There are many reasons why your Apple CarPlay keeps disconnecting/stopping, but some of the top reasons are; Loose or faulty lightning cables, an inadequate car audio system, power management issues, or software problems.
Issues
- Faulty or loose cables
- Inadequate Car Audio System
- Power Management issues
- Software Problems
Solutions
- Replace the CarPlay charging cable or find an improved iPhone position.
- Improve Power Management
- Update CarPlay IOS
- Reboot Car
- Reset Media System
Like many other Apple devices, the IOS system for Apple’s CarPlay is built to be used with any Apple Device, an iPhone, Ipad, or computer. It can play the radio, your playlist, podcast, text, and a host of other useful features.
All without touching it with your hands, making sure you can focus on the road ahead. (Mostly done through Siri).
Like many operating systems, it has its own fair share of problems. The most prevalent is CarPlay’s tendency to disconnect or otherwise cease functioning for a user. The reasons why are varied, but here are the most common complaints so far.
Known Issues for Why Apple Carplay Keeps Disconnecting
Your Cables might be loose
- This one is both the most annoying and the most fixable, as all you have to do to fix the problem is adjust, change, or shake the cable.
- If you use a wireless carplay system, this obviously shouldn’t be an issue unless you use a wireless CarPlay adapter. In this case, this would work too.
- TIP: I find unplugging the cable and plugging it back in to be the most effective way.
- A permanent fix may be to use an Apple CarPlay phone mount or use wireless CarPlay, so you don’t have to worry about cable at all!
- But if you want a new wire, see our list of the best Apple CarPlay charger Cables
The Car Itself
- This one is a little subjective, but it stands to reason that, at times, older models of cars won’t have the same capabilities as newer ones. You can keep your vehicle running smoothly for many years, but at the end of the day, a car made in prior years will not maintain the same systems as one built in 2021.
- Older CarPlay models, such as the 2016 car models with manufactured, built CarPlay systems, have teething problems as this was the first year the CarPlay IOS was put inside as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer).
Power Management
- Since the CarPlay system runs on the car’s internal battery, it stands to reason that, should there be an error in the electrical system, the CarPlay system suffers a glitch and can shut off or stop altogether.
- Put this way, CarPlay isn’t the most critical part of the car’s electronic system, although it might feel like it when it abruptly cuts on you while you’re trying to navigate through tricky streets and jam to music.
Update Issues
- Be it a problem in the downloads or a glitch in the matrix, at times, an update doesn’t work right. You can jostle the cable, redownload it, or even uninstall it, but sometimes the IOS doesn’t work. Make sure to update CarPlay to the latest version to check this.
- Making CarPlay compatible with every car is complicated and sometimes has bugs. Hopefully, connectivity should be fixed in the next update. You can help by giving apple feedback directly.
Loose cables can often giggle around due to driving bumps and vibration; this can sometimes knock your cable out of position.
Other Issues
Now, why might these cause problems for CarPlay? A few simple reasons, one of them being that the car is continuously shaking or vibrating from the road, its engine, the battery, and the chassis shake. The result is that CarPlay, or rather the Carplay unit, might not connect all the time.
Another possibility is that you might just be forced to drive through a dead zone since it’s a wireless device. A dead zone is an area where the connection is failed, inadequate, or otherwise just non-existent.
Of course, it is also possible that there is a problem with the update itself. You can always roll back (go to a previous version) until the latest issue is resolved or wait for a new update.
System Reboot
You be surprised just how often rebooting a system solves your problems. Your car electronics are not so different from your phone or PC. Usually, a full reboot will fix the issue quickly.
You should look up how to reboot your specific car on YouTube or check your car’s manual. Often it will involve turning the engine off, getting out of the car, shutting the door, and locking it while fully waiting for it to turn off.
Final Thoughts on why CarPlay Keeps Disconnecting
Should the iPhone keep disconnecting, it’s a wise idea to seek help from a qualified electrical representative.
While it can be frustrating when CarPlay isn’t working, hopefully, these solutions will fix the problem for you.
