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 Alex,
      Thanks for comment.
      There is an Apple CarPlay retrofit available for certain grades of the MY19 and MY20 RAV4.
      If you can provide us with your reg, we can check if your vehicle is compatible with the retrofit.
      Thanks.

      Reply

    1. Hi Robert,
      Thanks for getting in touch, and congratulations on your new car!
      The Yaris Y20 does not come with Apple CarPlay.
      Thanks.

      Reply

      1. Hi my new Y20 Yaris doesn’t have telephone controls on the steering wheel that I can see . My previous Yaris had phone controls . Is there a reason for this

      2. Hi Robert,
        Thanks for your comment.
        If the on and off hook switches are not present on your steering wheel, the enter switch in the middle of the four arrows can be pressed to answer an incoming call according to the multi-information display.
        Alternatively, accept or reject can be selected from the screen.
        Thanks.

  3. What factors determine whether a MY19 RAV4 will be suitable for Apple CarPlay retrofit? How do I find out whether my RAV4 has a Mm17 or a mm19 headset?
    Declan

    Reply

    1. Hi Declan,
      Thanks for your comment.
      As we are Toyota UK, we would recommend contacting the Toyota distributor in your region for further assistance with your vehicle’s specification.
      Thanks.

      Reply

    1. Hi Mr Ralph Shorter,
      Thanks for your comment.
      Unfortunately, Apple CarPlay is not available on your RAV4, and there is no retrofit available.
      Thanks.

      Reply

  5. Hey I just wanted to see if I can add apple car play to my Toyota CHR I recently purchased:

    ND67XJH

    If not is this something I will be able to do in the future?

    Reply

    1. Hi James,
      Thank you for getting in touch with us.
      Unfortunately, due to system compatibility factors, there is no retrofit available for the C-HR.
      Thanks.

      Reply

      1. Hi Ayo,
        Thanks for getting in touch with us.
        Unfortunately, due to system compatibility, there is no retrofit available for the C-HR.
        Thanks.

    1. Hi Janet,
      Thanks for getting in touch with us.
      Our system doesn’t seem to be recognising your registration – could you please provide us with your VIN?
      Thanks.

      Reply

    1. Hi Gillian,
      Thanks for your comment.
      Your RAV4 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

    1. Hi Lauren,

      Congrats on your new car. It depends on which Aygo model you bought. Please provide the vehicle registration.

      Thanks

      Reply

  9. Can my Prius Plug-in have Apple carplay retrofitted ?

    reg no is DE20KNG.

    If so, what is the price ?

    thanks

    Reply

    1. Hi David,

      Unfortunately Apple CarPlay and Android Auto retrofit is only available on Corolla and RAV4, this is due to compatibility.

      Sorry about that.

      Thanks

      Reply

  10. Hi, my wife has just taken delivery of her Toyota Corolla Excel but I cannot locate ApplePlay, should this not be active? The registration number is HN70 FVD.
    Thank you.
    Russell

    Reply

    1. Hi Russell,

      Congratulations to your wife on her new car.

      Yes, this vehicle does have Apple CarPlay, which works with iPhone 5 or later. Plug the phone into the USB port near the gear selector. You may have to unlock the phone to allow it to connect to the car. You also may need to check the phone’s settings in ‘General’ > ‘CarPlay’. Once this is all done you will be presented with some options, as detailed in the blog post above. If Apple CarPlay doesn’t take over automatically, click the ‘Menu’ button on your multimedia screen, then select Apple CarPlay. You can also do this by pressing the ‘Audio’ button, then selecting Apple CarPlay in the bar on the left side of the screen.

      Thanks

      Reply

      1. Hi. I had apple car play in a new 2021 Toyota Corolla excel. But I’m not sure why it doesn’t show up automatically now when connected to USB port. There is no car play under menu either. Not sure if a passenger had accidentally turned it off. Or removed via update?

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