How to Connect CarPlay?

[DelSebastian]

Enter the settings interface of your phone, find the General option, and click to enter the General settings interface. In the General settings interface, you can see the CarPlay option. You can select the Access Restrictions option below and click to enter. Before entering, you need to input the password. After entering it twice, you will enter the Access Restrictions settings interface, then click the switch next to CarPlay. Click to enter CarPlay and use wireless connection, then you can use it normally.

[DelMason]

When I first got my new car, I also struggled with CarPlay for a while. Actually, wired connection is the most stable. You need to find an original cable or MFi-certified Lightning cable, then plug it into your phone and the car's USB port (usually located under the center console or inside the armrest). At this point, the car's system will automatically pop up a prompt, and your phone will display an 'Allow CarPlay Connection' option—just tap allow and you're set. If there's no response, remember to first find the 'Smartphone Connection' option in the car's settings and turn on the CarPlay function. Older car models might need to be turned off and restarted once. For example, my 2018 CR-V required this step. Once connected, you can use the steering wheel buttons to switch songs, and the navigation is directly projected onto the dashboard, which is super convenient and much safer for driving.

[DeAugust]

Wireless CarPlay is awesome, but it depends on whether your car supports it. Here's how to set it up on my BMW 3 Series: First, start the car, then go to 'Settings' - 'General' - 'Apple CarPlay' on the central control screen, and select 'Add New Device'. Make sure your phone's Bluetooth and WiFi are both turned on, and the car will automatically search for your phone. At this point, a pairing code will pop up on your phone. Verify that it matches the one displayed on the car's screen, then click confirm to connect. The first time might take a few extra minutes to download the communication protocol, but after that, it will connect automatically in seconds when you get in the car. If the connection is interrupted, try turning on airplane mode on your phone and then turning it off again to restart the search. Remember to reboot the car's system monthly to clear the cache, which can help avoid many mysterious bugs.

[IsaacFitz]

If CarPress fails to connect, it's most likely a compatibility issue. I once experienced connection failure after an Apple system update, and later found that the car's firmware needed to be upgraded to the latest version. First, delete the existing vehicle record in your phone's 'Settings' - 'General' - 'CarPlay'. Turn off the car, lock the doors, and wait for ten minutes to ensure a complete power cycle. After restarting, reconnect using the method mentioned earlier. Many cars manufactured before 2017 require an additional adapter box. For example, my brother's Civic spent 300 yuan on a CarlinKit accessory. There are also videos on Douyin teaching how to bypass CarPlay restrictions, but I don't recommend unauthorized modifications—getting an upgrade at the 4S store is the safest option.