CarPlay - wired - broken with iOS 18.0 and iPhone 16

[GDMcG]

I know this is probably similar to the issues iPhone 15 owners experienced last year. But my wife and I have 2 new iPhone 16 Pro Max with iOS 18.0 (moving from iPhone 14 Pro Max) and while both can initially connect to our 2018 Mazda6 via CarPlay, the CarPlay interface in the vehicle becomes so laggy to the point of being unusable after a few minutes. I have tried a ton of USB A to USB C cables, including ones that are supposed to work mentioned by frustrated iPhone 15 users last year, but so far nothing fixes the lagginess issue. Anyone else experiencing this with iOS 18.0 and wired CarPlay?

 

[JDabney24]

I haven’t tried wired CarPlay, but I am having issues getting wireless CarPlay to connect at all with my 2025 Buick Envista. I am able to connect with my 15 Pro Max that is running the 18.1 beta, but not my 16 Pro Max that is also running the 18.1 beta.

 

[GDMcG]

Yeah. I’m going to go report these issues to Apple Feedback page https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone/
I would suggest anyone else having issues do the same.

 

[blueeyes2die4]

My 16 Pro Max is connecting wired and wirelessly with no issues

 

[AZFalconi]

My 16 PM runs perfect wirelessly

 

[eXoenDo]

CarPlay in iOS 18 is having a lot of miscellaneous issues based on a number of reports here and on Reddit as well as my personal experiences. My issues are centered around Siri while playing music and the sound getting "tinny" when Siri goes away after responding as if the audio is screwed up. Unplugging and plugging back in resolves. I have also seen reports from others of connectivity issues though too. They seriously need to focus on fixing this stuff. I reported the bug in iOS 18 Beta 1 and it was not solved at all during the beta cycle, issue present in the release version too. Happens on my iPhone 15 Pro Max and upgraded device iPhone 16 Pro Max too.

 

[GDMcG]

I haven’t tried wired CarPlay, but I am having issues getting wireless CarPlay to connect at all with my 2025 Buick Envista. I am able to connect with my 15 Pro Max that is running the 18.1 beta, but not my 16 Pro Max that is also running the 18.1 beta.

My 16 Pro Max is connecting wired and wirelessly with no issues

Our iPhone 16 Pros connect fine - it’s the interface that becomes laggy and halts and freezes after a while - making it hard to actually control the interface using the car controls - then Apple Maps also starts to lag and jerks and halts when the car changes direction - nothing like our previous experience with CarPlay. Frankly I am happy they gave up on making a car if this is how updates happen with CarPlay. 😟

 

[jtptus]

After ios18 update, Apple CarPlay USB-C connection from iPhone 15Plus to 2022 VW Tiguan now shows "Cannot connect" error message. It worked w/o issues with ios 17. Tried the usual fixes-different cable, hard reset of iPhone etc- but no go. 2022 VW Tiguan does not have wireless CarPlay capability-only offered in 2023 and on models. I reported the issue to Apple and hope it gets a fix soon (sooner or later?).

 

[noSpeed]

Try disabling the VPN if you have one.

 

[monstermash]

I know this is probably similar to the issues iPhone 15 owners experienced last year. But my wife and I have 2 new iPhone 16 Pro Max with iOS 18.0 (moving from iPhone 14 Pro Max) and while both can initially connect to our 2018 Mazda6 via CarPlay, the CarPlay interface in the vehicle becomes so laggy to the point of being unusable after a few minutes. I have tried a ton of USB A to USB C cables, including ones that are supposed to work mentioned by frustrated iPhone 15 users last year, but so far nothing fixes the lagginess issue. Anyone else experiencing this with iOS 18.0 and wired CarPlay?

At least yours connects.

I can't get my 16PM to connect to the car, but my wife's does. Car is a 2024 Honda CRV.

I've deleted the config and re-established multiple times. Phone says it is connected, but car doesn't.

Car and phone are up to date.

Wireless, wired, neither work. It seems to be a Bluetooth issue of some kind.

 

[MrRom92]

I’ve been in the car with one person with a 16 pro that could not connect to their CarPlay when they plugged it in

 

[monstermash]

At least yours connects.

I can't get my 16PM to connect to the car, but my wife's does. Car is a 2024 Honda CRV.

I've deleted the config and re-established multiple times. Phone says it is connected, but car doesn't.

Car and phone are up to date.

Wireless, wired, neither work. It seems to be a Bluetooth issue of some kind.

Turning off my VPN was the key. Now it works.

It is absolutely STUPID that a VPN should interfere with CarPlay.

 

[GDMcG]

I suggest reporting this issue in feedback to Apple. https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone/

 

[Ralfi]

I think it’s more to do with your make & model of vehicle‘s head unit & Apple - Apple need to update their software to be compatible with that particular model of head unit.

I‘m going through a similar headache (since February) where my Toyota isn’t handling TBT instructions of Map Apps well with music Apps.

There‘s a list of carplay tested vehicles on Apple’s website. If your model isn’t on there, then the waiting game begins….

iOS - CarPlay - Available Models

Find out which car manufacturers currently offer, or are planning to introduce, models that support CarPlay.

www.apple.com

• 2018 - 2022 Mazda6
• 2019 - 2024 CX‑5
• 2019 - 2024 CX‑8
• 2019 - 2024 CX‑9
• 2019 - 2024 MX‑5
• 2019 - 2024 Mazda3
• 2020 - 2024 CX‑3
• 2020 - 2024 CX30
• 2020 - 2024 Mazda2
• 2021 - 2024 MX‑30
• 2022 - 2024 CX‑50
• 2022 - 2024 CX‑60
• 2024 CX‑90
• 2025 CX‑70

Looks like yours is on there, so not sure why it’s so buggy.

Maybe another App is to blame?