Plugging your phone in on every trip gets old fast. Wireless Apple CarPlay does the same job without the cable, using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to link your iPhone to your car's screen. This guide answers the questions Australian drivers ask most.
Wireless CarPlay: the questions drivers ask
Wireless Apple CarPlay is Apple's in-car system running on your car's built-in display without a USB cable. You control navigation, messaging and music from the screen while your iPhone stays in your pocket or bag. Standard CarPlay does the same job, but needs a cable.
Wireless CarPlay uses both. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi work together to hold the link between your iPhone and your car's infotainment system. You never plug the phone in. That keeps your cabin free of cables, and CarPlay can start on its own once you're in the car.
Wireless CarPlay was announced at WWDC in June 2015, alongside iOS 9. Carmakers took longer to ship it. The 2017 BMW 5 Series became the first production car with wireless CarPlay built in, arriving in showrooms in early 2017. CarPlay itself launched in March 2014.
Apple CarPlay has been in new cars since 2014, but for years it needed a USB cable. Wireless CarPlay started with the 2017 BMW 5 Series and spread from there. Support depends on the model year, the trim and the infotainment system, so check before you buy.
Yes, you can. If your car already has wired CarPlay, a wireless CarPlay adapter plugs into the USB port and connects your iPhone over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Older cars without CarPlay need a different route, either an aftermarket head unit or an OEM upgrade kit.
Setup is straightforward. Buy an adapter that suits your car and CarPlay, then plug it into the USB port. Pair your iPhone by Bluetooth and join the adapter's Wi-Fi network. After that, it reconnects by itself every time you start the car.
Yes, with a retrofit. Many aftermarket head units support wireless CarPlay and can replace the system in an older car. The result feels seamless, but it costs more and the install is more involved, so professional fitting is the safer choice.
Some do. Several carmakers sell OEM wireless CarPlay upgrade kits built for specific models, so they slot into the existing infotainment system. Ask your dealer or the manufacturer whether a kit exists for your car, since fitting often needs a professional installer.
Wireless CarPlay timeline
- March 2014 — Apple launches CarPlay at the Geneva International Motor Show.
- June 2015 — Apple announces wireless CarPlay at WWDC, with iOS 9.
- October 2016 — BMW confirms the 2017 5 Series as the first car with wireless CarPlay.
- February 2017 — The 2017 BMW 5 Series reaches customers with wireless CarPlay built in.
Cars with wireless CarPlay from the factory
Availability changes by model year and trim, so confirm with your dealer before you buy.
- BMW — the 2017 5 Series was the first production car with wireless CarPlay.
- Audi — offered on the 2019 A7.
- Mercedes-Benz — announced for the MBUX system in 2018, starting with the A-Class.
- Porsche — from model year 2020 on the 911, Taycan, Macan and Cayenne, and model year 2021 on the Panamera.
- Ford — on the 2021 F-150 and Mustang Mach-E with SYNC 4.
Three ways to add wireless CarPlay to your car
Option 1: plug in a wireless CarPlay adapter
This is the quickest route if your car already has wired CarPlay. No tools and no wiring.
- Buy a compatible adapter. Make sure it suits your car's model and CarPlay.
- Plug the adapter into your car's USB port.
- Follow the adapter's instructions to pair your iPhone. This usually means connecting by Bluetooth, then joining a Wi-Fi network.
- Start driving. Your iPhone connects to the adapter each time you start the car.
Option 2: retrofit an aftermarket head unit
Use this route when your car never had CarPlay at all. It costs more and the install is more involved.
- Choose a head unit that fits your car's model and supports wireless CarPlay.
- Have it professionally installed so it works with the rest of your car.
- Pair your iPhone with the new head unit by Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Option 3: buy an OEM upgrade kit
Some carmakers sell kits built for specific models, so they slot into the existing infotainment system.
- Check availability with your dealer or the car manufacturer.
- Buy the kit and follow the manufacturer's fitting instructions.
- Connect your iPhone to the upgraded system to enable wireless CarPlay.
The bottom line
Wireless Apple CarPlay gives you calls, navigation and music on your car's screen, with no cable in the way. If your car doesn't support it yet, the quickest fix is a plug-in wireless CarPlay adapter. Find the one that matches your car and you're set on the next drive.