With Apple CarPlay seamlessly integrating smartphone features into vehicle infotainment systems, personalization is the key to unlocking a smarter and more intuitive drive. While CarPlay’s default interface is user-friendly, customizing the display can enhance efficiency, usability, and enjoyment while behind the wheel. Whether you’re looking to rearrange app layouts, add third-party applications, or customize vehicle-specific settings, this comprehensive guide provides clear steps and tips on how to fully optimize your CarPlay display.
This article is tailored for drivers who want to maximize their CarPlay experience by customizing their in-car interface to match their preferences and daily commuting needs. We’ll walk through how to personalize your screen layout, prioritize essential apps, and fine-tune settings specifically for your vehicle.
Why Customize Your CarPlay Display?
CarPlay was designed to bring the power of iOS into your car, allowing users to access favorite apps and tools while driving. However, a one-size-fits-all approach may not fit all drivers. Customizing the CarPlay display can serve multiple purposes:
- Optimize app accessibility for safer driving
- Reduce visual clutter by hiding less-used apps
- Personalize the digital environment according to preferences
- Match CarPlay interface with vehicle features or brand-specific UI aesthetics
Customization ensures that your in-car interface complements how you use your phone — so you’re not scrolling through apps when you’re driving. Let’s explore how to take control of your CarPlay display.
Step-by-Step Guide to Customizing CarPlay Applications
The heart of CarPlay customization revolves around which apps appear on-screen and how they are arranged. As Apple CarPlay pulls data and app control from your iPhone, customizations often occur directly from your phone.
1. Rearranging App Icons
App arrangement on a CarPlay screen is similar to iOS. Follow these steps:
- Connect your iPhone to your car’s infotainment system via USB or wireless connection.
- Open the CarPlay screen on your vehicle display.
- Press and hold any app icon until all the icons begin “wobbling” — similar to the effect when deleting apps on iOS.
- Drag app icons to your preferred location and drop them.
- Tap “Done” or press the CarPlay home screen button to exit edit mode.
Note: The physical screen on the car may not allow pinching or zooming, so all app management, including rearranging, is done directly through the connected iPhone display, depending on the vehicle model.
2. Adding and Hiding Apps
The available app set in CarPlay is pulled directly from your iPhone. However, you can choose which apps should appear on your CarPlay display. To manage this:
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > CarPlay > [Your Car’s Name].
- Select the CarPlay head unit profile (if you have more than one vehicle saved).
- Tap on “Customize” under the “App Layout” section.
- Here, you can add available apps by selecting “+ App” and hiding apps by tapping “- App.”
The customization settings let you fine-tune which apps appear across the CarPlay interface. For enhanced efficiency, stick to apps that support hands-free or limited-on-screen interaction.
Key CarPlay-Compatible App Categories
| Category | Recommended Apps (Examples) |
|---|---|
| Navigation | Apple Maps, Waze, Google Maps |
| Entertainment | Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music |
| Messaging | iMessage, WhatsApp (via Siri or message interface) |
| Podcasts & Audiobooks | Podcasts, Audible, Pocket Casts |
By selecting only the apps you use most, you can avoid visual overload and streamline driving-focused functions.
Customizing the CarPlay Dashboard for Real-Time Information
CarPlay’s dashboard appears upon startup and is usually the first screen you see. It typically combines media playback, navigation, phone controls, and app shortcuts. This section enables drivers to access key details with a glance.
Configure the Dashboard View
The level of customization depends on the car’s infotainment system and its CarPlay integration quality. While Apple defines the dashboard’s available features, automakers can offer unique configurations. Consult your car’s manual to review if dashboard widgets or layouts can be tweaked.
Here are general ways you can optimize the CarPlay dashboard:
- Select priority apps: Choose apps that display real-time media or navigation input, such as Apple Music or Apple Maps.
- Set up widgets: Some newer vehicle systems support CarPlay widgets for information like weather, calendar events, or battery status. Widgets appear on the dash or sidebar depending on the automaker.
On newer cars with customizable dashboards — such as some Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, or BMW models — you may toggle display modes and select which CarPlay functions are prioritized. For instance, some models replace analog dashboards with digital displays that sync with CarPlay, embedding its interfaces into the vehicle’s primary cluster.
Enhancing the Audio and Media Layout
The CarPlay media interface is a critical part of the driving experience. Whether you’re streaming from Apple Music, Spotify, or podcasts, tweaking how media is displayed helps ensure your preferred source is always within reach.
1. Rearranging Media Cards
In CarPlay, media sources appear as cards in the media interface. With an iPhone running iOS 14 or higher, iOS CarPlay automatically displays the most recent media sources. However, these can be manually rearranged:
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > CarPlay and select your car model.
- Tap on “Media Layout.”
- Long-press and drag the media app cards to your preferred order.
- Tap “Done” to save changes.
By placing your most-used streaming app at the top, you’ll quickly access the right one without scrolling, improving the in-motion experience.
2. Choosing Default Media Apps
You can also set a default audio app for CarPlay so that your favorite music or podcast app launches automatically once the car starts:
- On your iPhone under CarPlay settings, select your vehicle.
- Go to “Media Layout” and tap “Default Player.”
- Select the app you want to always appear first in the media section.
This subtle but meaningful change ensures a personalized experience and prevents automatic launching of an unused or secondary media service.
Personalizing CarPlay with Widgets via iOS and Automaker Configurations
CarPlay widgets offer glanceable information — such as weather, calendar events, or phone battery levels — and may be integrated into your dashboard or alongside media or navigation screens.
Enabling Widgets (iOS-Level Customization)
Widgets typically depend on available iOS app integrations and are added or removed on your iPhone:
- Open the CarPlay settings menu on your iPhone.
- Select “Widgets” and toggle on or off features like Calendar, Weather, Clock, or Battery Status.
- Depending on supported car models, these will automatically appear in a dedicated part of the CarPlay interface.
Tip: If you’re often in motion during meetings, enable the Calendar widget to preview your next appointment without needing to ask Siri or unlock your phone.
Vehicle-Specific Widget Options
Some automakers offer additional built-in widgets or dashboard integrations:
- Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX): Shows music, navigation, and climate widget integrations in CarPlay mode.
- BMW iDrive 8: Features Apple CarPlay Plus, which includes more interactive widgets aligned with the car’s onboard diagnostics.
- Kia and Hyundai: Offer deeper integration and allow toggling between stock UI and CarPlay dashboard mode seamlessly.
Check your vehicle’s CarPlay integration capabilities or system firmware updates for improved widget support.
Customizing Siri Responses and Voice Controls
Siri remains the voice control backbone of Apple CarPlay, and you can tailor voice interactions to suit your habits, accent, language, and usage patterns.
1. Setting Preferred Voice and Language
To customize Siri’s voice or language output:
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > Siri & Search.
- Tap “Siri Voice” and choose male, female, or other regional accents.
- Select preferred language under “Language” for multilingual users.
By choosing a voice that’s easier for you to understand or matches your car’s locale settings, you enhance clarity and usability.
2. Training Siri for Better Recognition
To improve voice recognition accuracy over time:
- Enable “Listen for ‘Hey Siri’” under Siri settings.
- Allow iOS to learn your voice pattern by speaking the required phrases during setup.
- Train Siri to better understand personalized phrases by repeating them when misunderstood.
Pro Tip: If you frequently use third-party apps through CarPlay, practice voice commands like, “Play jazz music on Spotify,” or “Send a message via WhatsApp to [Name],” to help Siri adapt to more complex requests.
Customizing Apple CarPlay with Third-Party Apps
CarPlay has opened its doors to third-party developers, leading to a vast range of supported apps beyond Apple’s defaults. Personalizing which of these show up on your display makes the UI more intuitive.
How to Add Third-Party Apps to CarPlay
Once installed on your iPhone, many third-party apps will prompt you to “Add to CarPlay” automatically. If not, follow these steps:
- Open the app you want to enable for CarPlay (e.g., Spotify, Google Maps).
- Connect your iPhone to your vehicle.
- Go to Settings > CarPlay > [Your Car] > “Customize App Layout” on your iPhone.
- Search for the app and tap to enable it.
Keep in mind that automakers may impose limitations on supported apps due to screen sizes or hardware restrictions.
Recommended Third-Party Apps for CarPlay
| App | Use Case |
|---|---|
| Google Maps | Offers real-time traffic, lane guidance, and alternative routes |
| Spotify | Streaming music with full playlist and podcast controls |
| Podcasts | Listen to your favorite episodes directly in the CarPlay app tray |
| Pocket Casts | Advanced podcast control with playlist recommendations |
| Waze | Live traffic community-based navigation ideal for urban commutes |
Customizing Display Themes (Vehicle Brand Options)
True display themes like iOS dark/light modes aren’t available in CarPlay directly, but many automakers offer display personalizations that affect the CarPlay interface’s appearance:
- Bright mode for sunny days — enhances contrast and visibility in daylight.
- Dark mode for night driving — reduces glare and supports eye adaptation to darker conditions.
If you’re using CarPlay in a vehicle with an adaptive interior UI (like Tesla or newer Mercedes units), check the car settings panel to change these themes, which may also affect the CarPlay interface. For example, in some Land Rover models, CarPlay inherits the car’s ambient lighting, giving it a personalized aesthetic.
Additionally, future iOS updates and automaker partnerships are likely to bring further customization features, including adaptive interfaces that respond to time of day, geographic elevation, or weather conditions.
How to Reset CarPlay Customizations
If you’ve customized your CarPlay interface but want to start fresh or fix glitchy behavior, here’s how to reset and rebuild your setup:
- Go to Settings > CarPlay > [Your Car] > “Forget This Car.”
- Reconnect via wired or wireless means.
- Choose and arrange default apps anew for a clean CarPlay start.
Note: This action removes all settings and app configurations related to that vehicle from your iPhone, so you’ll need to manually customize again.
CarPlay Customization Across Vehicle Brands
Different automakers implement CarPlay differently due to variations in hardware, screen layout, and software architecture. Here’s how customization options vary by brand:
| Vehicle Brand | CarPlay Integration Level | Customization Possibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota | Hardware-limited but stable performance | High app layout flexibility, minimal dashboard widgets |
| Ford | Extensive sync integration with Sync4/Sync+ | Supports reordering, media card adjustments |
| BMW | Deep integration with iDrive infotainment | Dashboard widgets, advanced third-party app control |
| Tesla | Uses wireless screen mirroring | Very limited native CarPlay personalization |
| Honda | Good baseline support | Basic app rearrangement and selection |
Each brand offers a different level of control, but the methods covered earlier apply broadly where supported by the infotainment system.
Best Practices for Sustaining an Optimal CarPlay Experience
To ensure that your CarPlay remains functional, intuitive, and always customized to your preferences:
- Update your iOS and vehicle infotainment regularly to receive the latest features and bug fixes.
- Organize apps by frequency of use; prioritize navigation, music, or productivity tools relevant to your commute.
- Periodically review and reset customizations every few months to remove unused or lagging apps.
- Explore available third-party integrations annually to keep up with app evolution in iOS 17, 18, and beyond.
Consistent adjustments ensure that your interface remains fresh and responsive.
Final Thoughts: Driving with a CarPlay Interface Designed for You
Customizing your CarPlay display no longer needs to be an afterthought. Whether it’s rearranging app icons, adding widgets for daily glanceable insights, or selecting the right media apps for your trip, small tweaks can lead to a smarter and significantly enhanced driving experience.
Now that you’re equipped with the essential knowledge and tips, take a few minutes with your vehicle turned on and your iPhone connected, and begin shaping a CarPlay environment that matches your lifestyle. Once personalized, your drive won’t just be about getting from point A to B — it’ll reflect how you choose to drive in the digital age.
What is CarPlay and how can it be customized?
CarPlay is Apple’s in-car infotainment system that integrates your iPhone with your vehicle’s display, allowing you to use apps like Maps, Messages, and Music while driving. Because CarPlay mirrors your iPhone interface, many of its features can be customized similarly to your smartphone, offering a tailored experience. This includes rearranging apps, adjusting settings, and even modifying the wallpaper on compatible vehicles.
Customization options may vary depending on your car’s make and model, but generally, you can personalize the CarPlay dashboard through your iPhone’s settings. Most vehicles allow you to drag and drop apps on the CarPlay home screen, create folders, and hide or show specific apps. Some newer car models also support customizable widgets and dashboards, giving you a more personalized and functional interface for your everyday commute.
How do I rearrange apps on the CarPlay home screen?
To rearrange apps on your CarPlay home screen, start by connecting your iPhone to your car. Then, simply tap and hold an app icon until the icons begin to jiggle, just like on your iPhone. From there, drag the app to a new location on the screen or move it into a folder. You can also create folders by dragging one app onto another and naming the folder based on the category of apps it contains.
Once you have finished rearranging or organizing your apps, press the Home button or the CarPlay button on your infotainment system to exit edit mode. The new layout will be saved automatically and displayed every time you connect your iPhone. This allows for a streamlined and personalized CarPlay experience tailored to your most-used functions while driving.
Can I hide apps I don’t use on CarPlay?
Yes, you can hide certain apps that you don’t frequently use from appearing in your CarPlay interface. To do this, go to your iPhone’s Settings app, scroll down and tap on “CarPlay.” Select your connected vehicle and then choose “Customize” under the “CarPlay App” section. From there, you can uncheck the boxes next to any apps you wish to hide from the CarPlay home screen.
By hiding unused apps, you can reduce clutter and improve your ability to focus on the most relevant tools for your driving experience. This feature is especially useful if you’re trying to minimize distractions or make your user interface more efficient. Once an app is hidden, it won’t appear on the CarPlay display, even when your iPhone is connected to your car’s infotainment system.
Is it possible to change the wallpaper on CarPlay?
Changing the CarPlay wallpaper is possible on some vehicle models but depends on your car manufacturer and the version of iOS you’re using. While Apple does not provide a direct way to change CarPlay’s wallpaper via the iPhone, certain carmakers like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and BMW offer built-in display customization options. These vehicles allow drivers to choose from a range of preset wallpapers or even set their own images when using CarPlay.
If your vehicle supports this feature, you can usually access wallpaper customization through the car’s infotainment system settings and selecting “Display” or “CarPlay Settings.” It’s important to check your vehicle’s owner manual or contact the manufacturer for more details about supported personalization features, as this functionality may vary.
How does CarPlay customization improve the driving experience?
Customizing your CarPlay display enhances the driving experience by allowing you to personalize your dashboard to align with your lifestyle and driving habits. By arranging your most frequently used apps in a convenient order, hiding distractions, and possibly applying custom wallpapers, drivers can interact with CarPlay more intuitively, helping them stay focused on the road. This tailored setup makes it easier to access navigation, music, podcasts, and communication features quickly and safely.
Additionally, these customizations are synced with your iPhone, so if multiple drivers use the same car, each can personalize their CarPlay experience independently. This means that when one driver connects their iPhone, their preferred layout appears, and when another does, their setup populates automatically. These enhancements lead to a more seamless, efficient, and enjoyable driving experience, especially for daily commuters or long-distance travelers.
Does CarPlay customization affect vehicle performance?
No, customizing your CarPlay display does not affect your vehicle’s performance in any way. Customizations like changing the app layout, hiding certain apps, or adjusting wallpaper are purely aesthetic and interface-related. The CarPlay system is designed to work smoothly within your car’s infotainment unit and does not interfere with engine functions, safety systems, or vehicle diagnostics.
That said, keeping your CarPlay interface optimized by removing unused apps can improve the responsiveness of the system, making navigation and interaction faster and more efficient. This contributes to a more user-friendly experience without any impact on the vehicle’s mechanical operations or safety features.
Can I customize CarPlay settings while driving?
Most CarPlay customization features require you to either be parked or disconnected from the vehicle’s system for safety reasons. For example, rearranging apps, hiding them, or creating folders works best when the car is stationary because the system typically disables touch interaction with CarPlay while the car is in motion to prevent distractions. This restriction is enforced by Apple to ensure safety on the road.
However, some in-vehicle infotainment systems may allow limited customization based on the manufacturer’s implementation of CarPlay. That said, it’s important to follow your vehicle and device manufacturer’s guidelines and prioritize road safety. Any major screen reorganization should be done while parked or by your passenger to prevent unsafe behavior while driving.