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.

948 comments

    1. Hi John, thanks for your question.

      This vehicle is not compatible with the Apple CarPlay upgrade.

      Thanks.

      Reply

      1. Hi Steve, thanks for your question.

        This vehicle does not have Apple CarPlay/Android Auto fitted. However, bluetooth connectivity is available.

        Thanks.

  2. Just purchased a 2021 Toyota Corolla. I can connect my ipad via bluetooth to play music but cannot get any result via the USB connection. There is only one USB port in my model located under the dashboard but the USB icon on the screen is greyed out. Is this a charge only port or should it be able to link my ipad to the car’s audio?

    Reply

  3. Hi, does WIRELESS Apple CarPlay work on my Yaris GR Sport GU72 YGR. Bluetooth works, wired works need to know about wireless. Cheers.

    Reply

    1. Hi Ayden, thanks for your question.

      This vehicle is fitted with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

      Thanks.

      Reply

      2. Hi Ayden,

        Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto is not available on this vehicle. It is only accessible via a wired connection.

        Thanks.

  5. Is apple car play compatible with the 2015 plate Toyota auto and also what’s the screen size on the 2015 toyota aygo

    Reply

    2. Hi Leon, thanks for your question.

      The Toyota Aygo is not available for the Apple CarPlay upgrade.

      Please provide a Vehicle Registration so that we can look into your question regarding the screen size.

      Thanks.

      Reply

  6. Apple Play stopped working halfway through our journey when we were using Google Maps and we could not get it started again!

    Reply

  7. I have a Toyota CHR and it is not recognising my iPod through usb. Any suggestions? Or at least advice on what iPods are compatible?

    Reply

  8. Hi,

    Toyota CHR 2019 Dynamic – does this support Apple car play? Google says all 2019 onwards does

    Reply

    1. Hi Kayleigh, thanks for your question.

      Please provide a Vehicle Registration so that we can look into this.

      Thanks.

      Reply

    1. Hi Paul, thanks for your question.

      This vehicle is fitted with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

      Thanks.

      Reply

      1. Hi MJ, thanks for your question.

        This vehicle cannot be upgraded with Android Auto.

        Thanks.

    1. Hi Jon, thanks for getting in touch.

      Please may you provide your VIN number so that we can look into this for you.

      We will ensure to delete the VIN number from the mag page.

      Thanks.

      Reply

      2. Hi Jon,

        This vehicle does not feature Apple CarPlay and cannot be upgraded.

        Thanks.

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