Since iOS 18.1.1 update apple carplay not reading messages

UPDATE: I use a VPN for travel and had accidentally left it on. I turned off my VPN and CarPlay now works as expected again.

I had same issue. I called Apple support and it turned out that I had to update my car app. I have a 2024 VW Taos. There was a little tiny app button on upper right of car screen. When I tapped it I was prompted to reconnect to Apple play. Et voilá—everything worked again. Bravo Apple support.

Try turning off VPN if you have one…worked for me

I got it to work on my car. I normally have a VPN running on my phone. I turned it off. Then I restarted the infotainment system in the car (in this vintage of VWs that is done by holding the on/off button down for a bit, around 20 seconds). With the phone connected to the car via USB, when the infotainment came back up, it connected to CarPlay and could be used.

I then turned the VPN back on and got the blank infotainment screen again. Even if I turned the VPN off again, CarPlay would not work and the blank screen remained. CarPlay worked again after disconnecting the phone and repeating the steps above.

I turned off my VPN on my iPhone...it now connects with CarPlay. My wife and I both have 14 Pro iPhones and both drive Mazda CX-5s. Her iPhone worked after the 18.1.1 update and mine did not work in either car. The only difference was I was using a VPN (worked previously in the car before the update) and my wife did not. Hope this helps someone!

I had the same issue and went to apple and they ran a diagnostic check that was all clear. I went to my carrier and they found that the update turned off one of my Data Sockets. They were able to turn it on and no more problems

UPDATE: I made some changes in settings to siri, following this blog post, and was able to get car play to work again.

CarPlay Not Working on iOS 18/18.1? 8 Ways To Fix it! - The Mac Observer

"CarPlay worked again after disconnecting the phone and repeating the steps above"

I meant to write "disconnecting the VPN".

Turning off VPN also worked for me.

AWESOME tip about turning off VPN!!!!!!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!

Wondering if I need to keep my VPN turned off from now on?

I experienced the same issue with CarPlay suddenly disconnecting in my 2021 Mazda CX5 about an hour after updating to 18.1.1 on my iPhone 14 Pro.

I was able to solve the problem.

Here’s how:

1. Deleted VPN from my device (not just turn off)
2. Turned OFF Screentime app
3. Changed Mazda infotainment system settings under CarPlay settings from “Never Allow” to “Always Allow.”

—-

Not sure exactly which of these was the root cause, but my CarPlay is now functioning properly again.

hope this helps

Do you have a VPN on your phone? If so, turn it off while driving. This worked well on my iphone.

Turn off your VPN if you have one. Good luck!

Thank you for mentioning this as I now have a functioning wired carplay again!! I updated to 18.1 and then to 18.2 on my iPhone 15 Pro hoping it would fix the issue post-update, but of course, there was no change.

I connected to Carplay with the VPN turned on (because it always is), and I can only see a black screen in my 19 VW Golf; it's completely disabled. Turn the VPN off, and within 1 second, Carplay will return to life without issues.

Pro Tip: you can immediately switch VPN back on after it connects. That does not disable car play after it successfully connects.

I hope more people see this because Carplay suddenly not working due to your VPN software encryption, is not a standard troubleshooting procedure. Speculation: this is either a simple SW Dev/QA oops that made it to production, OR Apple IS interested in your unencrypted network traffic while commuting. Dont ask me what they are doing with it, but they have it now.

I've been fighting this issue since updating the other day. Just got off the phone with Support to find out that 18.1.1 limits CRITICAL messages only to be displayed on Non CarPlay screens now!! Text messages are not CRITICAL, so you won't get the visual alert at the bottom of the screen. Only the Aural alert/tone for a message will happen outside of a CarPlay screen. They are forcing everyone to use ONLY CarPlay screens so that CarPlay works as it did before updating to iOS 18!! This is so ridiculous.

I've been through so many screens checking settings, changing settings, and rebooting the phone. All for nothing. So much for the latest update.