Apple CarPlay is perhaps one of the most valuable features of your car.
Driving becomes safer when you’ve got everything you need hooked up to voice commands.
It’s also helpful to charge your phone on the go, but what do you do if it’s not working?
Apple CarPlay may not be charging your phone because of an uncertified or broken charging cable, insufficient voltage, or your screen may need to be unlocked. Otherwise, you could always check for debris inside the charging port of your phone since this could also be the culprit.
In summary:
- Your Charging Cable Is Not Certified
- CarPlay Doesn’t Provide the Correct Voltage
- You’re Using GPS
- There Is Debris Inside the Charge Port
This article will go through why Apple Carplay isn’t charging your phone.
I’ll also go through a few ways you can fix the situation.
Why Is Apple CarPlay Not Charging Phone?
Apple CarPlay is not charging your phone likely due to the cable you are using. Many people use cables that are not meant for your phone, and Apple suppliers selling charging cables need to be certified.
If you aren’t using the correct cable or the cord is counterfeit, you could experience many issues with your phone, not just problems with CarPlay.
In the long run, you may even damage your phone beyond repair.
If CarPlay is functioning the way it should, and your phone is connected via a USB cable, it should be charging.
However, if it’s not, you can do a few things to fix the problem.
But first, let’s go over the common reasons Apple CarPlay may not be charging your phone.
See our guide to the best Apple CarPlay chargers for more information.
Your Charging Cable Is Not Certified
As I mentioned earlier, if your cable isn’t certified or hasn’t come from an Apple-approved manufacturer, you might experience charging issues.
This might affect charging through Apple CarPlay, but it may also extend to other circumstances.
To see if your cable is recommended, check the serial number on the cable. It should say something about being certified; otherwise, there should be a 12-digit number. If your cable isn’t licensed, you need to stop using it.
CarPlay Doesn’t Provide the Correct Voltage
If CarPlay isn’t giving sufficient voltage to your phone through the USB cable, it won’t charge very fast, if at all.
To check if this is the issue, see if the small charging symbol at the top right corner of your phone has a lightning rod next to it. If it does, but the charge isn’t changing, the voltage might be insufficient for your phone.
You’re Using GPS
If you’re using GPS navigation, your phone might be using too much energy to charge fully.
This is the case on long trips if you’re consistently using your phone for navigation purposes. Using significant energy means your phone will lose charge at a faster rate.
This is likely very rare!
There Is Debris Inside the Charge Port
This is one of the most common problems with phone charging.
If you have debris inside the port, it may not work as it should.
To check if there’s debris inside the charge port, you’ll need to look inside using a small flashlight or holding it up to the light.
4 Easy Fixes for Apple CarPlay Not Charging Phone
If you’ve determined you have one of the above problems, you can now get to fixing it. Here’s how to fix CarPlay not charging your phone.
1. Purchase a Different Charging Cable
If you have an iPhone, you should always use a cable that’s been certified by Apple.
Manufacturers will have a badge on their cables that show their certification.
For example, this Anker USB-A to Lightning Cable Cord comes in three different sizes and is MFi certified by Apple. You can also buy them in multipacks and in different colors.
2. Talk to Your Manufacturer About Voltage
To see if the voltage is insufficient for your iPhone, you need to talk to your manufacturer.
You won’t be able to fix this issue using CarPlay, but there are a few alternatives.
For example, you could use a power bank to charge your phone while using CarPlay wirelessly.
This means you wouldn’t have to rely on insufficient power.
Alternatively, you can keep your phone on battery-saving mode to reserve energy for long trips.
3. Turn Off GPS
If you don’t need GPS for your entire trip, you can turn this off on Apple CarPlay to allow your phone to charge correctly.
During this time, you’re reserving the necessary power for your phone to provide navigation software to CarPlay.
4. Clean Out Your Charging Port
If your charging port is relatively old, or you don’t clean your phone frequently, debris can build up inside it.
This means charging will be more difficult since obstructions will prevent it from charging the way it should.
This can also make the CarPlay connection keep disconnecting/stopping.
To solve this issue, use a toothpick to gently clean out the lint inside the charging port.
Or my personal favorite is to use the iPhone sim ejector. This was recommended to me by an Apple employee as it comes with every iPhone in the box.
In case you forgot what it looks like:
ENSURE you are gentle so as to not damage/scratch the metal charging connectors.
You’ll be amazed at how much fluff you might find.
FAQs
How Do I Charge My Phone With CarPlay?
You can charge your phone with CarPlay with a USB connection between your phone and car. If you use a Lightning-to-USB charger to use CarPlay, it should charge automatically. If you use a wireless connection for Apple CarPlay, you can use a standard charging cable to connect your phone to your car, such as a power bank.
Also, you should enable Siri to ensure you can use CarPlay while your phone is charging.
Wireless CarPlay is the only way to use CarPlay without charging your phone.
Does Your Phone Charge While Using CarPlay?
Your phone charges while using CarPlay if you are using a cable. You will need to maintain a connection via USB to use the software.
Final Thoughts
If Apple CarPlay isn’t charging your phone, there are a few common causes, the most prevalent of which are problems with the charging cable itself.
Try cleaning out your charging port regularly to ensure charging will always be efficient.
