I’m having trouble figuring out which apps are compatible with CarPlay on my system. Can anyone provide a list or help guide me to knowing what apps I can use? I need advice on setting them up too.
Oh man, figuring out CarPlay apps feels like trying to remember every character from Game of Thrones—a daunting task. But lucky for you, the internet (and me) exists. First off, CarPlay supports a bunch of categories: navigation, music, communication, audiobooks, and even some news or podcast apps.
So let’s talk the big names: Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze—your holy trinity of navigation. Music? You’ve got Spotify, Apple Music (obviously), Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and Pandora. For podcasts, there’s Overcast and Pocket Casts. If you’re into audiobooks, Audible and Scribd should play nice. Communication-wise, you’ll get Messages, WhatsApp, Zoom (yep, audio-only for your attempts at being professional in traffic), and even Slack for those work-related “emergencies.” Oh, and news? NPR One, CBS News Radio, and Bloomberg will make you feel informed while you’re stuck on the highway.
Setup? Easy peasy. Plug your phone in (or if you’re fancy, go wireless CarPlay), and your compatible apps should just pop up automatically if they’re CarPlay-compatible. If something’s missing, make sure your apps are up to date or go check under Settings > General > CarPlay to rejig things.
Quick pro tip: Don’t try to use these apps while driving unless you like flirting with disaster (or your insurance company). Stick to the voice controls via Siri—you know, “Hey Siri, play my existential playlist from Spotify” kind of stuff.
Now, if you’re expecting TikTok or Facebook to show up… not happening. CarPlay restricts apps to stuff that’s actually useful when driving. Shocking, right?
If I missed a specific app here, let me know, but really, just keep your focus on whatever’s practical or keeps your Spotify Wrapped embarrassing.
What @espritlibre said is solid, no doubt, but I feel like they missed getting into some of the quirks with CarPlay that can actually be frustrating. Sure, the big apps like Spotify, Google Maps, and Audible work seamlessly. However, depending on your app preferences, certain services might disappoint. For example, if you’re into niche music streaming apps like TIDAL or Deezer, they do work, but I’ve found the interface looks like it was stuck in 2015.
Also, messaging apps: while WhatsApp and Messages integrate well, others like Telegram or Signal don’t have the same level of support. The same goes for podcast apps—if your favorite isn’t one of the big names like Overcast, you might be better off just listening directly from your phone (which obviously you shouldn’t be touching while driving).
The “plug and play” thing people always say about CarPlay setup isn’t always accurate, either. Sometimes, even when apps are technically compatible, they don’t appear in the CarPlay interface because they haven’t been “enabled” from the phone. Go to Settings > General > CarPlay, select your car, and manually add the app to your CarPlay home screen.
One more thing I think is worth mentioning: certain apps like YouTube or Netflix aren’t allowed on CarPlay at all—Apple blocks video-streaming apps from the platform completely. I kind of get why (safety first or whatever), but that doesn’t make it less annoying when you’re stuck in a parking lot on a long wait.
TBH, navigating CarPlay is a glorified guessing game for which apps will work the way you want. Instead of trying to use every compatible app, honestly just stick to whatever gets you through the drive—navigation, music playlists, and keeping up with messages hands-free. Anything else, like trying to scroll Slack while sitting at a red light, isn’t worth the drama.
Use the App Store as your compatibility checker. Open an app’s listing and search its description for “CarPlay.” Also check the developer’s support page. This avoids guessing or building a huge list that gets outdated.
For setup, install the app, open it once on your iPhone, and approve audio, location, Siri, or notification access. Then reconnect your phone to the car. Test everything while parked. If the icon still doesnt appear, restart your iPhone and infotainment system. Pick one navigation, audio, and messaging app to keep things simpel.
Two people can have the exact same iPhone with the exact same apps installed and see different CarPlay screens. Sounds weird, but it happens all the time. The difference usually isn’t the phone at all, it’s the head unit. Some older factory systems and cheaper aftermarket units run an outdated CarPlay layer, so an app that shows up fine in a newer car just won’t appear, no matter how many times you toggle it in Settings. So before you spend an hour restarting things like @silvercloud suggested, worth knowing whether your system is even current.
The App Store search trick is the most useful thing said so far, honestly. Skip the memorized lists that go stale. But I’d add the caveat nobody mentioned: a lot of ‘CarPlay-compatible’ apps are gated to parked-only. EV charging apps, some parking and food-order apps, a few others will only let you interact while the car is stopped, then they gray out the second you start moving. That’s not a bug, it’s Apple’s design, so don’t waste time thinking you set it up wrong.
For actual daily use I’d keep it dead simple. One nav, one audio app, and let the messages come through Siri. Everything else is optional weight. The Telegram and Signal gap @cazadordeestrellas mentioned is real, but you can still get those read aloud through Siri notifications even without a full CarPlay interface, which covers most of what people actually need on the road anyway.