Although a Honda is considered an affordable vehicle, there are still some perks you can get with some models. Ever wanted the convenience of using Apple CarPlay on your car? It’s no longer for high-priced models anymore.
Honda supports Apple CarPlay for a variety of models and trims, with Honda CarPlay starting in 2016. This includes the Accord, Civic, CR-V, and even Odyssey. Setting up CarPlay requires no professional knowledge, and it rarely fails to work. If so, fixing the problem is easy as well.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about Apple CarPlay on a Honda vehicle.
I’ll list the models that offer support for this service, and elaborate on how you can set it up and fix any problems you may face.
Honda Models That Support Apple CarPlay
Despite its low prices, Honda has offered Apple CarPlay support for vehicles such as the Accord and Civic ever since 2016. That’s early when compared to other models that support CarPlay.
If you’re wondering whether your Honda supports Apple CarPlay, look for your vehicle’s model and year in the table below:
| Model | Release Year |
| Honda Civic | 2016–2022 |
| Honda Accord | 2016–2022 |
| Honda Ridgeline | 2017–2022 |
| Honda Pilot | 2017–2022 |
| Honda CR-V | 2017–2022 |
| Honda Fit | 2018–2020 |
| Honda Clarity | 2019–2022 |
| Honda Odyssey | 2018–2022 |
| Honda HR-V | 2019–2022 |
| Honda Insight | 2019–2022 |
| Honda Passport | 2019–2022 |
Do All Trims Support Honda Apple CarPlay?
While you may find your vehicle’s make, model, and release year in the table above, this doesn’t necessarily mean you can get CarPlay on your Honda Civic or other models. You can only get this service if you’ve paid for the premium trim that comes equipped with the hardware and software to run the connection with Apple CarPlay.
In other words, you can’t upgrade your Honda to support CarPlay—it either does, or it doesn’t.
If you find that your vehicle is not on the aforementioned list, your only option is to get an aftermarket audio fitting to support CarPlay. If you do get an aftermarket stereo, you could also get extra features such as wireless carplay, which would allow you not to use the lightning cable. Just jump in, and CarPlay will automatically connect.
Setting Up CarPlay on Your Honda
Luckily enough, you don’t need to visit a service center to set up your Honda Apple CarPlay.
In fact, most people decide to set it up on their own. The process is very simple and straightforward.
Here’s how to set up CarPlay on your Honda:
- Activate Siri on your iPhone, ensuring that “use Siri when locked” is turned on.
- Activate Apple CarPlay on your iPhone.
- Use a CarPlay Lightning-to-USB cable to connect your iPhone to your Honda.
- On the screen of your Honda, you’ll get a prompt asking for permission to use Apple CarPlay. Click on “Always Allow”.
Once you’ve gone through the steps above, CarPlay is already set up on your Honda’s infotainment system. You can activate it by tapping on the CarPlay icon on the screen whenever you need it. Then, you will have access to a number of convenient CarPlay apps streamed from your iPhone, such as Spotify, Google Maps, and even VoIP.
What To Do When Honda CarPlay Isn’t Working
Although it is very rare, you might find that your Honda CarPlay occasionally stops working. In that case, the fix is easier than rebooting your car stereo. Here are a few troubleshooting techniques:
Reset the Connection
The first thing that you should do to try and fix any errors in your Honda Apple CarPlay is to reset the connection between your vehicle and device. The best way to do that is to restart CarPlay (turn it off and start it up again) on your infotainment screen while keeping your iPhone still connected via the Lightning-to-USB cable.
Another thing you can do is restart the CarPlay app on your iPhone, or even restart your device. This should allow the application to fix any minor errors that caused it to malfunction.
Check App Permissions
Sometimes you will find that on your iPhone, either Siri or CarPlay (or both) are not allowed permission to run in the background. This will cause the iPhone’s internal operating system to shut down the apps after running for some time with the screen off.
So, check the app permissions for Siri and Apple CarPlay on your iPhone, and make sure that all permissions are allowed.
Inspect Your Lightning-to-USB Cable
Despite the high price point that most Apple products are sold for, Lightning-to-USB cables are notorious for wearing out too soon. Inspect the cable carefully, or try replacing it with another cable that you are sure is in working condition.
Luckily, all you need to do is replace the cable, and you’ll fix the problem instantaneously. View my top CarPlay charging cables.
Bluetooth Interference
Many of us use Bluetooth earbuds or other devices while driving for convenience. However, the Bluetooth connection can sometimes interfere with the connection between the infotainment system and your iPhone.
You can test if this is the case by turning off Bluetooth on your Honda’s infotainment system and on your iPhone. If CarPlay starts working normally after that, you can deduce that Bluetooth interference is the problem causing CarPlay to stop working.
CarPlay uses Bluetooth to establish the initial connection. Once connected, it will then switch over to WIFI. So the same issue can occur with WIFI. It could interfere with the connection if you are still connected to your home network or have a dash cam that uses wifi.
Final Thoughts
Even with a small budget, you can still enjoy the perks of running Apple CarPlay on your Honda. Whether you have a Civic, Accord, or even a Honda Fit, setting up CarPlay is easy enough for most people to DIY. Fixing any errors is also not such a big deal, so go ahead and try it out yourself.
