iOS 18 CarPlay sound connection issues

Question

Level 1

13 points

iOS 18 CarPlay sound connection issues

After updating to ios18, I'm having all sorts of CarPlay sound issues. Prior to the upgrade, everything worked fine. Using Toyota Rav4 2021. I've tried rebooting car console and phone with no luck, removing and adding phone bluetooth to car with no luck.

Cabled airplay (data cable to phone) does not work at all, or requires rebooting phone and car console to get airplay, but sound only plays on iPhone, not on car stereo.
Wireless CarPlay very inconsistent.
1. Sometimes it connects but starts with "mono/voice" at fixed volume with inability to change volume with Spotify and Apple Music
2. After an indeterminate time (minutes later) it sometimes changes to full stereo with volume control.
3. Other times it only plays voice through the phone speaker, and when you tell the app where to send the music, CarPlay is selected.

I'm seeing multiple threads like this on the apple developer forums and on Reddit and in the wild, but not so much on these forums.

What can I do to resolve this? As a daily driver, this is a major setback. Very seriously contemplating reverting to iOS17 just to get this to work.

iPhone 15 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Sep 23, 2024 6:19 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Rjconl

Level 1

14 points

Sep 26, 2024 12:02 PM in response to jahlewis

Try turning off Vocal Shortcuts. It seems this feature may be lowering audio fidelity as if the phone is always in a Siri-speaking mode.

Reply

Answer 2

Nov 4, 2024 3:21 AM in response to Rjconl

You have no idea how much frustration… resetting, full scrapping of all my car settings profiles, and new usbs.

Nothing, comes close to the fact that this interruption by audio, loss of maps, and at one point a complete ear piercing sound that wouldn’t go away, and couldn’t be muted, WHILE I WAS DRIVING! Never experienced anything like this before. It locked my entire car system!!

Huge health hazard all because of a “new feature”

Turning off Vocal Shortcuts solved all of my issues. To think non of this was tested is inexcusable.

Apple needs to see this.

And you sir, are my new favorite person on the internet. Thank you so very much

Reply

Answer 3

Sep 26, 2024 2:48 PM in response to jahlewis

I am experiencing annoying problems with my RAV 4 Apple car play following the update. It keeps freezing, voice issues issues, cannot end phone calls and the list goes on…

Reply

Answer 4

jahlewis Author

Level 1

13 points

Sep 26, 2024 12:41 PM in response to Rjconl

I did this, along with removing and restoring the connections, and updating the firmware on the wireless CarPlay device, and it seems to be working again. Same with the wired connection. So, THANKS. This was really helpful, and frustrating as well, since I was also using the "take a photo" voice command... A

Reply

Answer 5

Nov 18, 2024 8:56 AM in response to jahlewis

Since installation of iOS18, I have noticed connecting by wire, unable to change back to certain popular stations on Pandora. I get a message saying "Unable to load content." This wasn't an issue on iOS17, everything worked perfectly. When connecting via Bluetooth, I have to check now if the phones connected, if not I have to do it manually. This never occured before. Once done, it recognizes the phone, however is synching endlessly.

Text banners also do not who up while listening to Pandora. If you're using maps, of looking at your phone directory or even using the radio, text banners show up. I've checked all my settings and nothing changed form when I had ios17, it seems like installing iOS18 wasn't the thing to do..... It's flawed. Please fix this.

Reply

Answer 6

jahlewis Author

Level 1

13 points

Sep 23, 2024 6:21 AM in response to jahlewis

I don't have Screen Time - Content & Privacy Restrictions enabled FWIW.

Reply