause for the issues with CarPlay.
5. Device Compatibility Issues
Although CarPlay is compatible with most of cars these days, it is better to check if your CarPlay has any compatibility issues that are the cause of the problems with the connection.
You also need to be on the lookout for any problems with your phone or vehicle that could make it difficult to connect.
How To Fix CarPlay Keeps Disconnecting Issue?
Now that you know the causes behind this problem, let us look for solutions. We have listed below some of the top fixes for this issue. If one of these solutions works for you, wait for a while to check if the problem has been solved completely. If the CarPlay keeps disconnecting again, try the next solution from the list below.
1. Enable CarPlay For Your Car:
This is the most basic solution for the problem with CarPlay in your car. You need to ensure the CarPlay toggle is turned On on your Phone. To do so, follow these steps:
- On your iPhone, go to the device Settings.
- In the Settings, click on the General option.
3. Click on CarPlay from the list of Settings.
4. On the CarPlay page, select the name of the Car that you are currently connected to.
5. Turn the Toggle On for CarPlay, if it is Off.
The Carplay feature must work fine in your car hereafter. Before using this method, you must have your car connected to your Phone.
2. Check For Pending Software Updates:
With an updated device, you can use your phone’s features without worrying about bugs or issues from the previous version. This is applicable when it comes to CarPlay as well. There might be problems with your CarPlay connection if your Phone’s software is outdated.
To update your Phone, follow these steps:
- Open the device settings on your Phone.
- Go to the General section.
- Click on the Software update option.
4. Check the version of the update. If new updates are pending to be installed, click on the Install option to start the process.
You can try connecting your phone to your car again after the software update to check if the problem has been solved.
3. Clean The USB Port:
Not only will you be free of any issues, but having a clean and tidy USB port will also improve your device’s performance. The charging port can be clogged with dust or other debris to the point where CarPlay disconnects.
Switch your phone off, then cautiously clean the charging port of any residue or dust with packed air or a toothpick to clean the port. Then, try connecting the phone to your car again to see if CarPlay works.
4. Use MFI Certified Cables:
Make sure that you use the original Apple accessories for connection purposes. Utilize the lightning to USB-C link delivered with your iPhone to associate your iPhone with your vehicle.
Lightning to USB-A cable must be purchased separately if your vehicle does not have a USB-C port. For this purpose, ensure the cables you buy are MFI-certified because some aftermarket cables might not work right and cause frequent disconnections.
5. Forget And Reconnect Your Car:
Another great way to resolve any disconnecting issues between your device and CarPlay is to Forget and reconnect your car to CarPlay. To do this, follow these steps:
- Go to the device settings on your Phone.
- Click on General and then go to the CarPlay page.
- Tap on the Name of the car that your Phone is currently connected to.
- Click on the ‘Forget this Car’ option.
Once the device is deleted, you can re-register it in your CarPlay and connect again to check if the problem has been solved.
6. Enable WiFi And Bluetooth:
It is necessary to activate the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi toggles on your iPhone if you are using Wireless CarPlay. This will ensure your iPhone can steadily connect with your vehicle’s sound system.
7. Restart The Car’s Head Unit:
Neither Apple CarPlay nor your iPhone may be the cause of the issue. It may be the case that your vehicle’s sound system or head unit is breaking down, so CarPlay keeps disconnecting and reconnecting. Restarting your car’s head unit is easy to get around this problem.
Turn Off the car’s ignition and wait until the head unit turns Off automatically. Then, restart your car and wait until the infotainment system turns on. Connect your Phone and check if CarPlay starts working properly.
8. Restart Your iPhone:
There are chances that your gadget may be experiencing some blunder with the startup. At this point, restarting your iPhone is probably going to resolve the issue. You can do this whenever you find some error with the working of CarPlay.
To restart your iPhone, press and hold the side and volume down buttons and then use the power slider to Turn Off your Phone. Then, you can Turn On your Phone and check if CarPlay connects properly.
9. Disable Your VPN:
Utilizing a VPN on your iPhone can cause network gives that keep CarPlay from remaining connected; hence, disable your VPN if you use one.
Consider contacting the VPN provider to report if disabling it resolves the issue with the CarPlay not working properly.
10. Contact Apple Support
You need to approach Apple Support if none of these things works and you’ve checked that your phone is working properly. Sensors or non-utilitarian connectors might bring about the issue. This can be the case for the wireless CarPlay connection.
Apple Support team will fix the issues with the Software if you find no issues with your device’s hardware. You can go to Apple’s Support site and issue a complaint regarding CarPlay. The support team will contact you soon, to solve your problem.
Frequently Asked Questions:
This can be because you have restricted CarPlay in your Settings. To avoid this, click the Content and Privacy Restrictions option in the Screen Time section in the device settings. In the list of Allowed Apps, make sure that CarPlay is enabled.
The device’s battery will eventually run out after 10 hours of continuous use, regardless of whether it is plugged in. Even if the gadget might have consistent power, the battery is utilized as it has no other power source.
You can go to the device settings and then to the Screen time page to go to the Content and Privacy Restrictions section. From the list of Allowed Apps, deselect the CarPlay option. By doing this, your Phone will keep charging, but the CarPlay feature will not work.
Conclusion
In addition to providing convenience, CarPlay also helps you drive safely. This is because you get to avoid the idea of taking out your phones between driving. After all, these features allow you to call, text, and listen to your favourite songs as you drive.
Along with a great deal of help to its users, it can also be very annoying when the Apple CarPlay keeps disconnecting and reconnecting. This can be due to various reasons, as mentioned in the sections above. Luckily, this issue can be fixed in a few steps.
In this article, we have informed you of the fixes for the issue with CarPlay. You can try the methods listed and tell us if they worked for you. Also, if you have got any feedback for us, make sure that you let us know, through the comments!!
Hello, I’m Sreelakshmi, a content enthusiast with 6 years of experience. I’m dedicated to addressing critical issues within OTT content through insightful articles, using my words to spark discussions and provide clarity.
