Home How To How to use Apple CarPlay in your Toyota

How to use Apple CarPlay in your Toyota

By Jake Weaver
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.

1,028 comments

    1. Hi Os, thanks for your comment.

      It is not possible to retrofit Apple CarPlay to your C-HR as the multimedia system is not compatible.

      Thanks.

      Reply

      1. I would like simple instructions on how to set up the functions on Iplay. I cannot find simple instructions on operation. I have had the car EN21BDE for a month, design model. The handover from the garage in Chelmsford was less than satisfactory and the sales team seem more interested in trying to get the Toyota app working than giving us a proper handover.
        We we also disappointed in the fact that we were only given one key fob, the lack of two key fobs were not communicated to us at any time during the sales process, only at handover.

      2. Hi,

        Thanks for getting in touch.

        Can you be more specific? What do you mean by ‘set up the functions on Iplay’?

        Are you referring to Apple CarPlay? If so, the instructions for setting this up are in the blog post, above.

        To set it up, connect your iPhone (5 or later) using a USB-Lightning cable, by plugging it into the USB data port. Once it is connected you are then using all of the functions on the phone, not the car. Hence, you’ll need to refer to Apple if you need assistance on how to operate the phone.

        Sorry to hear of your disappointment on the key fob.

        Thanks

    2. Hi Toyota,
      Picked up my brand new C-HR on Saturday, at handover discovered that we didn’t have in car Sat Nav (sales person went to check with manager as they spent time trying to get it up and running). Had been told that only differences between icon and design were wheels and parking assistance. Same sales person thinks EV mode is a sports mode. Have also been told that in car sat nav is being stopped across the range and the only option is to plug in iPhone. Feel like I’ve been mid-sold a the car, disappointed that it doesn’t live up to expectations. Is there anyway of upgrading so that I have in car sat nav? I am still in the 14 day cooling off period (re finance)
      Thanks

      Reply

      1. Hi Mark,
        We would recommend you call 0344 701 6202.
        This is our Customer Relations Team who will be best placed to investigate this for you.
        Please let us know if there is any way that we can assist you further.
        Thanks.

  2. Hi

    I have a GR Yaris and I use Apple car play. Why can I not connect without using a charge lead as this is quite annoying. You have wireless connection on the Supra but not the GR Yaris which I cannot get my head around

    Reply

    1. Hi Mike,

      GR Supra and GR Yaris have different multimedia systems, hence the difference in the way they operate.

      We hope you are enjoying your GR Yaris despite this annoyance.

      Just FYI, comments get approved when they are answered by us.

      Thanks

      Reply

    2. Hi Dan,
      Thanks for getting in touch.
      Your Corolla should be eligible for the Apple CarPlay retrofit.
      Please contact your nearest Toyota Centre for further information and to get your vehicle booked in.
      Thanks.

      Reply

  4. Just bought the new yaris dynamic and worried that the car Play sat nav (Google maps Will not be as good as the toyota one i had in my auris Excel 🙏

    Reply

    1. Hi Steve,

      Congrats on your new car! Google Maps is widely recognised as being one of the best navigation tools out there, along with Apple Maps and Waze.

      Thanks

      Reply

      1. Thanks for your reply, im part of the older generation, don’t struggle with technology but need reassurance when it comes to change, so Thanks for the reassurance 👍
        Regards
        Steve

  5. Hey, my RAV4 (WM67) use to play music via Bluetooth but its suddenly stopped working. It won’t even connect for sat nav on my phone anymore. However I can still do calls? I haven’t upgraded my phone, which is an Apple XS.

    Can I get a retrofit on my car or is it too old! I hate not being able to listen to my music!

    Reply

    1. Hi Debbie,
      Thanks for contacting us.
      We would firstly recommend checking that you have not accidentally turned Bluetooth Connectivity off or changed the permissions.
      If this doesn’t solve the issue, our specialist multimedia team will be best placed to assist you further, and they can be contacted here: https://fal.cn/3eeaN.
      Regarding the Apple CarPlay retrofit, you can view applicability here: https://mag.toyota.co.uk/toyota-apple-carplay-and-android-auto-upgrade/.
      However, if your RAV4 is from 2017, this will unfortunately not be compatible with the retrofit.
      Thanks.

      Reply

    1. Hi Priya,
      Thanks for your comment.
      The 2016 Yaris Hybrid is not compatible with the Apple CarPlay retrofit.
      Thanks.

      Reply

  7. I have a new Hybrid C-HR Excel with Carplay and am using an iPhone XR
    With Google Maps I have a visual display on the car screen with visible directions but there are no audio directions through the car speakers. This facility I find useful and probably safer. Should there be audible sound and how do I achieve this.

    Reply

  8. I have just taken delivery of my Yaris Cross but can only get CarPlay to work wired not wireless, I was told it
    should support wireless, using IPhone 12.

    Reply

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