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

My iPhone 15 on OS 17.1.2 continues to play intermittently. I have an approved USB C to USB A cable with no adapters plugged into my 2023 Ionic 6. I've worked with AppleCare and we did all the obvious.

While playing Apple Music from my playlists, which doesn't require cell service, the infotainment system drops out. The roads are smooth so I've eliminated vehicle vibrations as a cause. It mysteriously comes back on. Sometimes it will work after resetting by replugging the USB cable, sometimes not.

I'm led to believe the issue is with iPhone 15 and the software. I did not have this problem with my iPhone 13!

Any thoughts?

Your iPhone 13 didn't have a USB-C connector.

Who "approved" the USB-C to USB-A cable you're using? Different cables can transfer data at different speeds, and some USB-C cables can't transfer data at all (they're charge only.)

The fact that the connection intermittently drops out points more towards either your entertainment system or the cable.

That Amazon link goes to a cable for Android phones, and doesn't list any iPhones. Are you sure that works with the iPhone 15 Pro? I'm having trouble with my new phone connecting. I can make and receive calls through CarPlay, but most of my apps (including maps, most important) don't show up. Please help!

Hi again, so I took a 2019 Chevy blazer down to Florida and wouldn’t you know it I needed maps to work and it failed working after the first day luckily my friend had an older iPhone 14 and it worked fine when I got back I remembered there’s a way to reset the GM infotainment system. It’s called a hard reset. Here’s the process if there’s a secret door that is a valet door that’s the thing that you’re gonna open and close if you have a valet equipped glove box that’s the thing you’re gonna open and close so you have to reverse it depending upon if you’re opening and closing it but the other parts of the procedure work.

This version is for the Cadillac so you have to reverse it because you’re using the glove box instead of that secret compartment so when it says open the face, but you’re opening the glove box and when you’re saying lower the face plate, you’re closing the glove box, ug!

Turn the vehicle on

Open the CUE faceplate, thereby exposing the storage area behind it

With the faceplate up, turn off the vehicle

Open the drivers side door

Wait 30-60 seconds with the drivers side door open

Close the door and start the vehicle

Lower the faceplate

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

Belkin BoostCharge USB-C Cable (2M/6.6ft), USB-C to USB-A Cable for iPhone 15 Series

Belkin actually produces cables for Apple and is certified to meet the standards

I bought at Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086H3M59C?ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Good luck and happy listening!

The USB A will not recognize my IPhone 12 Pro. It woks fine for Samsung, so it must be related to the IOS 17.2.1 update. I had no issues until this update. However, when I use the A to C adapter, it works. Also, no issues with Bluetooth connection. It seems they eliminated the Apple Car Play USB A support with the 17.2.1 update.

I called Apple Support a few days ago, it seemed like this was the first they heard of this issue. Based on the list of users in this thread, I find that hard to believe. I hope the engineers are working on it as some have mentioned.

I agree using the an adapter works. My issue is that the USB A port worked by itself before the latest update. So it makes sense to assume the update is the issue. I have tried multiple USB A cables (and multiple ports), but CarPlay did not recognized the IPhone. I use the same USB A cables for charging with no issues outside the auto.

USB cables appear to be a common issue. We agree not all cables are alike. iPhones use max 20W power and data transfer max at 10gbits. We need to be assured that cables we purchase are USB IF certified or better yet Implementers Forum Certified. 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.

I fixed it with Belkin BoostCharge USB-C to USB-A cable for iPhone 15 Series.

Belkin actually produces cables for Apple and is certified to meet the standards,

IOS 17.2.1 now works seamlessly on my iPhone Pro Max 15 and my iPhone 13 -obviously no USB-C issues,

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.

which update did you try? Mines up to 17.2.1 tonight, hope that helps, tired of resetting the cars system randomly, only takes a couple of minutes but is anyone was watching me might take it for a theft.

My vehicle 2015 Honda CR-V.I have installed the BETA carplay software package what was accidentally released probably by Honda few years ago. After few problems with wrong speed display and the instability for cursor location. The problem was fixed everytime when Apple upgraded iOS on my Iphone.I was playing with the iOS back and forth, upgrading and downgrading the iOS on my iPhone to correct the cursor and speed problem and trying finding where the problem coming from. FINALLY I get to conclusion that the problem was created by the USB LIGHTING CABLE at the moment when it come accidentally too close to the touch screen of the radio. To prove this I make my own USB LIGHTING CABLE (SHIELDED) from old printer USB cable which is SHIELDED.I cut it to make short about 3 Ft. and solder to it the very shotr end of the lighting cable about 1inch. The effect was visible exceptable,no more PROBLEM with LOCATION or WRONG SPEED displayed. That was around January 2023. To tryed another future, sometimesin June I purchased cheap WIRE TO WIRELESS ADAPTER from aliexpress for C$34. On Amazon was $130 with some name on it. The installation was so easy.Just plugged into regular phone charger and BluetoothPAIR. Do not make any CarPlay any change just stay on WIRED MODE setup on iPhone. Just let you know that GPS ANTENA IS ALWAYS PLUG IN on the back of the radio... NOW I DO NOT have to plug in the lighting USB cable to my iPhone several times a day. It works for me.

ok I found out a way to get carplay to work each time with the iPhone 15 and my 2019 Chevy Blazer.

First off its not the cables, it's the sequence you connect and disconnect them. Always disconnect the USB C cable from the car FIRST, either with the car running or the car off. Always connect the cable to the iPhone FIRST and start the car and THEN connect the USB-C into the cars dash infotainment system. If the iPhone's green charging indicator shows, it's connected. If you get the sequence wrong and the charging indicator is no longer green you will have to reset the cars infotainment system using the procedure below for GM vehicles and find out how to do it on other brands. Another issue I noticed, if you leave the iPhones wifi on sometimes the MAPS app will show a searching for server message, just turn the wifi off and it will use the cell service.

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

ok I found out a way to get carplay to work each time with the iPhone 15 and my 2019 Chevy Blazer. This also happens in my 2019 Corvette but it resets itself sometimes where the Blazer does not.

First off its not the cables, it's the sequence you connect and disconnect them. Always disconnect the USB C cable from the car FIRST, either with the car running or the car off. Always connect the cable to the iPhone FIRST and start the car and THEN connect the USB-C into the cars dash infotainment system. If the iPhone's green charging indicator shows, it's connected. If you get the sequence wrong and the charging indicator is no longer green you will have to reset the cars infotainment system using the procedure below for GM vehicles and find out how to do it on other brands. Another issue I noticed, if you leave the iPhones wifi on sometimes the MAPS app will show a searching for server message, just turn the wifi off and it will use the cell service.

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

ok I found out a way to get carplay to work each time with the iPhone 15 and my 2019 Chevy Blazer. This also happened in my 2019 Corvette with my iPhone XR but it reset itself over time where the Blazer does not.

First off its not the cables, it's the sequence you connect and disconnect them. Always disconnect the USB C cable from the car FIRST, either with the car running or the car off. Always connect the cable to the iPhone FIRST and start the car and THEN connect the USB-C into the cars dash infotainment system. If the iPhone's green charging indicator shows, it's connected. If you get the sequence wrong and the charging indicator is no longer green you will have to reset the cars infotainment system using the procedure below for GM vehicles and find out how to do it on other brands. Another issue I noticed, if you leave the iPhones wifi on sometimes the MAPS app will show a searching for server message, just turn the wifi off and it will use the cell service.

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

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