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CarPlay Settings: Engadget Highlights Customization and Safety Options After Setup

Engadget details CarPlay settings for Driving Focus, Voice Control, Smart Display Zoom, and app customization.

AI News Feed · 2026-09-09 03:00

Driving Focus, a preconfigured iOS mode, can be set to activate automatically when the iPhone detects motion or connects to CarPlay. When enabled, it silences app notifications, though exceptions can be made for specific contacts, and an auto-reply message can be generated. If Siri's Announce Notifications is turned on for CarPlay, incoming messages will be read aloud.

Voice Control, located in Settings > Accessibility, enables basic commands without invoking Siri. Once activated, a blue waveform appears on screen, and phrases such as "Open Spotify" or "Play" control apps and playback. Users can say "Open Siri" to summon the assistant. Another accessibility feature, Sound Recognition, monitors for car horns, sirens, or a baby crying and displays an alert on the infotainment screen.

Starting with iOS 26, a Smart Display Zoom toggle under Settings > Display in CarPlay is designed to scale down interface elements and fit more information on larger screens. Users who prefer bigger icons and text should keep it turned off.

Visual customization includes changing the CarPlay wallpaper by navigating to Settings > Wallpaper, or switching between Always Dark and Automatic appearance in the Appearance submenu. Text size can be adjusted under Settings > Accessibility > Text Size, with an option to make text bold.

To manage apps on CarPlay's home screen, users must go to their iPhone's Settings > General > CarPlay, select their car, and tap Apps under Customize. Dragging an app to the top brings it to the first page, and widget stacks can be edited there as well.