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CarPlay not working with iPhone 16 Pro

I upgraded my iPhone 12 Pro to a 16 Pro, and the new phone will not connect to my 2018 Mazda CX-5 with CarPlay. When I plug it in, it charges but makes no sign of connecting.

iPhone 16 Pro, iOS 18

Posted on Sep 24, 2024 9:34 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 25, 2024 7:04 AM

I am so disappointed! My new iPhone 16 Pro does not work connect to my Carplay in my Toyota CHR. Had I known this, I would have upgraded to an iPhone 15 Pro instead. :(

138 replies

Oct 4, 2024 8:13 AM in response to brianc407

OP update (2018 Mazda CX-5). I found that the cable I had borrowed from another device in my home was one of those that provide power but not data.


So CarPlay “works” now. But very oddly. I’ve seen this pattern repeat for the past three days:


  1. Plug it in and nav comes up, but no music. A few seconds later, “mobile device error” pops up on the car and it disconnects.
  2. Unplug/plug it back in. Nav comes up, and music starts playing out of my phone’s speaker instead of the car’s sound system.
  3. Unplug/plug it back in. Nav and music come on, but the music sounds tinny, like I have an old transistor radio sitting on my dash.
  4. Give up and leave it like that. Five minutes into the drive, the music cuts out for 2-3 seconds then resumes using the full sound system. All is fine after that.


It’s so bizarre, and completely repeatable. You would think it would either work or not work.


[Edited by Moderator]

Oct 20, 2024 3:56 AM in response to Dan Bradford

Hi Dan

I have a 2018 Mercedes Benz E-Class and I’m experiencing the same problem going from an iPhone 13 to a new iPhone 16 Pro. CarPlay worked with the iPhone 13 with a USB A to Lightning cable but won’t work with the USB A to USB C cable I just purchased for the iPhone 16 Pro. It charges but doesn’t connect to CarPlay - I’m sure it is a data transfer cable so should work. How did the USB C to Lightening adaptor that you purchased help you, I only have USB A inputs in my car? Probably need to do full system reset and try again with the new cable… 😬

Oct 22, 2024 8:04 AM in response to anthvar

Anthvar-- I had my phone completely disconnected and then re-connected it as a new phone by re-pairing it through bluetooth on the Mercedes phone menu where one connects a new phone device. Once I connected it through bluetooth and had successfully paired it, it then immediately asked me on the infotainment screen if I wanted to use the phone for CarPlay as well. I don't think it should make any big difference what order you do it in but generally speaking setting up the phone first through bluetooth to me makes the most sense. Hope this helps.

Oct 23, 2024 12:24 PM in response to brianc407

I had the same and have managed to resolve it by trying a different cable. It seems some USB to USB-C are charge-capable only. If you have only just switched from a lightning type iPhone to the 16 which is obviously now USB-C, you may not have experienced this issue before now, but CarPlay requires a data-capable cable. The likelihood is it is not your phone or your car that is the problem! Also check your content and privacy settings to ensure CarPlay is enabled. Good luck 🤞

Oct 30, 2024 5:37 AM in response to brianc407

I think I figured out where my issue is with CarPlay not working. I use WiFi for my CarPlay connection and the iPhone seems to disconnect from the WiFi since there isn’t data. If I keep my phone open to settings, and then once the CarPlay disconnects, I can manually select that WiFi network again and the CarPlay immediately reconnects and works for another 5 minutes.


The same issue is true for another device I own that uses a WiFi network to function but doesn’t have data. It’s like the iPhone senses that there isn’t data and then tries to change to another WiFi network or decides to use cellular, which is weird since I am actively having input from this network (it’s a medical device camera that is giving a video to my phone). I have to forget the regular WiFi networks that are also there so my phone doesn’t try to change over to them.


For me, it seems like some type of WiFi system setting on the iPhone 16 that is causing the CarPlay problems.

Oct 31, 2024 3:11 AM in response to brianc407

After spending close to 4 hours over 2 days updating software, resetting networks and alll the other hoops customer care has you do on day 3 I call and the tech asked if I tried a different cable and I replied 3 different cables he then asked were any of the ones I was using an OEM cable I said not. Let’s try a OEM cable so I go grab a OEM cable and Shazam it works. The new question is do I need OEM cables for everything😡

Nov 14, 2024 7:57 AM in response to brianc407

I had the same frustration after upgrading to iPhone 16. I tried all the suggestions below and checked all the settings to no avail. I was using the original Apple Lightning to USB Cable with Apple USB-C to Lightning Adapter, but that would not even maintain charging. Came across a thread that said the issue was the cable. I purchased an "Anker Car Carplay Cable for iPhone 15/16/16 Pro Max/Plus, USB A to USB C Flow Cable" and the problem was solved. Phone now connects quickly and maintains the connection.




CarPlay not working with iPhone 16 Pro

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