How to use Apple CarPlay in your Toyota

Apple CarPlay

Welcome to a beginner’s guide on how to use Apple CarPlay in your Toyota vehicle, as well as looking at the various features of the system and how to use them. Apple CarPlay is available on all current models. There is an Apple CarPlay upgrade available for Corolla and RAV4 models produced since 2019. Click here for more information.

To ensure CarPlay is switched on:

  • Menu
  • Setup
  • General – CarPlay is switched on

Only Apple-approved third-party apps can be used.

Connect your iPhone (5 or later) using a USB-Lightning cable, by plugging it into the USB data port.

The first time you connect, a message will offer you three options: Do Not Enable, which you might want to choose if all you want to do is charge your phone, not connect it to the multimedia system; Enable Once, if it’s a friend or relative’s phone that you only want to provide temporary access to the car’s infotainment system; or Always Enable, so your phone automatically connects to the car every time you plug it into the cable.

You’ll then get a message to say that all your Bluetooth devices will be disconnected.

Wireless CarPlay?

At the time of this article’s publication, Apple CarPlay only works through a wired connection in Toyota models except for GR Supra, which is available with a wireless CarPlay setup. To connect the wireless system, pair the phone to the Toyota multimedia system using Bluetooth, choosing Apple CarPlay as the primary function.

You’ll then get a prompt on your phone to check that you want to use CarPlay with this vehicle, so tap Use CarPlay.

Now, every time your phone is in your Toyota, the phone will automatically connect to the car.

If you want to connect to CarPlay through the display for your car’s infotainment system, just tap the Apple CarPlay icon in the main menu. You can also access it via the Media/Radio and Communications icons.

Once you’re connected, you’ll see a grid of app icons in the CarPlay display, a lot like those on the phone home screen. These will probably cover more than one page – especially if you use music streaming services such as Spotify, or alternative navigation apps such as Waze – so all you need to do is swipe between pages to find the app you need. However, there’s also a shortcut menu on the side of the main page of icons, so you can just jump to the most-used apps.

You can access apps by using Apple’s Siri voice control function. If you have voice control in your Toyota, just hold down the voice button on your steering wheel and Siri will respond by asking what you’d like to do.

1,037 comments

    1. Hi Serestyen,

      Thanks for getting in touch. We currently have no information to reveal regarding any retrofit possibilities for the C-HR. We would recommend keeping an eye on our blog and social channels for the latest on this.

      Thanks.

      1. Hi Anwer, thanks for your comment.

        This vehicle is not eligible for Apple CarPlay retrofit due to system incompatibility.

        Thanks.

  1. I am to connect my iPhone 6 to Corolla Hybrid 2020 but no way . Do you have any info about it ?

    1. Hi Anne,

      Thanks for your message. Due to the unprecedented disruption to our operations, the retrofit availability for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for MY19 Corolla has been pushed back to later this year. We expect the retrofit to be available from October, but due to the uncertainty ahead of us, this is subject to change. We’ll have more information soon.

      Thanks.

    1. Hi Paul,

      Thanks for getting in touch.
      Apple CarPlay is not currently available in the Camry, but many of our other vehicles such as Corolla Touring Sport and RAV4 do.
      You can explore our other vehicles via the link to our website, here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/

      Thanks.

      1. You say it’s not available for the Camry at present, are there plans to make it available an when?

  2. Any update on this yet?

    Hi
    Does the Apple CarPlay work in the Corolla 2019 yet?

    REPLY
    TOYOTA UK20 July 2020 at 10:36
    Hi Anne,

    Thanks for your message. Due to the unprecedented disruption to our operations, the retrofit availability for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for MY19 Corolla has been pushed back to later this year. We expect the retrofit to be available from October, but due to the uncertainty ahead of us, this is subject to change. We’ll have more information soon.

    Thanks.

    REPLY

    1. Hi Adi,
      Thanks for getting back in touch.
      At the current moment, the retrofit for Corolla Apple CarPlay is still scheduled for October.
      Thanks.

  3. 5 days in to owning my Corolla 2020 (UK) and CarPlay has disappeared, it worked fine for the first 4 days and now its just gone? Changed cables, reset the phone (iPhone 8) and reset the personal Info on the infotainment system? Any idea as to what’s happened??

  4. I have a 2019 RAV4 and see that Apple car play is being retro fitted. How do I go about getting this fitted please?

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