With Apple CarPlay, people can connect their iPhones to their car’s entertainment system and engage with their cars in a whole new way. Despite its convenience and promise to link users, CarPlay has sometimes suddenly stopped working for some customers.
Disconnections often do not stop the phone from charging. The interruptions can occur even with the newest iOS updates like iOS 15, as well as with several iPhone models such as the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, irrespective of whether they use wired or wireless CarPlay.
Consequently, it is difficult for them to enjoy their time on the road and interferes with their driving experience. Knowing the causes of Car Play disconnecting in BMW, Kia, Mazda, Subaru, or any other vehicle, as well as the solutions, will empower users to deal with this irritating issue.
Apple CarPlay Disconnecting Causes
Apple CarPlay disconnects can be caused by a variety of problems. Among the most common causes of this problem are:
Lightning to USB cable problems
Interference with Bluetooth wireless technology
Issues related to connectivity
Out of date software
VPN conflicts
How to Fix It When Apple CarPlay Keeps Disconnecting
If you’re having trouble connecting and disconnecting from CarPlay while driving, try each of the following fixes. After trying one of the fixes, if the problem does not resolve, you can stop and close the browser to see if the problem has disappeared, then return to the list and try the remaining fixes.
Make sure both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on. It is possible to experience connectivity issues on your iPhone if Wi-Fi or Bluetooth aren’t enabled. You can enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth by opening the Control Center and tapping the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons.
Turn on the CarPlay toggle in your car. If you use CarPlay in more than one car with your iPhone, you may experience connectivity issues. The CarPlay toggle can be enabled for the right vehicle or switched off and on again to fix that problem. The CarPlay toggle for your car can be enabled by going to Settings on your iPhone, selecting General > CarPlay, and selecting your car. You can then turn on CarPlay by tapping the toggle. It can be turned back on by tapping it once to disable it, then again to turn it back on.
Reconnect your car after forgetting it. It is possible to connect your iPhone to multiple vehicles for CarPlay at the same time. It may be necessary to remove each car and then add it again if CarPlay disconnects. Using your iPhone, you can disconnect and reconnect your car by navigating to Settings > General > CarPlay, selecting your vehicle, and tapping Forget This Car. Check if CarPlay still disconnects when you connect wirelessly or using a Lightning cable.
Make the switch to a wired connection. Wireless CarPlay is not compatible with all vehicles, and some have connectivity issues. Instead, use a cable.
Make sure the cable you use is MFI-certified. In case you already have a wired connection, try a different Lightning cable. The Apple CarPlay app will not function if a defective or inferior cable is used. Apple recommends using an MFI certified cable for this purpose.
Make sure the charging port on your iPhone is clean. CarPlay can disconnect repeatedly if dust or debris in the charging port causes a connection problem. Use compressed air or a toothpick to remove dust and debris from your iPhone charging port by turning it off.
Make sure the USB port on your car is clean. You can collect dust and other debris in your car’s USB port just as easily as the charging port on your phone if you use a wired connection. Make sure that the car’s USB port is cleaned using the same methods, taking care not to damage it.
You need to restart your iPhone. CarPlay can be reconnected to the iPhone after restarting the device. It may take several restarts for the connection to stop dropping out. Using the power off slider on the device will restart the phone if you hold down the side, volume down, and sleep/wake buttons at the same time. Check if CarPlay still disconnects after turning the phone off and turning it back on.
The head unit of your car needs to be restarted. The head unit of your car should be restarted if you haven’t already. Restarting your head unit can sometimes fix disconnecting issues with your iPhone and CarPlay interface. Restarting your head unit requires turning off your vehicle and waiting for it to turn off. For a shut-down procedure, consult your owner’s manual if it does not turn off automatically. When the car has restarted, you can check to see if CarPlay still disconnects by restarting it.
You should disable your VPN. If you use a VPN on your iPhone, CarPlay may not stay connected due to connectivity issues. Please disable any VPN that you are using on your iPhone. Consider contacting the VPN provider to report the issue if disabling the VPN fixes your problem. You might be able to turn on the VPN again after they release an update to fix the conflict.
It is time to update iOS. Your phone may disconnect from CarPlay if its software is out of date. When Apple releases a fix for a bug in an iOS update, it is important to update your device as soon as possible. iOS can be updated by going to Settings > General > Software Updates > Download and Install, then tapping Install Now.
In Apple CarPlay, iPhone features can be seamlessly integrated into the driving experience; however, this convenience may be interrupted at times. By identifying probable causes such as cable problems, software faults, power-related problems, and other problems, users can diagnose and resolve CarPlay disconnectivity issues.
When driving with Apple CarPlay, certain steps must be taken to ensure a consistent and uninterrupted experience. To minimize potentially harmful sources of interference, the software should be regularly updated, the wire should be approved, and the power supply should be sufficient.
