Can CarPlay Be Wireless: Ultimate Guide For Apple CarPlay Wireless Connection

Remember the first time you used a TV remote control? That magical moment when you realized you could change channels without getting up from the couch transformed how we interact with technology forever.

We're witnessing a similar revolution with Apple CarPlay—one that frees us from the tangled web of cables that have dominated our dashboards for far too long. At GetCarTablet, we believe your driving experience should match the wireless freedom you enjoy in the rest of your digital life.

Think about it: we live in an era where your refrigerator can order groceries and your thermostat adjusts itself before you arrive home, yet somehow we've accepted the archaic ritual of plugging and unplugging our phones every time we enter our vehicles.

This disconnect between our wireless expectations and the reality of our driving experience creates unnecessary friction in our daily routines—a problem we've dedicated ourselves to solving through innovative wireless CarPlay solutions.

By eliminating this distraction, wireless CarPlay creates a seamless transition from walking to driving, allowing your digital life to integrate naturally with your journey without compromising your safety.

Let us show you how simple it is to bring this wireless revolution to your vehicle, regardless of its age or current technology level.

How Do You Make My CarPlay Wireless? 

The most reliable path to wireless CarPlay freedom is through our purpose-built CarTablet Pro Max that comes with a wireless system, which we've engineered specifically to overcome the limitations of traditional adapters and factory systems. 

Unlike standalone wireless adapters that often struggle with connection stability and audio quality due to their retrofitted nature, our integrated wireless CarPlay tablets incorporate dedicated wireless chipsets optimized for consistent performance across varying vehicle environments.

CarPlay is Apple’s way of allowing your iPhone to connect to your car’s built-in infotainment system which is usually located on your dashboard. 

It puts the most useful apps—like Maps, Music, and Messages—right on your dashboard so you can use them safely while driving without needing to grab your phone.

When setting up wireless Apple CarPlay, the first step is to check if your car supports it. 

Not all cars have wireless CarPlay. Some only work with a USB cable, while others support wired and wireless connections. 

• I’ll guide you on how to check this in the next section because it varies by car brand.

Now, let’s go over the setup based on what your car supports:

If Your Car Supports Only Wireless CarPlay

Step 1: Press and hold the voice command button on your steering wheel.

Step 2: Make sure your car’s infotainment system is set to Bluetooth or wireless mode.

Step 3: On your iPhone, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and turn it on. Connect to your car’s CarPlay network and make sure Auto-Join is enabled.

Step 4: Then go to Settings > General > CarPlay on your iPhone and select your car.

If Your Car Supports Both Wireless and Wired CarPlay

Step 1: Plug your iPhone into your car’s USB port.

Step 2: The next time you connect, you’ll see a pop-up on your iPhone asking if you want to connect wirelessly— accept it!

How Do You Know if Your Car Supports Wireless CarPlay? 

The two easiest ways to know if your car supports wireless CarPlay:

1. Look for the Apple CarPlay icon on your car’s screen.

2. Try connecting your iPhone—if you see a prompt to go wireless, you’re good to go!

If you still haven't had luck, visit Apple’s CarPlay availability page to see if your model is listed.

Apple says over 800 models support this feature, but they don’t exactly provide an accurate list of which specifically come with wireless CarPlay.  

If a car was made in 2019 or later and has CarPlay, it’s likely to also have the wireless version. 

But don’t take that as a guarantee—some models might not include it. Always check the manufacturer’s details.  

• By the way, you can buy high-quality cartablets from us, regardless of your car’s model. Just stick it on your dashboard with the stand or on your windshield with the suction cup (both included). 

• You then plug the cable into your cigarette lighter, 12V port, or car charger and pair the screen with your phone via Bluetooth—it works with both Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

Will Your iPhone Support CarPlay? 

In 2015, Apple added a wireless version of CarPlay with the release of iOS 9.

This means that if you have an iPhone that is newer than the iPhone 5 and it's running at least iOS 9, you can use wireless CarPlay without any issues.

So, unless you're using a really old iPhone, your device should be able to support wireless CarPlay just fine.

Wireless CarPlay Slow to Connect (Causes And Solutions)

Sometimes, even after confirming compatibility, you may still have trouble connecting. 

Here are some of the common causes, some of which I’ve personally encountered and solved: 

If the issue persists, then it’s most likely that the CarPlay is not prioritized in your phone’s network settings. In that case, you need to forget the car’s Wi-Fi in your phone’s settings and reconnect to prioritize CarPlay.

Finally, the Downsides of Wireless CarPlay

One downside of wireless CarPlay is that it doesn’t charge your iPhone like a USB cable. 

Since it runs on a wireless connection, it can quickly drain your battery. But you can keep your phone charged by plugging it into a USB port, and CarPlay will keep working wirelessly.

If your car has a wireless charging pad, you can just place your phone there instead.  

One of my cars has a “charge pocket” for wireless charging, which works with Qi and sort of with MagSafe. However, note that it might be too small for the newer, larger phones.