Advanced infotainment systems have become a staple in modern cars. With a system like Apple CarPlay, you can experience on-the-go convenience without diverting your attention from driving. Apple CarPlay transforms your car’s touchscreen into a connectivity hub, allowing easy navigation, hands-free calling and entertainment.
To make the most of this infotainment system, there are some Apple CarPlay tips and tricks that you must know. To address this, we have compiled a list of these hacks. Let’s delve into them.
Apple CarPlay Tips and Tricks – Here’s What Every Driver Should Know
Apple CarPlay is a smartphone integration system designed by Apple for vehicles. It allows users to connect their iPhones to their car’s infotainment system, providing access to navigation, music, calls and other apps in a simplified, driver-friendly interface.
In addition, Apple CarPlay mirrors your iPhone’s interface onto your car’s touchscreen when driving. You can navigate using Apple Maps and make hands-free calls with Siri – all while keeping your focus on the road. Besides, as per the UAE traffic rules, you can get an AED 400 fine and four black points if you use the phone while driving.
Let’s go through the lesser-known features of Apple CarPlay.
Customise the Home Screen
You can easily customise the infotainment screen when you pair your phone to the car via Apple CarPlay. With every software update, Apple adds a new background to the CarPlay display. You can also switch between light and dark modes.
After that, go to Settings > General > CarPlay on your phone and select ‘Customisation’. It will allow you to add, remove or rearrange apps on your home screen. You can hide apps from the home screen, however, they won’t be deleted from your iPhone. In addition, you can go for split-screen to manage multiple apps.
Make Use of ‘Focus Mode’
The Focus mode, previously called the ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature in Apple CarPlay, aligns with your iPhone’s Driving Focus and minimises distractions by allowing tailored notifications and calls. Activated automatically based on motion, car Bluetooth connection, or manually, it ensures a safer, more focused driving experience.
Since using a phone is one of the dangerous driving habits, the Focus Mode reduces distractions and creates an enhanced driving interface. Additional tips include sharing your Focus status, customising the home screen and using auto-replies.
Search for EV Charging Stations
As an EV owner, you can use Apple Maps to locate nearby EV charging stations in RAK, Dubai or any other emirate you are in. However, this upgrade is only available for iOS 15 or above.
To access nearby EV charging stations through Apple Maps, navigate to the Search bar, input ‘EV Chargers’ and select the relevant entry from the search results. Subsequently, a map with the screen will show a map of the closest charging stations, adding to your convenience.
Customise the Navigation View
Apple has topped up their Maps game since the iOS 13 update. You can view the Maps in a 2D or 3D layout. Moreover, you can find other details like UAE speed limits, petrol stations, eateries and buildings.
As for the Navigation View customisation, change the map view by switching between standard, 3D and hybrid views and zoom in or out as needed. Adjust settings on your car’s touchscreen: set a wallpaper, minimise distractions with Driving Focus and customise spoken directions by adjusting volume and language.
Beyond CarPlay, you also have app options from the App Store to avail the benefits of GPS from this system.
Go For Hands-Free Control: Siri
Among many Apple CarPlay tips, a useful one is to avail the hands-free control feature. You can give instructions to Siri, Apple’s digital assistant and it will send messages, dial calls and stream music for you.
Moreover, in iOS 15 and higher updates, Siri notifies and announces incoming text messages and even sets reminders for you. It can share estimated times of arrival (ETAs) with your contacts and play podcasts without blocking the infotainment screen. It appears as a small spinning ball at the bottom of the screen.
Multitask Comfortably
With the arrival of iOS 13, Apple CarPlay got a major upgrade in multitasking. Now, you can split the CarPlay screen between two or three apps at the same time, like checking Maps while keeping an eye on your music or calendar.
For instance, if you are new at driving, you can comfortably use apps for drivers in Dubai without messing up what’s on CarPlay. This improvement has opened up new ways to interact with multiple apps, making CarPlay even more user-friendly.
Add More Apps
In the latest iOS updates, Apple lets you put more apps on CarPlay. You can add things like Spotify, Waze and other navigation apps to customise your dashboard easily. Plus, you can get third-party apps from the App Store for different purposes like locating EV stations or finding car parking in Dubai.
Apart from the above-mentioned tips, you can also Apple CarPlay hacks to make the most of this system:
- Use Siri to control your vehicle’s climate control system if it’s compatible with the Apple CarPlay.
- If your phone has an iOS 13 or above, share your ETA with your contact and allow them to track your journey.
- To use CarPlay in multiple cars, connect your iPhone to each vehicle’s USB port, customise settings as needed and switch between cars by disconnecting and reconnecting your device.
- You can access your calendar on the go to check your schedule, plan routes to appointments and receive timely reminders,
FAQs
What are some cool Apple CarPlay tips?
Some essential Apple CarPlay tips include multitasking, searching for EV charging stations, adding or removing apps and using Siri for different instructions.
How do I Organise my Apple CarPlay?
Outside your vehicle, access iPhone Settings, go to General > CarPlay, choose your car, tap Customise and adjust the app order. To remove, tap the icon, then select Remove.
Can you add different apps to CarPlay?
Yes, you can add and install third-party apps to Apple CarPlay via the App Store.
These are some of the essential Apple CarPlay tips that you can consider to have a comfortable and safe journey. It’s about making CarPlay work if you own or plan to buy a used car in the UAE, as per your preference.
Moreover, if your car is compatible with an Android phone, here are some Android Auto tips and tricks. You can find more details about the two systems in our Android Auto and Apple CarPlay guide.
To learn more about Apple CarPlay tips and tricks for a safe and fun-filled journey, keep reading dubizzle’s cars blog.
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