Cellular Service Stops on Phone When Connected to Carplay

Hi Ames7,

Thank you for posting to Apple Support Communities.

From what you mentioned, let's check some settings to confirm your apps are available to use with the cellular data. While you're not connected to Wi-Fi when driving and using CarPlay, cellular data is required to use apps.To verify these settings, follow the steps below:

Go to Settings  > Cellular, then turn Cellular Data on or off for any app (such as Maps) or service (such as Wi-Fi Assist) that can use cellular data.

This information is provided in View or change cellular data settings on iPhone.

If those steps don’t help, please complete each step below to fix CarPlay issues:

Make sure that your iPhone has the latest version of iOS. If your iPhone is updated to the latest version of iOS, follow these steps — checking CarPlay after each step:

1. Check your connection to your CarPlay stereo:

• If you have a wired connection, try connecting again with a different USB cable to a different USB port if you have one.

• If you have a wireless connection, make sure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled under Settings > Wi-Fi and Settings > Bluetooth.

2. If CarPlay doesn't activate automatically, look for the CarPlay logo on your car's display.

3. Restart your iPhone and your car. 

4. Make sure that Siri is on.

5. If your iPhone isn't detected by CarPlay, make sure that CarPlay isn't restricted. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, tap Allowed Apps and make sure that CarPlay is enabled.

6. Go to Settings > General > CarPlay, tap your car, then tap Forget This Car. Then set up CarPlay again.

7. Make sure that your CarPlay stereo is using the latest firmware from the car manufacturer. Check your car's manual for more information.

If you need help with CarPlay

Take care.

Could it be because of some driving Focus?

I have to ask, is this your own personal phone?

To see if there might be a Focus causing this issue, open Settings in your phone.

Scroll a little ways down and click on Focus.

On the next screen, look for "Driving" among the others listed.

If there isn't one showing, you probably don't have a Driving Focus. If there is one, go into it and you'll see this screen:

As you can see in the picture, the Driving Focus could be activated:

1. When Connected to Car Bluetooth or
2. Activate with CarPlay

This is why I am wondering if it could be Focus causing your issue. It's almost like someone, like an employer, has programmed the phone so that you aren't driving distracted. Maybe it's possible for an individual to set up a similar Focus, but surely that person would remember doing it; I don't think it would be a simple thing to setup.

Hopefully you will find this helpful or get you looking down the right path.

Hello again Ames7,

Thanks for the follow-up info. The next step will be to get you in touch with Apple Support for additional assistance. They can be reached here:

Get Support

Take care and stay safe.