CarPlay not working with iPhone 16 Pro

I think I figured out where my issue is with CarPlay not working. I use WiFi for my CarPlay connection and the iPhone seems to disconnect from the WiFi since there isn’t data. If I keep my phone open to settings, and then once the CarPlay disconnects, I can manually select that WiFi network again and the CarPlay immediately reconnects and works for another 5 minutes.

The same issue is true for another device I own that uses a WiFi network to function but doesn’t have data. It’s like the iPhone senses that there isn’t data and then tries to change to another WiFi network or decides to use cellular, which is weird since I am actively having input from this network (it’s a medical device camera that is giving a video to my phone). I have to forget the regular WiFi networks that are also there so my phone doesn’t try to change over to them.

For me, it seems like some type of WiFi system setting on the iPhone 16 that is causing the CarPlay problems.

After spending close to 4 hours over 2 days updating software, resetting networks and alll the other hoops customer care has you do on day 3 I call and the tech asked if I tried a different cable and I replied 3 different cables he then asked were any of the ones I was using an OEM cable I said not. Let’s try a OEM cable so I go grab a OEM cable and Shazam it works. The new question is do I need OEM cables for everything😡

Same here! 2024 Toyota Corolla, just “upgraded”from my iPhone 13 Pro to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The screen on this one is barely responsive as well. I’m extremely close to returning this phone. It has been an absolute nightmare!! :(

Update: I just returned my first 16 Pro Max & swapped it for another… IOS 18.1 & running CarPlay, Bluetooth & AirPlay perfectly now! T-Mobile said this is unfortunately becoming a very common issue and they’ve had many returned iPhones lately.

I had a similar issue. I found that I had to use native USB connections. I tried an adapter that was rated for data and was supposed to work. It failed. I ended up purchasing a cable that had usb A and usb C connections rated for all connections. I got some from Anker and Belkin and all have worked flawlessly since.

I had the same frustration after upgrading to iPhone 16. I tried all the suggestions below and checked all the settings to no avail. I was using the original Apple Lightning to USB Cable with Apple USB-C to Lightning Adapter, but that would not even maintain charging. Came across a thread that said the issue was the cable. I purchased an "Anker Car Carplay Cable for iPhone 15/16/16 Pro Max/Plus, USB A to USB C Flow Cable" and the problem was solved. Phone now connects quickly and maintains the connection.

Bought a USB-C to USB-A to use in my Skoda car. The cable would be with data transfer and not just charging according to specification. Only charging, nothing else worked...

Bought another cable, different make, quite cheap. Everything works!

I HAVE A SOLUTION!!!! If your car works with the original iPhone cord, get an adapter that makes it USB-C and that’ll fix it. I tried for over a week to fix my car or phone and I got an adapter for the iPhone cord and CarPlay immediately worked!!!!!

I got it to work!! I changed the settings first and then went and tried a few different cables it ended up being the main cable I was trying with was the issue as well! Seems like you need to use a good quality cable that supports better data transfer?

After a lengthy back and forth with Apple that’s still not resolved…. The last tech (6 in total now plus two supervisors) they came back and said they were sorry but the stereo in my 2008 Toyota Corolla is obsolete with the iOS 18 on the new iPhone 16 that I just purchased. Everything works except the microphone. Had I have known this, I never would’ve made the upgrade from my 11 pro max. They forced me to upgrade because my apps wouldn’t update without the iOS 18 update but my phone was too old to receive it then this 💩 it’s really wrong. They said there are over 800 car models that are now obsolete with this issue and sent me an email with them. I’m shocked at how this has played out. Not everyone has modern cars and from the looks of the complaints, there’s going to be a lot of angry people experiencing the same thing all over the world. Unacceptable Apple!

I hade same problem with 16 Pro and Alpine system. Reset everything, wiped carplay settings in phone, erased phone several times from Alpine. Reset Alpine system, none worked. Finally found out that when I add the phone, I have to tell it to do Car play and Hands Free. Clicked on that and it connected right away. Working now.

It’s the cable. Need a data cable. The cable that comes with the new 16 is not a data cable, believe it or not. Have to use your old lightening cable with an adaptor (which is what I did) or buy a new, special cable for this. There are examples of what to buy in this thread.

Volvo XC 60, upgraded from iPhone 13 to 16. Was able to get Bluetooth to work but not the wired connection. Deleted all other phones on my car’s Bluetooth except my new phone. Tried 2 cords I had handy, no go. Saw I might need a cord that specifically works for the 16. I tried this one and it worked.

[Edited by Moderator]

Yes my Mercedes too only has USB-A inputs thus I had to buy the USB-A to USB-C Adapter from the Apple Store.

USB-C to USB Adapter - Apple. Separately -- I went to my internal Mercedes Infotainment center, and to "Systems" and completely reset the infotainment center to its default settings. Using the same cable (data plus charging) that I knew worked earlier for Apple CarPlay, but now with the new USB-A to USB-C adapter attached, and after having rebooted the infotainment system to default setting then attached my new iPhone 16 Pro to the system and it then did recognize the new phone and I was able to proceed to set up the new phone. The only real downside is that one will need to completely set up all the other in-vehicle settings that one wants inside the vehicle but that only took me just a few minutes to re-establish. I hope this works for you.

If you already have a solid data/charge cable that you are certain was working before in your car with a previous iteration of iPhone, it is likely NOT a USB-C type cable, hence the need to attach an adapter to it so that it will be usable with your new iPhone 16 -- which as you properly note ONLY works with USB-C. Many users are buying the Apple USB-C to Lightening Adapter (USB-C to Lightning Adapter - Apple) because their prior phone used a lightening plug that inserted into their phone, with the other end being a USB-B plug that went into the car via (again) a data/charge cable. Using your old cable, you just need to attach this adapter to the old cable and it should work well with your new iPhone. Many users in this thread report doing that and it works totally okay. I'm one of those users. The only other thing I had to do in my vehicle was I did have to reset my car's internal "infotainment" (i.e. entertainment/audio/visual/etc) system again to default settings and set up the phone again as a new device, and then add back all the other car settings that you want. Hope this helps.