Explore iOS 26's biggest CarPlay update in years: Liquid Glass design, widgets, Live Activities, and AirPlay video when parked. iPhone powers the dash.
© A. Krivonosov
Apple has rolled out iOS 26, delivering the most significant CarPlay upgrades in years. The iPhone’s in-car interface is not only smarter in use but noticeably sleeker in appearance, adopting a new Liquid Glass design and a host of additions.
CarPlay updates alongside the iPhone—no changes in the car’s settings are needed. After installing iOS 26, drivers see a refreshed layout with translucent elements in Apple’s signature style, which makes the system feel more contemporary and visually in tune with the company’s other devices.
Among the standout changes is the arrival of widgets, previously available only in CarPlay Ultra. Right on the car’s display, you can pin the calendar, weather, reminders, and smart home controls. Another addition, Live Activities, provides real-time updates on sports games, flights, or deliveries.
CarPlay now also supports video streaming via AirPlay. It works only when the car is parked—a sensible limitation to keep attention on the road—and only in vehicles that support AirPlay. Taken together, iOS 26 makes CarPlay a more capable and genuinely useful part of Apple’s ecosystem, turning the car’s infotainment system into a convenient, dynamic control center.