How to Connect CarPlay in Buick Regal?
3 Answers
Prepare your iPhone and the original data cable, it is recommended to upgrade the phone system to iOS 9.0 or above. Start the vehicle, open the center console, locate the USB port, and connect the phone to the USB port using the data cable. The phone will prompt to enable Siri, and the vehicle will automatically launch CarPlay. If CarPlay does not start automatically on the vehicle, you can click the CarPlay icon on the phone to launch it. After successful connection, most of the basic functions of the phone can be operated through the vehicle's control panel.
I drive a Buick Regal and mainly use CarPlay via a data cable. When getting in the car, first plug the original Apple cable into the USB port in your center console or under the dashboard—look for the small phone icon next to the port. Turn the car key to the ignition-on position, and your iPhone screen should pop up with a prompt asking you to tap ‘Trust.’ Follow the instructions to unlock your phone and confirm. At this point, the Regal’s display should automatically switch to the CarPlay interface, though sometimes you may need to manually tap the phone icon at the bottom of the screen. I’ve found that you should never use knockoff cables, as loose connectors can cause disconnections. If it doesn’t connect the first time, try restarting your phone—don’t panic, the car’s system is a bit slow. Navigation and QQ Music work the smoothest for daily use, and it occasionally reads my WeChat messages too.
The Regal's CarPlay connection is actually quite intuitive. Here's my daily commute routine: start the engine first to let the system complete self-check, then plug in an Apple-certified cable to the front USB port. At this point, a phone icon will appear at the bottom of the center console screen - tapping it opens the CarPlay interface. The key points are enabling Siri on your phone and making sure to unlock your phone screen to tap "Allow" during first connection. Recently I discovered that with newer iOS versions, you need to check in Settings > General whether your vehicle is added to CarPlay's allowed list. Unplugging and reconnecting also helps. The port tends to have poor contact in extremely cold temperatures, so I always keep alcohol wipes in the left side of the steering wheel to clean the port - very practical during northern winters. By the way, base models might need to visit the dealership to activate the module.
