A much-anticipated characteristic is coming very quickly.
Have you ever ever sat in your CarPlay-equipped automobile ready to select up a pal and thought, “Why cannot I play a video on this ginormous display screen?” In that case, there’s some excellent news: Apple quietly announced at WWDC 2026 that CarPlay will quickly allow you to browse and play movies instantly on supported autos as soon as iOS 27 arrives. This information got here shortly after Google announced that HD video playback could be coming to Android Auto as effectively.
This CarPlay video functionality will solely work when the automobile is stationary; if the system detects movement, it should change to an audio-only mode, as Inside EVs detailed. Nonetheless, will probably be a godsend to bored EV house owners charging their autos, ride-sharing drivers ready for passengers and fogeys selecting up their youngsters from faculty. There are just a few critical caveats, although, which will considerably delay extensive availability of this characteristic.
How the brand new CarPlay video characteristic for iOS 27 works
This is how the brand new CarPlay video characteristic will work, as Apple defined to builders in its WWDC 2026 “Rev up your CarPlay app” video. The concept is that devs can add video playback for apps in new automobiles that help its upcoming “video in automobile” characteristic. This requires AirPlay streaming, one thing that Apple launched final 12 months with iOS 26.4 to permit video mirroring from an iPhone. Extra on that shortly.
The brand new iOS 27 video characteristic takes this to the subsequent degree, letting customers not solely play again however browse movies. In its demonstration, Apple makes use of a fictitious “Landmark” app for example, however this might presumably apply to any video streaming app, like Apple TV or YouTube. The demo is aimed toward builders, however provides end-users an concept of what to anticipate as effectively.
In case your app and CarPlay system help video playback, you may see an choice for “Movies” on the high left of the show. Deciding on that may present an inventory of video thumbnails you’d sometimes see in video streaming apps, together with a mini participant on the high proper with primary controls. When a video is enjoying, the thumbnail additionally exhibits the remaining time and present progress, together with badges for newly added or dwell streaming movies.
In Apple’s demo, urgent a thumbnail brings up an inventory view displaying the chosen video on high with a “Play” button and “+” button so as to add to a playlist. Tapping Play will then present the video at full display screen, with controls to allow you to skip forward or again 10 seconds, see subtitles and return to the earlier web page. Apple emphasised that video will solely work when the automobile is parked, for apparent security causes.
Cannot you already watch movies on CarPlay?
As talked about, video on CarPlay is not model new. With the launch of iOS 26.4 final 12 months, Apple introduced video mirroring to CarPlay screens from an iPhone utilizing AirPlay. This isn’t as superior because the iOS 27 video searching and playback characteristic we explored above, but it surely’s one other method to view video. This is how that works: First, you allow AirPlay on supported apps and choose your automobile’s CarPlay infotainment system as a mirroring supply. Then, while you play a video in your iPhone, it ought to seem on the automobile’s display screen as effectively.
I say “ought to” for a purpose. The fact is that the majority CarPlay methods do not seem to permit mirroring from an iPhone but — although wi-fi CarPlay methods use AirPlay because the underlying Wi-Fi streaming layer. As an illustration, I anticipated to search out YouTube movies demonstrating the characteristic in autos, even in beta, however I got here up empty aside from a CarPlay developer simulation on a laptop computer.
Different {hardware} constraints could also be a difficulty as effectively. Builders have noticed that CarPlay video mirroring solely works on shows with a minimal 1,920 x 1,080 decision, however many manufacturing facility automobile head unit installations haven’t got that. Additionally, video streaming playback usually requires H.265 or HEVC codec help and 4GB or extra of reminiscence, and once more, older CarPlay methods could lack these specs.
This lacking automobile help could clarify why Apple hasn’t performed up the characteristic extra. At WWDC 2025, the corporate mentioned that automakers wanted to implement CarPlay video performance, each to permit for the additional {hardware} calls for for video and to detect when the automobile is parked. Up to now, although, not one automaker has introduced help.
CarPlay video playback could not come within the close to future
It is clear, then, that Apple was strictly laying the groundwork for future implementation by devs and automakers. That begs the query, although: when is that this much-anticipated characteristic coming to an precise automobile? Based mostly on the dearth of concrete product bulletins from each Apple and the auto business, the reply seems to be “not imminently.”
Usually, if Apple had something to inform shoppers a couple of nifty new CarPlay characteristic, it will achieve this enthusiastically. It would even reveal the auto manufacturers that may help CarPlay video or present it in motion on a automobile’s infotainment system. Google, as an illustration, demonstrated YouTube enjoying on Android Auto inside a Kia EV at its I/O 2026 convention earlier this 12 months. Its Android division additionally revealed the particular automobile producers supporting HD 60fps playback on Android Auto, together with Skoda, Volvo, Kia and Mercedes-Benz.
Compared, Apple’s silence round CarPlay video is deafening, however that might change quickly. The corporate will possible unveil its latest iPhone 18 models in September, and may have one other Mac-related event someday this 12 months. That will give it a golden alternative to disclose extra data concerning the new CarPlay characteristic — so hopefully we’ll quickly know precisely when it should lastly assist us stave off boredom when parked in our automobiles.
