The basic way to add apps to CarPlay
You add apps to CarPlay through your iPhone's Settings app, not through CarPlay itself. Open Settings, tap CarPlay, select your car (or the generic CarPlay option if you haven't connected to a specific vehicle yet), and then tap the plus sign next to any app you want to add. That app will then appear on your CarPlay home screen the next time you connect.
Not every app works with CarPlay. Apple restricts CarPlay to apps designed for driving — navigation, music, messaging, phone calls, podcasts, and audiobooks. You won't see social media apps, email clients, or photo editors in the CarPlay settings because they aren't built to work safely while you're driving.
The process takes about 30 seconds per app. You can add as many compatible apps as you want, though your CarPlay screen can only display a limited number at once — the rest will be accessible by scrolling or through the app grid.
Key Takeaways
- You manage CarPlay apps in your iPhone's Settings under CarPlay, not in the CarPlay interface itself.
- Only apps designed for driving — navigation, music, messaging, podcasts — show up as options to add to CarPlay.
- Adding an app to CarPlay takes seconds: open Settings, find CarPlay, select your car, and tap the plus sign next to the app name.
- If an app you want doesn't appear in the CarPlay settings, the developer hasn't built CarPlay support into it yet.
Step-by-step: Adding a single app to CarPlay
Start by unlocking your iPhone and opening the Settings app (the gray icon with gears). Scroll down and tap CarPlay — it's usually near the bottom of the list, below Bluetooth and Wallet.
You'll see a list of cars you've connected to CarPlay before. If this is your first time, you may see "Available Cars" instead. Tap the car you want to add the app to. If you haven't connected to a specific car yet, tap the generic option that says something like "No Car Connected" or just shows a generic car icon.
Once you're in that car's settings, look for a plus sign (usually in a circle) next to apps you haven't added yet. Tap that plus sign next to the app you want. The plus will change to a minus, which means the app is now on your CarPlay home screen.
Disconnect your iPhone from CarPlay and reconnect it to see the app appear on your car's display. If you don't see it right away, swipe left on the CarPlay home screen or look in the app grid — newer additions sometimes land on a second page.
Adding multiple apps at once
If you want to add several apps, you don't need to restart the process each time. Stay in the CarPlay settings for your car and tap the plus sign next to each app you want to add. You can add five, ten, or twenty apps in one session — just keep tapping the plus signs.
After you've added all the apps you want, back out of Settings entirely and reconnect to CarPlay. All the apps you added will be there. If your CarPlay home screen looks crowded, you can rearrange them by tapping and holding an app icon, then dragging it to a new spot.
What to do if an app doesn't show up in CarPlay settings
If you're looking for a specific app and it's not in the CarPlay settings list, it means that app's developer hasn't built CarPlay support into it. This is common for newer apps, smaller apps, or apps that aren't designed for use while driving.
Check the App Store to see if an update is available for that app — sometimes developers add CarPlay support in updates. Open the App Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, scroll down to "Available Updates," and look for the app. If an update is there, tap Update.
If there's no update available, the app simply doesn't support CarPlay yet. You can still use it on your iPhone while parked, but you won't be able to control it from your car's screen. Some popular apps that don't support CarPlay include Gmail, Instagram, and most banking apps.
Removing apps from CarPlay
To remove an app from your CarPlay home screen, go back to Settings, tap CarPlay, select your car, and tap the minus sign next to the app you want to remove. The minus will change back to a plus, and the app will disappear from your CarPlay display the next time you connect.
Removing an app from CarPlay doesn't delete it from your iPhone — it just takes it off the CarPlay home screen. You can add it back anytime by tapping the plus sign again.
Rearranging apps on your CarPlay home screen
Once apps are on your CarPlay home screen, you can change their order. While your iPhone is connected to CarPlay, press and hold any app icon on the CarPlay display. A menu will appear with options to move the app left, right, or to a different page.
Alternatively, you can rearrange apps through Settings. Go to Settings, tap CarPlay, select your car, and look for an edit button (usually three horizontal lines or a pencil icon). Tap it, then press and hold an app to drag it to a new position.
The order you set will stick — the next time you connect to CarPlay, your apps will be in the same arrangement you left them.
Troubleshooting: Apps not appearing after you add them
If you added an app to CarPlay but it's not showing up on your car's screen, try disconnecting and reconnecting your iPhone. Sometimes the display doesn't refresh immediately. Unplug the USB cable (or disconnect Bluetooth if you're using wireless CarPlay), wait five seconds, and plug back in.
If the app still doesn't appear, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the side button and volume button together, slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, then press the side button again to turn it back on. Reconnect to CarPlay after the restart.
If you're still not seeing the app, check that you actually tapped the plus sign — it's easy to miss. Go back to Settings, CarPlay, your car, and verify that the app shows a minus sign (not a plus). If it shows a plus, you didn't add it yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add apps to CarPlay that aren't in the App Store?
No. Only apps published in the official App Store can work with CarPlay. If an app isn't available in the App Store, it won't show up in your CarPlay settings, and there's no way to add it manually.
Why does my car show a different set of apps than my friend's car?
Each car's CarPlay settings are stored separately on your iPhone. If you've connected to multiple vehicles, each one can have a different set of apps. You manage them independently through Settings — just select the specific car you want to change.
Do I have to add apps to CarPlay, or do they appear automatically?
Apps don't appear automatically. You have to add them manually through Settings. When you first connect to CarPlay, your home screen will be mostly empty until you add apps yourself.
If I update an app, will it still be on my CarPlay home screen?
Yes. Updating an app doesn't remove it from CarPlay. It will stay exactly where you put it. The only time an app disappears from CarPlay is if you delete it entirely from your iPhone or manually remove it through Settings.
Can I add the same app to CarPlay multiple times?
No. Each app can only appear once on your CarPlay home screen. If you want quick access to a specific feature within an app, you'll need to open the app and navigate to that feature each time.