Apple’s iOS 26 update includes, like, a gazillion new features. CarPlay is totally different now. You can add widgets to your car? Here’s a handy guide to iOS 26’s new features for CarPlay (plus, how to cope if you can’t get them to work).
iOS 26 lets you add widgets to CarPlay and this is so helpful
Widgets are those little previews of apps on your iPhone, that show you handy info like the weather or recent messages without you having to load the whole app. Once your phone is updated to iOS 26, you can now add widgets to CarPlay, so you can see stuff like the weather or your calendar as you’re driving along.
You can even add Live Activities to the widgets page, so you can see up-to-date info on sports scores or your Ringo parking.
To add widgets to your car, go into the Settings app on your iPhone. Select General, then CarPlay, then Widgets. You can rearrange widgets to your heart’s content. Please, please don’t attempt to do this while you’re actually driving.
If you’re struggling to get widgets to work, it might be because your car’s screen is too small to fit many in.
so with the new iOS update i can have widgets on carplay and….now i know who im driving safe for
pic.twitter.com/ognDTYUwbR
— 𓋼𓍊shutter 𓍊𓋼 (@shutterxfox) September 22, 2025
CarPlay now comes with pretty wallpapers
I’m afraid you still can’t use a photo as the wallpaper for CarPlay. I guess the Apple developers worry this could be too distracting? But CarPlay now comes with 12 new wallpapers, which makes the display a bit less dull. They match the vibes of the new iPhone wallpapers.
To change the background of CarPlay, you’ll need to go into the Settings section of CarPlay when you’re in your car, then choose Wallpaper. In the Appearance section, you can now play around with the size of the text, or switch between Light and Dark mode.
@jct600ltd Don’t worry there’s still pink!
#JCT600 #Volkswagen #AppleCarPlay #Apple #iOS26
I’m afraid liquid glass has come to cars
Well, I’m sure a lot of people love the new “liquid glass” look of iOS 26. I just haven’t met any of them. You can’t turn liquid glass off on your iPhone, or on CarPlay. Sorry. If you find the app icons hard to see, you can play around with their transparency, whether they’re dark or light mode, and what your wallpaper is. That might make it easier to see.
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