Upgrading to Apple CarPlay is one of the easiest and best things you can do to bring your vehicle into the modern era of technology.
However, some people have found issues with skipping tracks when using Apple CarPlay’s music apps and services such as Spotify, YouTube Music, or iHeartRadio.
If Apple CarPlay is skipping audio and music, you should first update your CarPlay version and check for phone software updates. If updating doesn’t work, you should try switching between wireless and a USB cable or check your phone’s audio settings to eliminate interference.
It can be incredibly frustrating when Apple CarPlay skips tracks and cuts out, but it doesn’t have to be with these easy-to-use troubleshooting steps.
So, if you’re experiencing these issues, keep reading to see how you can fix this issue right away!
6 Reasons for Apple CarPlay Skipping
See six potential reasons why apple carplay might be skipping.
1. Your Audio Cable is Broken or Incompatible
Sometimes an incompatible audio cable or a damaged line might interfere with how your phone transmits audio to CarPlay.
Since Bluetooth is entirely wireless, it can cut out the “middleman” as your phone transmits audio to your vehicle.
So, switching to Bluetooth streaming can help you determine if the cable is the cause of the problem.
How To Fix
If you’re using an iPhone 6 or later, make sure you have the latest version of CarPlay installed.
Older versions of CarPlay may not support Bluetooth audio streaming.
Also, make sure your car has the latest updates for both CarPlay and Bluetooth.
Both Apple and your car manufacturer may release updates that fix CarPlay or Bluetooth functionality issues.
You can also try purchasing a new USB cable. We’d recommend an Anker Powerline+ II Lightning Cable.
As seen in the image below:
2. Bluetooth Connection May be the Culprit
If you’re having trouble with audio playback on your iPhone while using CarPlay, the problem may be Bluetooth.
CarPlay relies on Bluetooth to play audio, and if there’s a problem with your Bluetooth connection, it can cause audio to skip or cut out.
How To Fix
There are a few things you can do to try to fix the problem. Make sure your iPhone is connected to the car’s Bluetooth system correctly.
For instructions, see the manufacturer’s manual for your car.
Make sure your iPhone is connected to the correct Bluetooth device. If you have more than one Bluetooth device enabled, disable them so that your phone is the only Bluetooth device powered up.
If you are still experiencing this issue, try a USB cable instead.
You can also try another music app, like Spotify or Amazon Music.
If the problem persists with a different app (or even when listening to Apple Music), then it’s likely an issue with your car itself and not CarPlay.
In this case, I’d recommend taking your vehicle to an authorized service center for diagnosis and repair.
3. Dolby Atmos Is Interfering With Your Audio Settings
When Apple CarPlay was first announced, one of the features that excited many drivers was the possibility of using Dolby Atmos sound.
Unfortunately, it looks like some drivers are finding that Apple CarPlay with Dolby Atmos is skipping audio when playing music with this feature enabled.
How To Fix
To disable Dolby Atmos, open the Settings app on your phone and navigate to Music > Dolby Atoms > Off.
If disabling Dolby Atmos isn’t fixing the issue, you may need to adjust other phone audio settings.
4. Lossless Audio Encoding Is Forcing CarPlay To Skip Audio
Sometimes, playing higher-quality sound on CarPlay is too much for the system to handle, in which case it slows down, creating lagging problems and Apple CarPlay skipping audio.
One potential solution is to disable lossless audio on your iPhone.
This will disable the high-quality encoding of music and videos, which can cause the audio to skip or not play properly.
How To Fix
To disable lossless audio:
- Open Settings on your iPhone. (iPad or iPod won’t work with CarPlay).
- Tap Music.
- Tap Audio Quality.
- Under “Audio Quality,” tap Lossless Audio and turn it off.
- Restart your device if prompted to do so.
5. Your iPhone and Apps Are Not Updated
If you’re having trouble with audio playback on CarPlay, the problem might be that your iPhone and apps aren’t up to date.
Check for updates in the App Store and make sure that your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS.
Developers tend to fix bugs with every update.
How To Fix
Make sure that your iPhone is up-to-date by downloading the latest updates from Apple.
Updating your system for the newest patches should fix any software issues that may be causing audio and music problems.
If updating your iPhone doesn’t correct the issue, you may need to reset your car’s audio settings.
6. Your CarPlay Settings Aren’t Correct
It’s possible that incorrect CarPlay settings may be causing your audio to skip.
Many users have taken to online forums and social media to voice their complaints about the issue.
The recommended action is to simply reset CarPlay to factory default settings.
How To Fix
There are a few things that you can do to try to fix this issue.
First, make sure that your CarPlay settings are correct.
Second, check the cables and connections between your device and your car.
Finally, if nothing else works, you may need to reset the CarPlay settings to default, which will restore the app to its factory default state.
Why Does My Music Skip When Using an iPhone in Apple CarPlay?
Your music might skip when using an iPhone in Apple CarPlay because of buffering issues from your iPhone. Apple has released an update that supposedly resolves the issue. If you’re experiencing Apple CarPlay skipping audio or music, make sure that your iPhone is running the latest software and connect it to a compatible car stereo system.
Make sure that your iPhone is connected to the car’s audio system via Bluetooth.
If it isn’t, connect it before continuing. Open Apple CarPlay on your iPhone and go to the “Music” app.
Tap the album art for the song you want to play and choose “Play Now.”
If the music still doesn’t play properly, try one of these solutions:
- Try restarting your iPhone and car audio system.
- Try turning off AirPlay on your iPhone and then turning it back on again.
- Disconnect Bluetooth and use a cable instead.
Conclusion
I have provided some solutions reported to work for some CarPlay users.
Hopefully, this article has helped resolve any issues you may have with Apple CarPlay music not working.
If you’re still experiencing problems, you may need to reach out to Apple customer support.
