iOS 26 CarPlay confusing UI/UX
In iOS 26, Apple CarPlay Maps, the currently focused button is grey, while other buttons (not focused/hovered/selected) are blue. Read this again: it is grey for active, blue for inactive.
Every time I try to select a route, I end up missing the right button.
And since many cars lock their touchscreen while driving over 5 mph, you’re forced to use steering wheel or console controls like the dial knob in Mazda/Audi/BMW. So when a route suggestion pops up, pressing “OK/Enter” doesn’t confirm it - it kicks you back instead of starting navigation.
So there are two issues:
- Colors/styles for the focused button. Grey colour is definitely no go for the currently focused button.
- The default behaviour has changed. In older iOS, the 'start' button was focused by default, in the latest iOS, the 'back' button is focused.
This distracts me from day 1 after updating to iOS 26. Also, my thread in Threads got more than 800 likes, and it confirms a similar experience from other users. I'd really like to bring this issue to Apple Developers, as it actually distracts users while driving and puts a higher risk for a car incident.
Also, the styling issue is not specific to an app. It happens in all CarPlay apps. Even in Google Maps, a focused button becomes grey while non-focused is blue, which is the most confusing thing I’ve ever seen.
iPhone 16
