How to Fix CarPlay Not Working iPhone 13 & 13 Pro Max [10+ Fixes!]

To fix Carplay not working iPhone 13 and Pro, simply start off by updating your iOS, turning Siri back on, turning the USB restriction off, or resetting your devices.

Apple’s CarPlay is a cool way to use certain apps on your car’s infotainment system. With a simplified iOS-like interface, you can make calls, send messages, listen to music, and even see maps.

Besides, you have Siri to control it all hands-free while driving. But sometimes CarPlay stops working, particularly on iPhone 13 and Pro, which can be super annoying.

Maybe it won’t connect, your apps won’t open, or even if it does, there’s no sound. But don’t fret!

Besides the common fixes, we’ve rounded up over ten different ways to fix CarPlay not working on iPhone 13 or Pro. Let’s explore them in more detail.

How to Fix CarPlay Not Working on iPhone 13 and 13 Pro Max?

So, here are the top ways to resolve the CarPlay not working issue on your iPhone 13 or Pro to get you back to jamming out on the road.

1. Make Sure It’s Compatible

The first thing you’re going to do is check if CarPlay is even available in your region and if your car is compatible with it. After all, having an iPhone and a car doesn’t always necessarily give you access to use CarPlay.

Currently, CarPlay is supported in 36 countries, so you should check to see if yours is one of them. Or, you can visit Apple’s website to check out a list of all the cars compatible with CarPlay. That way, you can know for sure if you’re good to go.

However, even if your car isn’t on the list, you can still use CarPlay by picking up a similar system from Sony or JVC.

2. Ensure CarPlay Is Enabled

It may sound silly but double-check if your car has CarPlay enabled. What if you’ve, for whatever reason, disabled it in the past and simply forgot?

You can locate the CarPlay settings in the car’s infotainment system. From there, make sure that CarPlay is toggled to the “on” position.

Then from your iPhone 13 or Pro, simply go to Settings, then General, and select CarPlay.

Once you’re there, choose CarPlay to connect the app to your car, and enable the “Allow CarPlay While Locked” option.

Also, look for the “Content & Privacy Restrictions” option. If it’s on, tap on Allowed Apps and turn on CarPlay. Disable the Airplane mode as well.

3. Disable the Music Equalizer

Some iPhone 13 users have found a super simple way to fix the CarPlay not working issue – by turning off the Equalizer (EQ) in Apple Music. No matter how absurd it may sound, it’s helped many.

Here’s what you need to do:

Open up your Settings app.

Tap on the “Music” option.

Then, tap on “EQ”.

Turn off the Equalizer.

Restart your iPhone.
Finally, reconnect to CarPlay to see if the issue has been fixed.

4. Set Dolby Atmos

There has also been some concern about CarPlay crashing not just during music playback, but also after ending a phone call. While explaining this problem, one user mentioned that he could not hear anything during calls, but other apps seem to work just fine.

Disabling the Dolby Atmos feature could make all the difference.

Here’s how you set Dolby Atmos:

From Settings, tap on the “Music” option.
Look for “Dolby Atmos”.
Deactivate it or set it to “Automatic”.
Finally, restart the iPhone and reconnect it to CarPlay to see if the issue has been resolved.

5. Update Your iOS to a More Stable Version

CarPlay will often stop working after an iOS update fails or returns errors. So, update your iPhone’s iOS version to the latest stable version and try using CarPlay again.

To update your iOS, just head to Settings, followed by General and Software Update. Then, hit Download and Install.

Once the update finishes, re-enable CarPlay in the Settings app and reconnect to your car.

6. Enable/Re-Enable Siri

Siri is crucial for using CarPlay and hands-free infotainment. So, when you have trouble using Apple CarPlay on your iPhone 13 Pro, it might be because Siri isn’t enabled. Here’s how you enable it:

First, open up the Settings app on your iPhone.
Next, look for the Siri & Search option and select it.
You need to toggle on the following options from the picture below

If you haven’t enabled the “Listen for Hey Siri” feature before, Siri needs to register your voice first. It’s really simple though, just follow these steps:

After you see the screen where you have to set up “Hey Siri,” select the Continue button.
Say the commands your phone displays.

Once you’ve completed the setup, tap Done and you’re good to go.

7. Check the CarPlay Stereo Connection to Your iPhone

Bad connections can often cause your CarPlay to not work. To connect your phone to your stereo, you can either use a cable or connect wirelessly via Bluetooth.

If you’re using a cable, make sure it’s not broken or frayed.

If it is, try another one. And don’t forget to check if it’s plugged in securely to your stereo’s USB port. If it’s loose, try a different port or a new cable altogether.

Don’t forget to turn off Airplane Mode if you’re connecting wirelessly. You don’t want to use this mode because it prevents your phone from sending and receiving wireless signals.

Also, ensure that you have both Bluetooth and WiFi turned on. You can easily do this by swiping down from the top right of your screen and tapping on the WiFi and Bluetooth icons until they turn blue.

8. Disconnect Other Bluetooth Devices

While you’re at it, it’s a good idea to disconnect from any other Bluetooth devices that you’re not using anymore. Here’s how you go:

Go to Settings from your iPhone.
Tap on Bluetooth.
Remove the device by clicking on the ‘i’ icon beside it.
Select “Forget This Device.”
To confirm the disconnection, select “Forget Device.”

Even though it’s not very likely that old Bluetooth connections will mess with your CarPlay, it’s still a good idea to keep your phone clutter-free to help it run smoothly.

9. Disconnect and Reconnect CarPlay

Occasionally, CarPlay connections become corrupted due to connectivity glitches. That’s why it’s a good idea to try disconnecting and then reconnecting it.

To do this, simply launch the iPhone’s Settings app and select General. Then, select CarPlay, look for your car’s name, and tap it.

When you’ve done that, select the “Forget this car” option and tap the Forget button to confirm.

Once it’s forgotten, reconnect your car with a USB cable or Bluetooth and tap the car’s name in the menu and then tap the Connect button.

10. Re-Enable CarPlay

Sometimes, other settings or connections on your phone can interfere with the CarPlay app, but simply re-enabling it can often solve whatever issue it’s having.

First, ensure your phone is connected to your vehicle through Bluetooth or a cable. Then, open up Settings on your iPhone 13, and navigate to the General menu.

From there, click on CarPlay and find your car’s name in the connectivity list. Once found, simply tap it to re-enable Apple CarPlay.

No worries if you aren’t sure what follows next. Depending on your car, certain additional steps may need to be taken. Just check your vehicle’s manual for those.

11. Disable USB Restriction Mode

Did you know that your iPhone has a feature called USB Restricted Mode that protects you from sneaky hackers?

The feature is pretty cool, but if you’re using Apple CarPlay with a cable, enabling USB Restricted Mode can get in the way.

So, if you want to disable USB Restricted Mode from iPhone:

Launch the Settings app.
Tap on Face ID & passcode.

If your device asks for it, enter your passcode.
Locate the Allow Access When Locked option.
You should see a slider that says USB Accessories – toggle that on. If the slider turns green, then USB Restricted Mode is now turned off.

And if you want to be extra safe from those pesky hackers, you can always turn USB Restricted Mode back on when you’re done using Apple CarPlay.

12. Restart Your iPhone and Your Car

Sometimes, all it takes is a simple reboot. And it can help when the Apple CarPlay logo doesn’t appear on your car’s display.

All you’ve got to do is restart both your car and your iPhone 13. Here’s how you can do it:

Hold down your iPhone’s side button and any of the two volume buttons until you see the Power Off slider appear on your screen.

Swipe that slider to the right to turn off your phone. It might take around 30 seconds to switch off completely.

Once your phone is off, turn it back on by pressing and holding the Power button for about 10 seconds. Release only when the Apple icon appears.
Finally, restart your car and try connecting to Apple CarPlay again to see if it fixed the issue.

13. Reset Your iPhone’s Settings

When your Apple CarPlay isn’t working on your iPhone 13 Pro, one of the reasons could be changes to your phone’s settings. But don’t worry, you can fix this by resetting your iPhone’s settings.

Just keep in mind that when you reset your settings, your Home Screen layout, Apple Pay cards, location settings, privacy settings, network settings, and keyboard history will all go back to their default settings.

But no need to fret because this won’t wipe out any personal data or multimedia files. Here’s how you do the reset:

Go to your Settings.

2. Look for “General” and tap on it.

3. Tap “Transfer or Reset iPhone.”

4. Select “Reset.”

5. Now “Reset All Settings.”

6. If your phone asks for a passcode, go ahead and provide it.

7. Finally, Confirm the reset by tapping “Reset All Settings.”

Your phone will start reconfiguring all of your settings and will restart automatically once it’s done. Once it restarts, just remember to turn on WiFi, Siri, and Bluetooth, so you can reconnect to your Apple CarPlay.

14. Update Your CarPlay Stereo Firmware

If your CarPlay is still not functioning correctly on your iPhone 13 Pro, it could be a problem related to the firmware in your car stereo.

You must be using the latest firmware from your vehicle’s manufacturer to keep Apple CarPlay running smoothly. The firmware updating process varies from car to car. You may just check your car’s manual or contact the manufacturer to see how you can update yours.

15. Seek Help from Apple

Lastly, if all of the solutions above fail to resolve your Apple CarPlay problems, you might need to seek assistance from Apple. You can reach out to them through the Apple Support app in your phone, or you can visit any nearby Apple Store and get help.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you still have queries regarding Apple CarPlay troubleshooting on your iPhone 13 Pro, here are some frequently asked questions that can help:

Why won’t my Apple CarPlay connect?

There can be many reasons why it’s not connecting, such as Bluetooth connection problems, a corrupted connection, an outdated firmware in your car stereo, or a corrupted iOS software. Or, maybe it’s just the result of leaving the airplane mode on.

Why is CarPlay disconnecting from my iPhone 13 or Pro and reconnecting again?

It could be due to a weak connection between your phone and car or your CarPlay settings have been changed. You can try toggling Restrictions off, resetting your iPhone’s settings, or restarting your devices. Or, you can use your USB cable for a more stable connection.

Apple CarPlay is not working after upgrading iOS to 15 and 16. What to do?

If your CarPlay has stopped working after updating to iOS 15 or 16, you can try downgrading to a previous version of iOS. Remember to do this before Apple stops signing it. Should that fail, rely upon third-party software like Unictool to downgrade it.

What to do when CarPlay doesn’t detect my iPhone 13?

First, try rebooting both the phone and the car. If that’s not enough, ensure the Bluetooth, WiFi, and Siri are turned on. Next, check if your car’s infotainment system is up to date. If all else fails, try resetting your phone’s settings. You can also seek help from Apple if nothing works.

Conclusion

CarPlay is one of the best features to come out of Apple in a while. It’s fun and non-intrusive, just what you want in a feature like this. With iOS at the core, you can access your information quickly and efficiently most of the time.

Yet, whenever you can’t connect CarPlay to your iPhone 13 or Pro or if you experience other issues, some of the tips and tricks above will hopefully fix those problems right up.

If not, take a few minutes to double-check all of these settings, apps, and services—you just might find the issue quickly without wasting a lot of time.