How to customize Apple CarPlay: wallpapers, widgets, app layout and more

Engadget reports that CarPlay's default design uses bold text and large icons to make information easy to read at a glance, and that a few tweaks can put the most important items within easier reach. By default, CarPlay appears in dark mode so the screen does not glare in dim environments. Drivers who have trouble reading it in daylight can switch to light mode by opening Settings > Appearance in CarPlay and choosing Light. An Automatic option lets CarPlay shift between light and dark modes based on ambient lighting.

The same Settings section lets users change the wallpaper shown behind apps. Engadget says CarPlay does not support custom images from the iPhone photo gallery, but offers several Apple-designed wallpaper choices with different colors and patterns. In Settings > Customize Icons, users can choose a dark icon pack or switch to clear icons following Apple's Liquid Glass design language. Accessibility settings can also increase text size for better readability.

To rearrange apps, users must go to their iPhone's Settings > General > CarPlay, select the vehicle, then tap Apps. Engadget notes that the car's display size determines how many apps appear on each page, so users should keep that in mind while reordering. Frequently used apps can be moved to the first page using the handles on the list. Users can remove apps they do not use by tapping the Remove icon, although some default apps cannot be removed and may simply be dragged to the bottom.

Widgets came to CarPlay with iOS 26, according to Engadget. They live on a separate page reachable by swiping right from the main dashboard. Depending on screen width, one or more stacks of widgets appear at a time, with defaults such as clock, calendar, media player and weather. To customize the stacks, users go to the same CarPlay page in iPhone settings, tap Widgets, and make sure the Show Widgets toggle is on. They can then add widgets to each stack and reorder them so essential information is easy to reach without scrolling through the entire stack while driving.

Engadget also mentions that Siri is receiving a major overhaul in iOS 27, which should make hands-free interaction more reliable while driving. The guide does not state an exact release date for iOS 27.