Wireless Carplay disconnects at the same place on my commute with new iPhone 13

I finally figured it out! Go to WiFi settings and change the ask to join networks to “off”

also, change auto join hotspot to “never”

it hasn’t drop out since!!!

Also happens to me on both of my cars on I-25 and Lincoln (between Cabelas and the Schwab campus). Very frustrating. But at least now I know it's not just me.

I have the exact same issue. In Cambridge, MA at Fresh Pond / Mt Auburn outside of Harvard Square- my 2022 Porsche Cayenne loses connection from my iPhone 14 Pro. Same spot, every time. Coming and going, either direction. I made Porsche replace the PCM computer module in the car this week ($8k) and Apple replaced my iPhone 14 Pro just this week as well. This morning the exact same thing, same location…music started to cut out then screen faded to black. Phone disconnects and nothing works.

In an attempt to isolate it, I turned Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off on my phone and engaged a phone call in each direction this morning and there were zero connectivity issues…phone calls were clear as day without interruption.

Then, I tried another test- put the phone into airplane mode (allowed the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to remain active) and the cellular service was switched off…the issue DID happen again- music cut out and screen blacked out.

This is 100% an apple issue…it began with my iPhone 12 Pro after one of the updates last Spring (‘22). Prior to that my phones never had an issue in this vehicle or any other that I have owned over the past decade. Having replaced all of the hardware it is clear this is a software or Wi-Fi issue Apple has created.

really stinks having spent so much time and money replacing parts to realize this is Apple’s problem….

This happens to me iPhone 12 pioneer head unit. Apple CarPlay crashes same location every day and traveling either direction. I do lots of different trips over different time lengths and no issue. Unless I pass this location. Sometimes CarPlay reboots on its own but not usually. Most of the time it can not be restarted at all, but can use the Bluetooth function to stream from the phone ok just not using CarPlay. Thanks 🙏

I have also experienced this issue with my iPhone 13 Pro. It seems to happen in the same location: when I enter and leave my apartment complex. My guess is it is a location services process that runs when I leave/arrive home. For some reason it disconnects CarPlay for around 20-30 seconds. Sometimes it plays audio via a different source (sounds like music coming from a tin can) or it doesn’t play anything at all. I use Spotify but I believe it happens with any music app. It doesn’t matter if I change my commute leaving East or West, it still disconnects when I’m about 500-1000 feet away from home. I might try changing my home address and seeing if that is the root cause.

I went through my privacy and location settings and changed all of my apps using my location to only request location “While Using the App”. The Amazon Alexa app was the only app I changed. Since then, it has been about a week and I’ve had zero issues! While this seems to work, this is still a major inconvenience knowing Alexa routines aren’t able to function so it would be great for Apple to make some progress on fixing this, as it seems to affect other apps as well.

You are losing the cell data signal and it has to do with 5G and fallback to LTE. I have two places when driving to downtown Fort Worth, Texas via State Highway 121 where I drop the signal. If I use a pre-5G phone it only happens very briefly at one location as I stay on LTE. The 5G problem also occurs with a friends Samsung. You can report it to your cell carrier, unfortunately the area in question for me is on a restricted river flood plain so they can't add a tower there. It was really bad on 3G phone calls back in the day.

I guess you don’t realize that this is a user-to-user forum, not a way to connect with Apple. You need to contact Apple if you want help from Apple, you can use the Support link at the top or bottom of this page.

But the problem is not something that Apple can fix; it is almost certainly an problem with interference at that specific location→Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference - Apple Support

I agree and you’re 100% correct. So in an effort to be part of the solution rather than further contribute to the problem, my apologies - the vulgarity was unneeded, uncalled for and a lazy way for me to express MY reaction to your post. I appreciate you calling it out.

Now let’s hope Apple/Car or device OEMs sort this out! It really is unusable for me I drive through 3-4 of these spots within 2kms.

Also a quick list of fixes that I’ve come across so far that have worked for some;

• Starting with a fresh pairing (remove all connections on the car and phone - then re-pair the device)
• Turn off location services on certain apps (some have mentioned Alexa can cause conflicts)
• Use a cord :(

Would be great to add to the list if others find anything that works.

That’s not how software works. It is an Apple problem. When your users have an issue, you don’t say “oh we didn’t cause this”, you find a way around it. This also didn’t used to be a problem, so something has changed that’s caused this to begin happening.

Yep, also happens to me. iPhone 14 pro and Mercedes C300e 2022.

I can pinpoint exactly when it happens. It’s everything I pass under a toll reader (Portugal) or at the entrance/exit of parking garages that use the same technology.

Basically the radio frequency interferes with the wireless CarPlay and just cuts the connection.

Reading this topic and seeing that many car models are affected, the problem can only rely with Apple!!

Please fix this!

There's a 2-mile stretch on SR 92 where I live. The problem started I think in connection with the Texas Instruments takeover of the Micron facility along that highway.

2023 Ford Bronco - gets interrupted so badly that the entire radio reboots twice along that stretch

2021 Silverado 3500 - cuts out 2-3 times for a total of 20 seconds along that stretch

2015 Jeep with 2017 aftermarket JVC radio - crashes multiple times like the Bronco

Same Jeep with a new Pioneer radio - behaves more like the Chevrolet.

I'm sure it has to do with how the makers buffer and manage connections, it seems like if Apple could use the standard Bluetooth frequency/protocol for wireless CarPlay there would be no problems since Bluetooth never has an issue

BmmrBoiN63 wrote:

Yup, same spot for me too. Happens like clockwork. Interestingly enough, if it’s a wired connection, I have no problems. I wonder if Centennial Airport or Sky Ridge has anything to do with it? Just a wild guess…

Not at all wild. Some radar that is used at airports operates in the same microwave spectrum as Wi-Fi.