How to use wireless CarPlay

As you well know, using Apple CarPlay in the car can be done in two ways: through the vehicle's USB connection and depending on the car model we have, it will also allow its connection wirelessly. However, there are other alternatives that will allow you to use wireless CarPlay in any modern car on the market.

With the arrival of iOS 7 on the market, a new way of enjoying the Apple phone was also introduced in the infotainment systems of different vehicles. This new feature was called Apple CarPlay, a system that allowed some iPhone content to be played on the car's screen. However, this system was modernized and in addition to being able to work through a cable, it also allows the connection to the vehicle's system wirelessly. Do you want to know the ways in which you can use wireless CarPlay in any car? Here we'll explain to you how to do it.

Safety behind the wheel is the most important thing; You must always be aware of the road. And this the companies know. That is why this factor has been decisive in recent years. Likewise, both Apple and Google met with different car manufacturers and wanted to contribute their grain of sand to the sector. In the case of Apple, it was born Apple CarPlay, the best way to enjoy many of the applications installed on your iPhone directly on the car's screen.

Apple CarPlay Compatible Apps

Themes like music, GPS navigation or the popular WhatsApp are important in everyday life. However, having to stop paying attention to the road and having to hold the mobile in your hands to simply skip the song can become too dangerous.

Now, with Apple CarPlay you can carry applications such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal or Apple Music itself represented on the screen of your vehicle's infotainment system. Also, the application of Podcasts, books -to listen to audiobooks-, PlugShare -to know the electric charging stations-, Stitcher or the browser Waze complete the current list of compatible applications.

How to connect wireless CarPlay to a car without the need for external equipment

Since 2016, cars that come on the market usually come standard with Apple CarPlay compatibility, especially through the use of a cable; In other words: as when we do it with an Android mobile, connect to the vehicle's USB port and the relevant interface will automatically be launched on the car's screen. The only thing you will have to take into consideration is that the Apple assistant, Siri, is activated on your iPhone:

1. Go to the settings smartphone from Apple
2. Look for the 'Siri and search' section. Enter in the
3. Make sure that the 'Wake on hearing "Hey Siri"' and 'Siri when screen locked' options are turned on

Done. Plug the iPhone with the Lightning cable into the car. Also, you don't have to worry that while Apple CarPlay is working, the cable's battery will be charging.

Use wireless Apple CarPlay with a compatible car

Now, if you know that your car is compatible with wireless CarPlay, the way to proceed will be different. At least the first time you connect the smartphone from the bitten apple to the vehicle. With that being said, do the following steps:

1. Activate Siri
2. have the Bluetooth and WiFi connections turned on
3. Now connect the iPhone to the car by cable
4. If your car supports the wireless version of CarPlay, you will get a message on the iPhone screen that you will be offered to go wireless the next time you get into the car
5. Ready. You already have CarPlay wirelessly in your vehicle

Use wireless CarPlay using an external item

The problem can occur in the event that you want to connect wirelessly in your car and the latter do not support this method. Relax, because there are alternatives. And here are some of them:

CarLinkit 4.0

It is a small device called Carlin Kit 4.0, which will make your Apple phone connect to the infotainment system completely wirelessly. Is compatible with vehicles manufactured from 2016 to 2022 -it is understood that the most current models usually already have wireless CarPlay installed-.

Now this invention will work as long as your vehicle can launch Apple's car-focused system using a USB cable; Otherwise, this device will be of no use to you.

OttoCast – an adapter that offers more possibilities to a conventional CarPlay

Another of the most interesting options is this adapter called OttoCast. Like the previous option, it will allow you to connect your iPhone to the infotainment system without the need for a cable. Now, the price of this adapter is somewhat high –around 200 euros-, however, offers some interesting options that original wireless CarPlay does not have.

These possibilities are being able to launch applications on the screen of our vehicle such as YouTube and Netflix. In addition, it can be a complete multimedia center, since It has a USB port on one of its sides. What does this mean? Being able to connect an external hard drive or a USB memory with multimedia content (videos, photos, etc.) and play them on the car's screen.

ISIX adapter to use wireless CarPlay

Of the three options that we offer you, this one from the company ISIX it is the most affordable. In addition, it is also the option that takes up less space. According to the company, this adapter does not need extra applications, or anything like that. And at least the transmitting iPhone must be an iPhone 6 running iOS 10 or later. On the other hand, this adapter is only compatible with Apple CarPlay; instead the other two models can be used with smartphones based on Android.

How to organize the apps that appear in CarPlay

The last thing we will tell you in this article is that CarPlay can also be customized. By this we mean that you can add and remove apps that appear on the screen, as well as be able to change your order. This is done as follows:

1. Start the car and connect the iPhone through Apple CarPlay with the option that best suits your situation
2. Sign in iPhone Settings – General and tap on CarPlay
3. Inside, click on your vehicle and tap on the 'customize' option
4. Now it's time to add applications by clicking on the button '+' or remove applications with the ' symbol-'
5. If you want to change their order, you only have to move the applications that you have in your list