We typically use CarPlay for standard calls and navigation, but Apple's infotainment system offers so much more. Today, I'll show you some little-known tricks and features worth exploring, making your daily use of this system easier.
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Change the icons
Typically, we find an interface with pre-defined icons that seemingly can't be moved or organized. While on a smartphone, simply pressing and holding the home screen rearranges the icons, this isn't possible on CarPlay. However, we can still customize the screen by going into the iPhone Settings, going to the General menu, and then to CarPlay. Now, select your vehicle and then click Customize. Here, we'll find a list of all the apps supported on CarPlay. We can easily rearrange them by dragging the individual icons up or down. The changes are applied instantly. You can also remove apps you don't use from CarPlay by clicking Remove. The apps aren't deleted from your phone, only from CarPlay. If you change your mind and want to return to the original layout, just click the Reset button.
Wallpapers
On a smartphone we are used to customizing the screen display with all sorts of wallpapers, on CarPlay we can't apply the wallpaper we want but we can still change it by drawing on those offered by the system which are minimal and above all optimized for dark mode, without distracting from driving.
Album Art
For Apple Music, but also Spotify and various streaming music players, speaking of avoiding distractions while driving, when listening to music, we're likely to be shown the artist's album art. It's bright and colorful, and striking, but as beautiful as it may be, it can be distracting, especially at night. We can, however, disable its display by going into the CarPlay settings and scrolling down to Display, then Show Artwork, and unchecking it. This also improves the fluidity of the controls, which become larger and easier to click.
Siri for music
Have you ever noticed that when you listen to music, you can't scroll forward or back like you can on your smartphone? The scroll bar on CarPlay is purely for informational purposes, not for interaction. Nothing could be simpler: you can ask Siri to skip the track if you don't like it or skip it if you don't like it.
Audio messages
The Siri voice assistant certainly makes the CarPlay experience easier, allowing you to perform certain actions hands-free by simply saying the magic word, "Hey Siri." Messages, for example, can only be sent in text form on WhatsApp by dictating the message, which will be transcribed into text and sent. However, if we use iMessage, we can also send audio messages. Furthermore, Siri can also be asked to find out the scores of your favorite team or to make appointments and reminders, all without taking your hands off the wheel. Everything will be synced across all iOS devices.
Music and maps without a connection
When traveling long distances, you may encounter stretches of road where there may be no signal, such as tunnels or passages, meaning that if you're listening to music or podcasts, playback will be interrupted. But if you know you'll be traveling these roads, simply download the music or podcast offline, which you'll also find on CarPlay in the "Downloaded Music and/or Content" section, so you'll always have it with you even if you're without signal. Everything we've just said can also be applied to maps, so you can still have navigation active even in a total lack of cellular signal. From Maps, search for the area you need to go to and select the "Download" option. A preview of the map will appear, which you can zoom in or out to see the area. The great thing is that you won't be giving up any information, as you'll be shown details like restaurant reviews.
Color filters
For people who have trouble seeing colors correctly, such as colorblind people, you can enable color filters by going into the CarPlay settings and scrolling to the Accessibility option. In addition to grayscale, you can also choose specific filters for protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia, and manage their intensity across three levels. From the same Accessibility menu, you can also make text bold for better viewing or enlarge it.
Share the arrival
You're on your way to an appointment, maybe you're running late, and you promptly receive a text from your friend, girlfriend, or someone else asking when you'll be arriving. With CarPlay, you can share your arrival time. If you're navigating with Maps, clicking on the icon at the bottom opens a menu with the "Share Arrival" option, where you can choose the contact you want to share it with. This way, the recipient will receive a message containing precise information, taking into account traffic, accidents on the route, or roadworks.
Privacy notifications
CarPlay, combined with Siri, allows you to automatically read incoming messages, a very useful feature for avoiding distractions while driving by picking up your phone. However, if you're in the car with others, you might not want them listening to your messages, perhaps with private details. So, in the CarPlay settings, scroll down to "Read Messages," where you can disable the feature. Even more drastic is the option to not show notifications from certain apps altogether, such as WhatsApp. Go to your iPhone's settings, select the notifications section, find the app you don't want to see the notification, and disable the "Show on CarPlay" option.
Parking
Have you parked your car but always forget where? Maps has a handy feature that automatically saves your car's location without you having to do anything. So when you need to get back to your car, just ask Siri where your car is. It will automatically offer walking navigation with the best route.
Bonus trick with quick command
iOS offers the ability to create shortcuts that perform actions under certain circumstances. How many times have you gotten out of the car only to find yourself a few minutes later in a downpour, even though the weather seemed fine? Well, we can run a shortcut that, upon disconnecting from CarPlay, will warn us if there's a chance of rain. So, while still in the car, we can grab an umbrella to avoid being caught unawares by the incoming downpour.
⛅️ Link to the shortcut command: https://bit.ly/4nyWACu
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