CarPlay in iOS 26.4: These new features are available
Apple's iPhone vehicle integration comes with some new features as part of the latest iOS update. An overview.
CarPlay in the car.
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In conjunction with iOS 26.4, released last week, Apple is also rolling out a number of new features for CarPlay. These are quite useful – although one feature that the manufacturer had already announced is still pending. Despite hints in the beta version of the new iPhone operating system, it did not make it into the final update.
Chilling in the car with background music
With iOS 26.4, a new mini-program, found by swiping right in the CarPlay dashboard, provides some calm in stressful daily driving. This is the vehicle implementation of the ambient music widget first integrated in iOS 26.4. It allows various sounds to be accessed, which are intended to increase productivity and well-being, among other things.
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Apple provides this in a simpler version for free to users. Those who subscribe to Apple Music also get more playlists to choose from, including their own. Apple had already introduced this background music with iOS 18.4, and now it is also available in the car as an easy-to-use widget. To make it appear, you must first register it in the settings on the iPhone under "CarPlay" - Name of your own vehicle and "Widgets".
AI with CarPlay, video coming soon
With iOS 26.4, Apple has also officially approved AI apps for CarPlay for the first time: This means that users can now, at least theoretically, also use ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini in the vehicle. However, developers must adapt their apps, which they have not done so far. However, it can be assumed that this will happen quite quickly due to the popularity of CarPlay. Previously, the category of AI apps for iPhone vehicle integration simply did not exist.
On the other hand, the playback of videos is not yet integrated into CarPlay in iOS 26.4. This should be possible in the future when the vehicle is parked. Apple is working on an integration for third-party apps as well as on making the TV app usable. Corresponding code had appeared in pre-release versions of iOS 26.4, but the actual implementation is still missing. In addition, the car entertainment system apparently always has to support AirPlay streaming for video. How many do, is unclear – and whether an update is sufficient.
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