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.

918 comments

  2. I have switched to the new Toyota app and since then my CarPlay isn’t working at all well!!!
    The text facility keeps texting what do you want to my recipient and dosent allow me to say what I want to text! Also it repeats repetitive when I ask to make a call! Then dosent make the call! It won’t allow me to use old app!

    Reply

    1. Hi Samuel,
      We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused.
      We would suggest getting this inspected by your nearest Toyota Centre.
      Thanks.

      Reply

  4. I have a 2023 Yaris. The salesman set up Apple CarPlay for me and it worked fine for a while. Then it stopped connecting to CarPlay although the Bluetooth connection for phone and media are working fine (ie I can listen to podcasts on my phone and make calls etc) I’ve tried deleting the connection and re-pairing but I get the same result I have a iPhone 14 Pro with the latest ios version and bluetooth is turned on.
    How can I get back to using CarPlay

    Reply

    1. Hi Jessica,
      We apologise for the inconvenience this causes!
      Your nearest Toyota Centre would be best placed to investigate this and help you get connected to CarPlay again.
      If you’d like us to process a request for them to get in touch with you regarding this, please let us know!
      Thanks.

      Reply

  5. Hi . Does the CarPlay work on a Toyota aygo 66 plate ? I saw the icon on my car screen but I can’t even click on it. Help !!

    Reply

  6. Hi I have a 2019 RAV4 which has had CarPlay retrofitted. The engineer had gone home when I picked up the car and therefore I was left to work everything out myself. I reconnected my iPhone and was able to make calls and play music via Bluetooth. But I couldn’t make CarPlay work, after trying the Bluetooth method I tried the cable connection. This didn’t work. I went to Curry’s to get another USBA- usb-c cable just in case. The assistant was explained that the software update it had wiped all the settings in the car and said quite often Toyotas don’t properly Bluetooth connect after and try reconnecting the phone. Making sure it is properly recognised. And he helped me check all the connection settings. When we connected the phone again CarPlay worked. He was surprised that the car couldn’t connect to the phone via Wi-Fi.

    Reply

  8. Hello Toyota I have a toyota chr but anytime I try carplay it doesn’t work even when I use a USB cable it does nothing and I don’t see the carplay setting in the car if it doesn’t work can you guys tell me how to upgrade it and also the car model is toyota c-hr 2019

    Reply

    1. Hi Ciaran,
      Your Corolla is compatible for the Apple CarPlay upgrade.
      If you would like to have this added, please contact your Toyota Centre to get this booked in.
      Thanks.

      Reply

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