Apple CarPlay not working after iOS 15.2 update

I have iPhone 11 with 15.2 update. I have an 18 Chevy Cruze. Before iOS 15.2, I hadn’t updated out of the last 14 iOS version. So I recently updated straight to 15.2. CarPlay functions fully except for ONE THING: whenever I use the button on my steering wheel to have Siri place a call, Siri will say “ok calling….” And then nothing comes out of the speakers. The recipient of my call says they answer the call and it’s just static. Now, if I place the call manually either through my phone or by pressing the buttons on my radio, it goes through just fine. But using the dictation feature through the steering wheel causes a glitch I guess? It just won’t come through the speakers. I have reset my car infotainment system to factory, I have reset all CarPlay settings on my phone. Nothing works so far. The problem is the update. My phone/CarPlay has functioned through all the updates until the 15 version. I can receive calls. I can make calls manually but I can’t use the button on the steering wheel to make a call. Now that defeats the purpose of handsfree doesn’t it? Something was changed during the update or something caused a glitch. Anyone else having this issue?

iPhone 11

Posted on Jan 5, 2022 12:36 PM

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Posted on Jan 18, 2022 5:18 AM

I am pulling the update right now. I will let everyone know if this fixes my issue.


After several attempts at trying to fix this myself, I have come to some more understanding of this glitch. I still don’t know why it’s happening. So, when I’m using straight up Bluetooth as a connection, NO CORD, the glitch happens if I use the command button on the steering wheel to prompt Siri. Siri comes up like normal, I ask Siri to place a call, Siri places call but nothing comes out of speakers and the recipient receives the call but once they answer, all they hear is a very annoying static/buzz. Now my husband discovered that there’s a touch button that looks like a phone on the infotainment system that is capable of switching the phone call from car to phone and back and forth. This button has to be toggled on then back off again, and then suddenly the call comes through the car like normal. It’s so odd. Secondly, if I use the same command button on the steering wheel to let’s say, have Siri send a message with dictation, siri will send the message just fine, but usually siri hangs up the “call” and returns to music or whatever when the message has been sent. NOW, after the 15.2 update, it loops back and asks for another command, in which I say cancel and siri replies with “theres nothing to cancel” and then waits for another command. So I let it go thinking it will just shut off on its own. But nope, it loops back and waits for a command. I have to physically hit the hang up command button on the steering wheel. This is also new after the update.


Now, if I straight up use the Apple USB cord and hook my phone up directly, everything seems to work fine, even through the steering wheel. So I think it’s safe to say that the glitch lies in the Bluetooth connectivity feature. I have tinkered with all the settings and it’s still there. I’m hoping this update fixes the issue. Otherwise my only solution is to make sure my phone is always plugged into the car directly. It’s sad because I love the idea of getting into my car, with my phone in my purse and not having to even think about getting that all connected because it normally did it without me touching anything. I would get in my car and go without even knowing my phone is connecting and things are ready to go. So now I have to make sure I plug my phone in or it won’t work right. I really hope this gets fixed. It’s so odd in how it’s malfunctioning, I will say that! It’s not a consistent “glitch” because CarPlay is working, but it’s not at the same time.


I will post again once I use it with the new update.


Thank you for all the replies, hopefully we can figure it out!!!

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Jan 18, 2022 5:18 AM in response to ResortCasual

I am pulling the update right now. I will let everyone know if this fixes my issue.


After several attempts at trying to fix this myself, I have come to some more understanding of this glitch. I still don’t know why it’s happening. So, when I’m using straight up Bluetooth as a connection, NO CORD, the glitch happens if I use the command button on the steering wheel to prompt Siri. Siri comes up like normal, I ask Siri to place a call, Siri places call but nothing comes out of speakers and the recipient receives the call but once they answer, all they hear is a very annoying static/buzz. Now my husband discovered that there’s a touch button that looks like a phone on the infotainment system that is capable of switching the phone call from car to phone and back and forth. This button has to be toggled on then back off again, and then suddenly the call comes through the car like normal. It’s so odd. Secondly, if I use the same command button on the steering wheel to let’s say, have Siri send a message with dictation, siri will send the message just fine, but usually siri hangs up the “call” and returns to music or whatever when the message has been sent. NOW, after the 15.2 update, it loops back and asks for another command, in which I say cancel and siri replies with “theres nothing to cancel” and then waits for another command. So I let it go thinking it will just shut off on its own. But nope, it loops back and waits for a command. I have to physically hit the hang up command button on the steering wheel. This is also new after the update.


Now, if I straight up use the Apple USB cord and hook my phone up directly, everything seems to work fine, even through the steering wheel. So I think it’s safe to say that the glitch lies in the Bluetooth connectivity feature. I have tinkered with all the settings and it’s still there. I’m hoping this update fixes the issue. Otherwise my only solution is to make sure my phone is always plugged into the car directly. It’s sad because I love the idea of getting into my car, with my phone in my purse and not having to even think about getting that all connected because it normally did it without me touching anything. I would get in my car and go without even knowing my phone is connecting and things are ready to go. So now I have to make sure I plug my phone in or it won’t work right. I really hope this gets fixed. It’s so odd in how it’s malfunctioning, I will say that! It’s not a consistent “glitch” because CarPlay is working, but it’s not at the same time.


I will post again once I use it with the new update.


Thank you for all the replies, hopefully we can figure it out!!!

Jan 12, 2022 8:12 AM in response to Unhelpful-applesupport

Sorry to hear some of you are having issues.

I'm just saying, if this were a widespread problem, everyone would likely experience it. Maybe it is an iOS 15.2 issue; perhaps it is not. All I can say is I use CarPlay daily with my iPhone 11 running 15.2 and do not have a problem. I know that does not help your situation other than to say that this is not a major 15.2 issue.


Have you tried some of the simple stuff like...


  • A different cable
  • Re-pairing your phone to your car (and explicitly removing the CarPlay configuration and redoing it)
  • Restart your iPhone and, if applicable, restart your car's infotainment system.
  • Make sure Siri is enabled.
  • Make sure CarPlay is not restricted. Some do not know you can block Carplay from being used. This is done under Screentime, I think.
  • Similarly, iOS 15 introduced the "Focus" feature, and perhaps your current settings are messing up CarPlay. I'll admit, the Focus feature does feel confusing, and I stumble over it from time to time doing other things.
  • Check whether Carplay is allowed when locked.

Jan 7, 2022 11:30 AM in response to ResortCasual

Ok so I get an update on the phone and suddenly CarPlay doesn’t work. My husband has the same phone and the same update and his isn’t working correctly either. With a totally different vehicle. His hasn’t worked since he updated to the iOS 15 series in general. And there are TONS of other ppl experiencing the same thing. I searched for hours through other peoples questions and used everyone’s advice to try and solve this myself. To no avail. AND my vehicles infotainment system is updated to its latest software because I took it in and they can’t help me. They said the problem isn’t in the vehicle, it has to do with the update and I’m not the first to have this issue. But thanks anyways!!!!!

Jan 12, 2022 8:51 AM in response to Unhelpful-applesupport

Too easy on the math. Most of the reports regarding CarPlay/Bluetooth have centered around Toyota vehicles and whoever makes their head units. Toyota itself has responded to some saying it is their issue and to contact their dealer.


It is best in situations like this to contact technical support for both parties. 15.2 included some security updates that the vehicle manufacturer can’t work with due to problems on their end.

Jan 19, 2022 11:41 AM in response to funcus25

Well, update 15.2.1 has been installed and the issue still persists with the Bluetooth connection feature. It seems to be unable to automatically switch to the car as it’s form of audio. But it also isn’t on the phone or speaker either. It just doesn’t switch to any form of audio when a call is placed. I just don’t know. I’m not a tech genius but I would like to think I’m not completely tech ignorant either. This is just beyond my range of diagnosis I suppose. I will keep playing with settings to see what I can find but at this time, I cannot use the voice command button with Bluetooth connectivity to make a call without this “glitch” happening. I will have to plug the phone into the car directly and do it that way because as of right now, that allows me to fully utilize CarPlay the way it’s intended. I imagine if I had an iPhone 13, the update would have helped because I believe the 15.2.1 update was intended for 13 users that had CarPlay issues. I was hopeful it would have somehow helped this issue as well. Either way, I’m just glad I have found a workaround to this issue.


The command loop is also still there when connected to Bluetooth but it doesn’t do this when connected to the cord. So I think it’s safe to say that Bluetooth is where my issue resides. I don’t have any issues with my other Bluetooth devices (Apple Watch, Beats, Wonder Booms, etc) so I don’t feel it’s a hardware issue. Everything works fine otherwise. Oh well! Thanks for all the help and if anyone finds any other information that may help, let us know!

Jan 26, 2022 5:23 AM in response to ResortCasual

Yes I believe you are correct. After much troubleshooting I discovered that it seems to be a Bluetooth issue. When I created the post, I was ignorant to the fact that carplay and Bluetooth are not one in the same exactly. After all my research, I have discovered the issue lies with the Bluetooth connectivity. Which is still odd since all my other Bluetooth devices work fine. So the update probably caused a Bluetooth compatibility issue with my Chevy and Chevy cannot do anything for me because they probably don’t update their infotainment systems enough to have any knowledge on how to help me. We are kinda in the “birthing process” of all this technology with our phones connecting to our cars and being highly compatible In so many ways, so it could be that the car companies need to step up a little more and keep their infotainment systems updated regularly to keep up with the ever changing technology with our phones. It’s just sad because they offer these “tech packages” when you buy your car, in which you pay for, and then when your devices update, they don’t have the ability to update the cars to stay compatible. Maybe this will change in the future when people make more of a fuss about it. But yes, as you said, it’s definitely not a CarPlay issue (I know this now :):):)) but a Bluetooth connection issue in the car. And in my case, it’s just my car that has issues with my Bluetooth.


i have an Apple lighting cable that I use to connect and as far as I can tell, everything works fine that way. Just that Bluetooth feature is snagging me up.


so thanks for all the feedback, we will continue to try and figure it out. The update came with a lot of changes…maybe a setting (that was on or off before) needs to be toggled now as it could be causing the Bluetooth issue. I have tried what I feel is everything but after having an iPhone for over 10 years, I discover I am STILL learning new things about these phones regularly.


Through the community, I hope we can get all of our issues figured out!

Jan 25, 2022 7:19 AM in response to Community User

OK, good. So we know it should work. So the question is, what is the difference between your setup and my setup. I have a 2020 CRV EX-L. I have an iPhone 11 Pro Max. I am (pretty) sure I am using an Apple cable. What are you using?


Perhaps the other thing we could check is the firmware that is running on our head units. I do not have that information right now but I will check it the next time I am in the car. Maybe we have different versions. However, it is my experience with Honda that they do not update firmware often. I had a 2016 Honda Civic and they never updated the firmware during the time I had my car. For a period of time, I had all kinds of problems with Carplay compatibility in my Civic that was eventually resolved by an Apple update.

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Apple CarPlay not working after iOS 15.2 update

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