Apple CarPlay not working with iPhone 15 (USB-C issue?)

This support page states to use a USB-A to C cable as an optionL About the USB-C to Lightning Adapter - Apple Support

"You can use the USB-C to Lightning Adapter with wired CarPlay in most vehicles. However, some combinations of adapters, cables, and vehicle entertainment systems might disrupt the wired CarPlay connection. In this situation or for cars that support only wired CarPlay, use a direct connection with a USB-A to USB-C cable, such as the Belkin BOOST↑Charge Pro Flex USB-A to USB-C Cable."

It appears that we flushed this out to 3 moving parts:

• Apple Software
• Connectivity cables
• Vehicle Infortainment systems

Assuming Apple has been receiving the feedback via AppleCare, and it gets elevated to engineering, a fix will usually appear in a new release or worst case new version.

USB cables appear to be a common issue. We agree not all cables are alike. iPhones use max 20W and data transfer max at 10gbits. We need to be assured that cables we purchase are USB IF certified or better yet MFi-certified (look it up). Using a clean single certified cable, without problematic adapters, is the only way to go if you need to work with the troublesome "C" to "A" issue.

Infotainment systems are focused on navigation because that is where the vehicle manufacturers make their after sale $ via advertising. Hence releases/upgrades target navigation to sell sponsors on maps. My understanding is that the car manufacturers have a 3 year cycle for new entertainment systems.

I'm always interested in comments to enhance the discussion

-Bruce

Hi, so it seems to be the sequence of connecting. First start up the vehicle and wait for the infotainment to fully boot up. Plug the USB-C into the car first with nothing on the other end. Then unlock the phone and plug it into the other USB-C cable end, after a second there will be a connect vibration and the car system should show the green Apple Car Play app on the home screen. I used a USB-A to C from a wireless charging pad and that worked in the older vehicle without a C port. I bought a cool USB-C to C cable from Amazon that has adaptors for USB-A on one end and the Apple lightning on the other. That worked as well. The Apple USB-C to C that came with the phone works as well.

Hi all, iOS 17.2 and the proper Belken USB - C to A one piece cable- no adapters , solved the problem.

Remember if you go out of cell range CarPlay drops. iPhone 15 by default uses 5G which requires more and closer cell towers. This appears to be a common problem. High cell traffic times and more rural location seems to be the persistent issue.

Bruce

Have you checked your connectivity settings? I had an issue where my car saw my iPhone 15 on the USB port, but not Apple CarPlay. Turns out my connectivity setting was somehow changed to "Never Enabled". I changed it back to 'Always Enabled" and that was the fix. Not sure what your car is, but on mine it is Settings-Smartphone Connectivity Settings-Apple CarPlay Settings. You should see your phone & if it shows "Never Enabled" move to the next screen and select the option that works best for you. If that doesn't work, make sure your phone is updated to 17.3 and try again.

I had bought the Berlin cable for data transfer and it didn’t work. I had Ford customer service help me with updating my Sync software and I used an Anker USBC to USBA cable and now I have no problems.

Did you buy a cable which is data and charge capable and is MFi (made for iPhone)? Not all cables are.

Read this user tip --> Use caution when purchasing USB-C cables … - Apple Community

This was happening to me too until I went into settings, phone/bluetooth, projection manager and enable projection. Now it works. I never had to do this before but oh well it works.

Before you connected your new iPhone, did you:

1. Have your infotainment system forget your previous iPhone (this will require you to pair it again, even if BT is working.
2. Give your new iPhone a completely different name in Settings > General > About > Name than your previous iPhone.
3. Force Restart your iPhone --> Force restart iPhone - Apple Support

I have a 2023 Genesis GV70 (two of them actually) and that's the first I do when I get a new iPhone and CarPlay is working flawlessly in both Genesis. One would have to believe Hyundai and Genesis use the same technologies as they're really the same company.

Also, read the suggested article at the top of this page from DogCow-Moof about the differences with USB C cables.

I was finally able to get my iphone 15 connected to apple play in my Ford. what i did:

1. made the car sync system forget my phone
2. made my phone forget my car
3. used an apple made cord
4. plugged the cord into my phone
5. turned the car on
6. plugged the cord into the car

the car then asked to sync with my phone, i allowed it, then apple play connected.

its been working ok for a week. fingers crossed it continues to work.

Use the bottom link to Amazon. This adapter worked for me.

YOKELLMUX USB C to USB Adapter Mini Hi-Speed USB Female (Type-C) to USB 3.1 Male (Type-A) Fast Charging & Data Sync, OTG Adapter Connector Converter PC Charger Support - 2 Pack https://a.co/d/gObkVIn

So the issue has to be with the iPhone, reasons:

It will work with the 2019 Blazer with pretty much any USB cable I have, than if the car is turned off sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. When is doesn't there is no green power charge indicator on the phone.

If an older iPhone is plugged in, it works.

If the cars system is reset using the open door, open valet storage, on off, the iPhone will work.

If the iPhone cable is plugged into a non data USB port it shows the green charging indicator on the phone.

Turning the phone on an off does not work for me.

Here is the GM way to reset the infotainment system, make sure you wait more than a minute before closing the drivers door. This works on the Caddy Cue system, the 2019 Corvette system and the 2019 Blazer system. It does not change anything in the settings or paired devices.

With Drivers side door closed, Turn the vehicle on.

Open the valet faceplate (or glove box), thereby exposing the storage area behind it.

With the valet faceplate open, turn off the vehicle.

Open the drivers side door.

Wait 60 seconds with the drivers side door open.

Close the door and start the vehicle.

Close the valet faceplate.

Note: a hard reset or restart does not reset system settings or remove user-set items such as favorites.

After performing this sequence of steps, CUE and the vehicles other infotainment and telematics technologies will have been hard reset, but CUE wont show any messages this to be the case. The tell-tale sign of a hard reset, however, is a spinning yellow circle in the top right corner of the system, which indicates that CUE is reloading settings.

Bought a usb to usbc adapter for 1,50 euro (2pieces Temu) used the original cable and it works!

In my case on GM vehicles you first have to reset the infotainment system with no cables or phones connected. After that connect the cable to the phone first and to the car second. Never unplug the phone first always disconnect the cable from the car first. This fixed my issue but not the fact that such a sequence should not matter?

How to reset the GM infotainment system:

Turn the vehicle on

Open the cars valet storage area, (the faceplate on Caddy and Corvettes and the glove box on others if it has the valet feature).

With the faceplate open, turn off the vehicle.

Open the driver’s side door.

Wait 60 seconds with the driver’s side door open

Close the drivers door and start the vehicle

Close the faceplate

Was having same problem. Went into settings on my car radio settings Apple car play was not turned on. Turned it on all good!