iOS 15.1 broke connectivity to my car stereo

This exact thing happened to me (2013 Chevy Cruze, identical interface/iPhone 11 Pro Max), and it infuriated me because I couldn’t figure out a reason, until I remembered I had recently updated to iOS 15.1. This is absolutely unacceptable and being told to get a new car or a new phone is not the answer. Additionally, I tried my boyfriend’s iPhone 13 mini with iOS 15.0.2, his works fine. This better be fixed ASAP.

Have the same exact issue. A couple of weeks ago this happened where my phone would be able to charge but the aux would not work. I simply restarted my phone and that fixed the issue. Now last night my phone automatically updated to IOS15.1 and same issue. Phone charges when connected to the USB, but the aux won't connect. I tried everything from restarting my phone to resetting all settings on my phone. I tried disconnecting my phone battery as well, but that failed to fix the issue. I had to go out and buy an actual aux cord and connect to the 3.5mm headphone jack next to the USB of my Chevy Cruze. Very annoying and I hope apple fixes the problem in a new update very soon.

jbean713 wrote:

Hey Apple “Big Brothers”, take all these notes and forward them up the chain of command and get stuff fixed!

No one here or at Apple can do that, only you can and you, as an end user, have more clout than they do:

Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Also, only you can give them information to help them narrow it down; I can't find a car or device my phone won't work with, so that's why they need to know.

It might not be a ~uNiVeRsAL~ issue, but every person I know who relies on a USB connection to their car stereo (without CarPlay or Bluetooth options) currently has this issue after updating. So just to sum up, that’s GM vehicles, Toyota, Dodge/Jeep/Ram, Mercedes, Audi, Acura, Lexus, and the list goes on. That’s a ton of people. Thousands. This is something Apple should’ve known about prior to this update being made public. People coming here deserve to have a place to vent and attempt to troubleshoot without anyone trying to belittle them.

Again anyone coming here please report to Apple because without you, this could happen again. Don’t let them bully you either. We know that iOS 15.1 is the problem.

Kia Cee’d 2014 (kinda like Forte but with softer upholser) - iOS broke connectivity. Car says “your iPod is empty” and back to radio. It has a BT, but it sounds bad relatively to a cable. Also by AV Reciever do not acknowledge an iPhone - the same issue here and it do not see a phone when plugged by cable. Looks like Apple just broke their iPod protocol in favor of CarPlay. But the issue is a don’t want to buy a new car just as an excuse for some bad programming

There are not “always problems”” with each update.

If functionality is removed, it is usually inadvertent; as has been mentioned many users are not experiencing this, so it’s clearly some type of interaction with particular head ends that Apple is sorting out.

That having been said, you are correct, if you have this issue, be sure to let Apple Support know directly:

Contact - Official Apple Support

I have this same problem. I updated my phone and it charges but the music no longer plays.

I spoke to Apple support about a week ago so November 21st 2021 and the woman I spoke to said that either corporate or the higher ups are aware of the problem and are trying to fix it. Who knows if anything is actually being done.

So I have the exact same issue that you’re experiencing. Just curious if this is a Chevy problem as I have a 2013 Chevy Equinox. Prior to the iOS 15.1 update, I was able to connect my phone via USB and play my music through the car radio. However, I am not able to do that anymore. I called Apple and went down to the store in person to diagnose the phone. Diagnosis came back normal. Apple seemed to doubt that it was the update and told me to go to the car manufacture. Funny thing is my husbands phone works just fine and he also has an iPhone 11 with the latest update. Not sure why it decided to break my phone? Apple support was useless. The tech guy basically told me to get some type of work around transmitter so I can use a Bluetooth to play my music through my radio. I have a super long commute so this is extremely frustrating.

Apple I’ll say it again please stop breaking our phones with these stupid updates!

Same issue for me (also a Chevy vehicle). Called in and was given a supervisor who suggested it was an issue with my Bluetooth and I gave up talking to them because at the time my Bluetooth wasn’t cooperating with the troubleshooting. Bluetooth works fine (can answer calls etc) but can not connect via the USB aux to the radio (as mentioned it charges but doesn’t play etc) Broke down and bought an audio jack connector so I could have my podcasts back for my commute. Audio jack aux works fine (downside: you can’t see what’s playing on the car screen) I’ve been checking almost daily for the update to no avail. If you’re able- the aux audio jack is an easy work around until there’s a fix.

Same here! I've tried everything and been going nuts trying to fix this. I have a new 2021 BMW X5 with about 9000 miles on it, so it's not your older car. It connects wirelessly. Carplay worked flawlessly until I updated my iPhone 12 Pro Max to 15.1, and then to 15.1.1. Now I can't take a phone call or respond to a text (I will only do it handsfree with Siri when I need to and I feel it's safe) I can only play music or answer a call through iDrive, the car's own system. I got it to connect twice but it wasn't acting normally, but it quit when I turned off the car. It's obviously not our cars and mine has the latest software, which is the same as when I bought it. My phone shows my car is connected to Bluetooth, but I get a "connection failed - retry" message on my car's screen. I can listen to my music that way but it's not as good as CarPlay, plus I almost always listen to Pandora.

See how many people responded to having the same problem? Almost 2000 just for this thread. I'm about to restore my phone to new and see if that does anything. Then try my husband's phone which is only on iOS 14. I bet it'll work fine. And, thank you to the person who gave the link to Apple customer service.

I have the same exact car and Apple told me to contact the manufacturer to make sure the latest firmware is updated. i don’t have CarPlay.

Both music and Waze has not worked on my phone since I updated to iOS 15.1.

I think it is an issue with the update for sure. Hopefully another update will come soon and fix the issue. I don’t plan on contacting my manufacturer, as I shouldn’t have to update my car because I updated my phone…

I have a 2011 Cruze and same problem. My phone worked fine last week playing music— updated over the weekend (I don’t drive my car much on weekends) and yesterday I got in my car and it charges, but it won’t register my phone to play music.

Same. 2011 Equinox. Used phone fine until update. It's a new to us car too. Thought it was the radio at first but when my son was using it on 15 and I couldn't of 15.1 I realized it was the phone and NOT the car.

So where do "we" go from here? Who do we contact to get the update (fix) started?

Hmm they said that if it didn’t work try resetting all settings (instead of just network settings), but I think that would sign you out of all your apps and delete caches which does sound kind of like a pain and might be better to wait for the next update. Either way good luck!