CarPlay not Working on iPhone 12 Pro Max? Fix!

Here’s how to get everything reconnected if Apple CarPlay isn’t working on iPhone 12 Pro Max.

CarPlay is a custom iOS interface that presents important apps and information from your iPhone on the car’s touchscreen. Once connected, you can run apps that are optimized for CarPlay on your car’s screen, navigate, make calls, use Siri, and more.

However, there are times when CarPlay won’t connect on iPhone 12 Pro Max or you just can’t hear anything even if it’s connected. Other times CarPlay apps won’t open properly so you’re limited to what you can do.

This guide looks at some of the causes for CarPlay not working on iPhone 12 Pro Max and some possible fixes you can use to get everything reconnected.

Causes for Apple CarPlay Not Working on iPhone 12 Pro Max

Depending on your car, you can connect your iPhone 12 Pro Max to CarPlay using a USB cable or pair your phone with your car’s Bluetooth if the car supports wireless connection.

Whatever method you use, there are several reasons why CarPlay may not work on iPhone 12 Pro Max even if it has been working fine before such as:

Faulty USB cable
iPhone not detected
Bluetooth connectivity problems
Issues with an iOS update
Incompatibility issues
Problems with integration between apps

How to Fix Apple CarPlay Not Working on iPhone 12 Pro Max

There are many different car systems beyond your iPhone 12 Pro Max, which makes it challenging to troubleshoot CarPlay issues. Whether the issue is no sound, no connection, or apps aren’t working, we’ve lined up some helpful fixes and tips in this guide to help you get CarPlay working again.

Before trying any of the fixes below, here are some things to check:

The first thing to check is that your iPhone 12 Pro Max and car’s infotainment system are turned on. If your car has an activate option, make sure that it’s selected.
Make sure your country region supports Apple CarPlay because it’s not available everywhere.
Make sure CarPlay is compatible with your vehicle. If you’re not sure, check your car’s manual or contact the vehicle manufacturer. If your car stereo isn’t compatible, you can get a compatible aftermarket stereo from brands like Alpine, Clarion, Blaupunkt, JVC, Pioneer, Kenwood or Sony.
Make sure that your iPhone is running the latest iOS version.
Make sure your car stereo has the most recent firmware installed. If you’re using an aftermarket stereo, check for a firmware update from the manufacturer’s website to get instructions on how to update it.
Unpair your iPhone 12 Pro Max from the car and try pairing it again. This usually helps when the Bluetooth connection between the phone and your car’s infotainment system gets corrupted.
Unpair any other Bluetooth devices connected to your iPhone 12 Pro Max that may interfere or conflict with the device and your car as you use CarPlay.

If you’ve performed all these steps and CarPlay still won’t work on iPhone 12 Pro Max, try the fixes below to see if it solves the problem and gets CarPlay going again.

1. Check Your Connection

You can connect to your CarPlay stereo using a USB cable or a wireless connection. If you’re using a USB cable, check it physically to ensure it’s not damaged or loose or try with a different cable to a different USB port if you have one.

If you choose to use a wireless connection, enable Bluetooth and WiFi under Settings on your iPhone.

To enable WiFi, head to Settings > WiFi.

Tap WiFi and toggle its switch to on/green to enable it.

Next, head to Settings again, tap Bluetooth and toggle its switch to on/green to enable it.

2. Restart Your iPhone and Your Car’s Infotainment System

If CarPlay doesn’t work on iPhone 12 Pro Max after trying different connections, check whether the CarPlay logo appears on your car’s display. If not, restart your iPhone and your car.

Follow these steps to restart your iPhone 12 Pro Max:

press and hold the Side button and either of the volume buttons until you see the power off slider. Drag the slider from left to right to turn off your iPhone. Now press the side button again to turn it on.
Note: To restart the car’s infotainment system, check the vehicle’s user manual for instructions. After restarting the devices, try using CarPlay with your iPhone again to check if the problem persists.

3. Make Sure Siri is Enabled

If your car supports Siri Eyes Free, you can hold down the voice-command on your steering wheel to make your request. However, if Siri is disabled, you won’t be able to use it with CarPlay.

To enable Siri, head to Settings > Siri & Search.

Enable these options: Allow Siri when locked, Listen for Hey Siri and Press Side button for Siri.

4. Make Sure CarPlay isn’t Restricted

If CarPlay doesn’t detect your iPhone 12 Pro Max, check that the service isn’t restricted on your iPhone.

To do this, start the Settings on your iPhone and tap Screen Time.

Next, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.

Tap your car and then tap Forget This car. Now, set up Apple CarPlay again.

5. Check Whether CarPlay is Allowed While Locked

If CarPlay still isn’t working on iPhone 12 Pro Max after trying the checks and fixes we’ve listed so far, check whether it’s allowed while locked.

To do this, open Settings on your iPhone and tap General > CarPlay.

Tap Your Car.

Next, toggle the switch next to Allow CarPlay While Locked to enable it if it’s off.

6. Disable USB Restricted Mode

USB Restricted Mode is an iOS feature that protects iOS user data from passcode hackers who use USB devices to hack your passcode via Lightning ports. The feature disables the USB data connection internally after some time.

To disable the feature, start the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Face ID & Passcode.

Enter your passcode if prompted and tap on Allow Access When Locked section.

Next, tap USB Accessories and toggle its switch to ON to disable USB Restricted Mode.

Note: Once you disable the feature, Lightning-based phone accessories can work even when your iPhone is locked. However, disabling USB Restricted Mode leaves your iPhone at risk to certain threats. But if you’re okay with it, you can keep it disabled while using CarPlay and enable it when you don’t need it.

7. Reset All Settings

Sometimes issues with apps on your iOS device can change some system settings that may cause CarPlay not to work on iPhone 12 Pro Max. In this case, resetting all system settings to default will get everything back in order.

To reset all your iPhone settings, head to Settings > General > Reset.

Tap Reset All Settings, follow the prompts to complete the process, and check whether CarPlay works on your iPhone 12 Pro Max again.

You can also reset your phone’s network settings as network-related errors may have disrupted or ruined the connection between your iPhone and CarPlay. To clear and reset network settings on iPhone, head to Settings > General > Reset > Reset network settings.

Type in your iPhone passcode and tap the option to confirm the reset. Once completed, your iPhone will restart automatically and load the default network options. However, you’ll need to re-enable WiFi and Bluetooth to use them with CarPlay again.