CarPlay not working with iPhone 16 Pro

I had this same problem and doing a "Reset to factory settings" on the car radio is what fixed it for me.

I have three GM vehicles (two 2017 Chevy Cruzes and a 2019 Chevy Traverse) that I had been using with my iPhone XR via CarPlay for years. When I upgraded to an iPhone16 Pro the Traverse and one of the Cruzes worked immediately, but the second Cruze wouldn't recognize the phone via CarPlay no matter what I did. After two days of fiddling I finally did "Reset to factory settings" after which it instantly recognized the new phone.

Have you tried going into Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, and turned it on? That's fixed it for a lot a people. But you might have something in those settings specifically disallowing Music.

I got the answer (hopefully)!

I had the same issue. I drive a 2021 Mazda CX30 and I upgraded to the iPhone Pro 16 Max and the phone wouldn’t connect to Carplay. I saw it was a problem everywhere online so I had given up. I decided to look on Youtube and I found a guy sharing the gospel. Apparently, there are TWO types of USBC cables made. One for charging and one for Data sharing (that also charges). Find a cable that says it’s for data sharing in the description of the product and you got it! I bought a USB to USBC cable a Target for like $6.

Had the same issue with my iPhone 16 Pro and 2024 Ford Puma ST (Sync 3). Just simply changing the cable to a better quality one worked for me. I was using a cheaper Anker cable and it did nothing then swapped for the cable that came with my Bose speaker and it work fine, no other changes to phone or car settings.

Hope this helps, thanks

It turns out that according to this list of car models, CarPlay is currently only compatible with 2019 - 2024 CX-5 vehicles.

Hurray...it works!!! Opel Customer service helped me out and found the final solution!!! I have an Opel Astra from 2018 which doesn't support cordless Carplay. Nothing worked, tried many different cables, even an wireless adapter but the real solution is in the menu. Connect your Iphone with a cable, select in the dashboard screen of your car the option "Projection", if asked for give admission to connect your Iphone and it will show the Carplay menu on the screen. Then, choose in settings of the Iphone Carplay and the car will be shown in the menu. I am thrilled it finally works. Hope it will work for other cars too.

I had exactly the same issue. As soon as I changed to a USBC- A cable that supported data (rather than just charging) it worked straight away.

Purchased the Belkin braided USB-A to USB-C cable as recommended in this thread and CarPlay worked immediately. Thanks you guys!

Had same issue with my brand new iPhone 16 pro in my carplay enabled 2016 Skoda Octavia. Worked perfectly with my iPhone 11. But couldn’t connect with my new phone. Solved it today by buying the Apple USB-C to Lightning adapter (€35). Connected immediately!

I have same problem it intermittently connects some time stay connected than drops out again. I have to restart the car to get connect.

sadly this is one of the many issues I have with this new iPhone 16PRO

I for one would be happier if Apple Pay’s attention to product quality than bringing more emojis

Hi Dan

I have a 2018 Mercedes Benz E-Class and I’m experiencing the same problem going from an iPhone 13 to a new iPhone 16 Pro. CarPlay worked with the iPhone 13 with a USB A to Lightning cable but won’t work with the USB A to USB C cable I just purchased for the iPhone 16 Pro. It charges but doesn’t connect to CarPlay - I’m sure it is a data transfer cable so should work. How did the USB C to Lightening adaptor that you purchased help you, I only have USB A inputs in my car? Probably need to do full system reset and try again with the new cable… 😬

Anthvar-- I had my phone completely disconnected and then re-connected it as a new phone by re-pairing it through bluetooth on the Mercedes phone menu where one connects a new phone device. Once I connected it through bluetooth and had successfully paired it, it then immediately asked me on the infotainment screen if I wanted to use the phone for CarPlay as well. I don't think it should make any big difference what order you do it in but generally speaking setting up the phone first through bluetooth to me makes the most sense. Hope this helps.

I had the same and have managed to resolve it by trying a different cable. It seems some USB to USB-C are charge-capable only. If you have only just switched from a lightning type iPhone to the 16 which is obviously now USB-C, you may not have experienced this issue before now, but CarPlay requires a data-capable cable. The likelihood is it is not your phone or your car that is the problem! Also check your content and privacy settings to ensure CarPlay is enabled. Good luck 🤞

I have been unable to make phone calls after upgrading to iPhone 16 Pro Max. Maps and everything else works with CarPlay. Audio crackles, has static and drops every other word. I have a Toyota Sienna and I have done everything  everyone has suggested, to no avail. I have checked  Privacy/Content, new cords (from Apple and Amazon), uninstalled my phone from my Toyota and reinstalled it. I STILL cannot use my phone with CarPlay to make calls. If I do, all of the above happens, and worse yet, CarPlay won’t let me disconnect the call. The red disconnect button on CarPlay is frozen and when it finally disconnects on its own it randomly dials someone on my favorites list. Any additional suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Apple Support has poorly addressed at this entire debacle with CarPlay and I’m not sure, after this mess, that I will continue to be an Apple customer. Their support on this, and other products I have, has fallen way below par in the past year. They are not the company they used to be.