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.

1,037 comments

  1. Hi. When can I get a retrofit of the Apple CarPlay for my late 2019 Rav 4 hybrid Excel? I keep asking but the date keeps moving away.

    Reply

  2. Hello, I would be looking to get a toyota auris 2017. Is there any information regarding a carplay retrofit date for this model?

    Reply

      1. Hi
        Toyota RAV4 2019 excel CarPlay is available now or what is the date is available

  4. Hi Terence,
    Thanks for getting in touch. We hope you’re enjoying your C-HR!
    Could you please provide us with your reg? We can then look into this further for you.
    Thanks.

    Reply

  6. Hello
    I have C-HR 2017 and I bought from eBay a device named CarPlay 2 air to have CarPlay in the screen but I couldn’t I don’t know why .rgs : PHH862 Sweden

    Reply

  7. Why is there such different price between retro fitment of apple car play to a 2019 corolla. I have just had the 1st year service and when I bought the car I was promised Apple car play would be available at my 1st service .Car purchase July2019 so now to get it retro fitted at a sensible price I have to wait another 10 months. So this will be 2years from when I purchased the car. Salesman ” You will be able to have it very soon” July 2019. An important feature that nearly made me go for a Mazda 3.
    Come on give us all a better price for having it outside of service!!!!.

    Reply

    1. Hi Peter,
      Thanks for getting in touch. We’re sorry to hear you’re unhappy with your experience with us.
      The Toyota centre to which you spoke was correct at the time, but unfortunately our regular operations have been disrupted by the global pandemic. As a result of this, the availability of the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto retrofit was pushed back.
      From model year 2020 production, this feature was fitted as standard to the Corolla, and the price of the vehicle was increased to reflect this. We have no information on a price reduction.
      Thanks.

      Reply

  8. Hi – When is the Apple Car play and Android Auto retrofit being scheduled for 2019 Toyota Corolla Excel version

    Reply

  9. Hello Toyota UK,
    Thank you for the post.
    I would like to ask you: is there any retrofit kit for the Toyota Touch 2 (without Go, i.e. without Navigation) of the C-HR MY2017 under study or under evaluation?
    Thank you.
    Kind regards.

    Reply

    1. Hi Andrea,
      Thanks for getting in touch with us.
      Due to system incompatibility, there is currently no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto retrofit available for the C-HR.
      For information specific to your region, we would recommend contacting the Toyota distributor in your region.
      Thanks.

      Reply

  10. Just received my RAV4 – no CarPlay. Is this something that will need to be retrofitted? I thought this was now sorted. Lee

    Reply

    1. Hi Lee,
      Thanks for your comment and for choosing Toyota. We hope you’re loving your RAV4!
      Could you please provide us with a reg? We can then check this out for you.
      Thanks.

      Reply

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