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.

1,106 comments

  1. I have a Toyota Yaris (72 reg) which up until recently operated happily with wireless car play. More recently it would only work with a wired connection. After several visits to my local dealer the suggestion was it was an issue with my phone. I now have a brand new IPhone and now I cannot connect with wireless or cable connection. A technician sat with me in the car and his phone connected without any problem. We are both stumped. I’d really appreciate any ideas.

    Reply

      1. I’ve got the same problem. Worked perfectly for 2 years and now I can’t get CarPlay to work. I’ve reinstalled my phone.

  2. Hi I have a Toyota aygo x-cite 2015
    Reg is fp15 *** would car play work in the already or would I be able to get an upgrade?

    Reply

    1. Morning Amber,

      Unfortunately, your Toyota Aygo doesn’t feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and sadly we don’t have an upgrade available for your car.

      Sorry for any disappointment caused.

      Thank you.

      Reply

    2. Hi, my reg is DE69 *** Toyota Rav 4. Is apple car play available in it. If so, how can I connect it? I have tried everything but still not able to find the solution. Really appreciate if you help me.

      Reply

      1. Hi Abdul,
        Please provide your vehicles full registration so we can assist you further on this.
        Thank you.

    1. Hi Saiful,
      Please provide us with your full vehicle registration so we can assist further on this.
      Thank you.

      Reply

      1. Hi my reg is FV19 LVG Toyota Aygo, am I able to use Apple car play? And how can I connect?

      2. Hi Lucy,

        Thanks for your question.

        I’m sorry to say that neither Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are available for your vehicle.

        Many thanks,
        Toyota UK

  5. Just purchased Toyota CH-R Design 2025. We can’t get Siri to work when car play is on. It worked fine on our previous CH-R it also works in our other vehicles. Any ideas???

    Reply

    2. Hi John,

      Thanks for your message.

      Have you enabled Siri in your phone settings to work with the vehicle in CarPlay?

      Many thanks,
      Toyota UK

      Reply

  6. Hi,

    I have a 70 plate Corolla Icon Tech which connects to CarPlay fine, however I am not able to use many of the features when the car is moving. If I want to type into Google Maps or use Spotify, an error message saying the keyboard is not available appears.

    Please can you tell me how to turn this off. I have previously had a Yaris that also had CarPlay and did not have this problem.

    Thank you

    Reply

    1. Hi Rony,
      Thanks for your comment.
      We can only advise on vehicles which are intended for our market, we would recommend speaking with your nearest Toyota Centre.
      Thanks,

      Reply

  8. Hey I am living in Sydney Australia I recently purchased a Toyota Corolla 2019 it doesn’t seem to have apple car play but I have seen in some YouTube videos it says the have even on google it’s said it’s available in the car can someone please help me thanks.

    Reply

    1. Hi Ayush,

      Thanks for your comments.

      If you would be kind enough to reply with your vehicle registration number we’d be happy to check this for you.

      Many thanks,
      Toyota UK

      Reply

    2. Hi Ayush,
      Thanks for your comment.
      Unfortunately we are unable to advise on your vehicle, we would recommend speaking with your local Toyota dealer.
      Thanks,

      Reply

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