Apple CarPlay Gets A Big Upgrade With iOS 26: Fresh Look, Smarter Messages, And More

At its annual WWDC 2025 event, Apple gave us a closer look at the future of CarPlay, announcing a major update that will roll out later this year alongside iOS 26. The refreshed CarPlay experience comes with a sleek new design, better messaging features, and handy real-time widgets, all aimed at making your time on the road more connected and less distracting.

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One of the biggest changes is the introduction of a new visual style called ‘Liquid Glass’. It’s a slick, fluid design that makes the interface feel more alive and in tune with your car’s dashboard. Icons and buttons now adapt to light and dark modes more naturally, creating a smoother connection between your iPhone and your car’s screen.

Apple has also made some thoughtful tweaks to how notifications work in CarPlay. Incoming call alerts are now more compact, taking up less space on the screen so drivers can stay focused. Messaging gets a boost too, with support for Tapbacks (those quick emoji reactions) and the option to pin conversations you don’t want to lose in the mix. It’s all about making communication easier without pulling your attention off the road.

For the first time, CarPlay is getting widgets, just like the ones on your iPhone. That means you’ll be able to check the weather, upcoming calendar events, and other bits of info without digging through menus. Apple is also bringing Live Activities to the car, so updates like flight statuses or package tracking will pop up on your screen in real time.

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All these updates are part of Apple’s push to make CarPlay not just look better, but work smarter for everyday driving. The new features are built to keep you informed while helping you stay safe behind the wheel. The updated CarPlay with iOS 26 is expected to roll out later this year, and Apple says more details, including which car models will fully support it, are coming soon.