How to Make Apple CarPlay Wireless: The Complete Guide

You can make Apple CarPlay wireless with a wireless CarPlay adapter, as long as your car supports CarPlay over a cable. You plug the adapter into the USB port you normally use for CarPlay, pair your iPhone once, and from then on CarPlay connects automatically as soon as you get in. On this page we explain how that works, which options you have and what to look for when you choose an adapter.

What Is Wireless Apple CarPlay?

Apple CarPlay puts your iPhone on your car's screen. That means navigating with Apple Maps or Google Maps, streaming music through Spotify and making hands-free calls. Most cars still need a USB cable for it. Wireless CarPlay cuts the cable, so your iPhone connects to the infotainment system on its own. Your phone can stay in your pocket or your bag, and the connection is there the moment you get in.

Do You Need an Adapter to Make CarPlay Wireless?

A lot of people assume they need a new car or an expensive built-in system to use wireless CarPlay. That's not the case. As long as your car supports Apple CarPlay over a cable, an adapter can make CarPlay wireless without changing anything about your car.

Whether an adapter works ultimately comes down to the head unit: the infotainment system in your dashboard. That's why the make, model and year of your car don't always tell you enough. Even two cars of the same model can have different infotainment systems.

The most reliable way to check is simple: connect your iPhone to your car's USB port with a cable. Does Apple CarPlay start up? Then your car supports CarPlay over a cable, and an adapter can make that connection wireless.

One thing to check first: some cars already support wireless CarPlay straight from the factory. Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on your iPhone and pair your phone with your car over Bluetooth. Then see whether CarPlay connects without a cable. Does it? Then your car already supports wireless CarPlay and you don't need an adapter. An adapter can actually cause connection problems in that situation. It's only meant to turn a wired CarPlay connection into a wireless one.

Want to check whether your car model supports Apple CarPlay? Apple maintains an official list of compatible models.

Three Ways to Make CarPlay Wireless

1. A wireless CarPlay adapter (the easy route). A small adapter that plugs into your car's USB port and turns the wired CarPlay connection into a wireless one. Nothing about the car changes. For most people this is the simplest and most affordable option.
2. An aftermarket head unit. No CarPlay in your car at all? Then you'll need a compatible head unit, professionally installed. There are also standalone CarPlay screens that mount on the dashboard. Bigger job, higher cost, but it's the only route if CarPlay isn't there to begin with. An adapter can't help you here.
3. A car with wireless CarPlay built in. Buying a new car anyway? Check whether the model comes with wireless Apple CarPlay.

How Does a Wireless Apple CarPlay Adapter Work?

The adapter sits between your iPhone and your car's infotainment system. The connection starts over Bluetooth, which is how the adapter and your phone swap Wi-Fi details. From there the connection runs over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is no longer needed.

The adapter goes into the same USB port you'd use for wired CarPlay. As far as your car is concerned, nothing has changed. It still sees a wired connection.

What You Need to Make CarPlay Wireless

• A car or head unit that supports Apple CarPlay over a cable
• An iPhone X or newer
• A wireless CarPlay adapter

Pair once and the adapter does the rest automatically. Every time you start the car, it connects on its own.

Is Wireless CarPlay as Good as a Cable?

On screen, there’s almost no difference. Navigation, music, messages and calls behave exactly as they always have, and your steering wheel controls and Siri keep working. Your infotainment system still thinks CarPlay is plugged in.

Three things do behave differently.

1. ‍Startup takes a few seconds longer. A cable gives you CarPlay almost instantly. Wirelessly, the adapter has to power up and find your iPhone first. Expect a few extra seconds after you start the engine.‍
2. Your iPhone stops charging through CarPlay. A cable carries power as well as CarPlay data. An adapter occupies that port, your phone won't charge through it. A second USB port, a 12V outlet or a wireless charging pad solves that easily.‍
3. Crowded Wi-Fi can disrupt the connection. The adapter and your iPhone talk to each other over Wi-Fi, and in areas with a lot of wireless signal, interference happens. You'll hear it as stuttering audio or brief dropouts. Adapters on the 5 GHz band are generally less affected than ones limited to 2.4 GHz.

What to Look For in an Apple CarPlay Adapter

CarPlay adapters differ a lot in quality. If you want one that still works well in a few years, these are the points to check.

Connection speed and stability. How fast does it connect once you get in, and does the connection stay stable on a long drive? Dropped connections are a common complaint with cheaper dongles.

Firmware updates. Apple updates iOS and CarPlay regularly, and an adapter that doesn't receive firmware updates can stop working properly after such an update. Cheaper dongles often stop getting updates after a few years.

Settings. Can you change how the adapter behaves, through an app or a button on the device itself?

Compatibility. Does it work with your specific phone, car and head unit?

Warranty and support. Buy from a reliable seller and check what warranty and customer service you get.

Android Auto support. Sharing the car with an Android user? An adapter that supports both systems is the more practical choice.

The biggest differences between adapters are in warranty and support. A low price often means fewer updates, fewer settings and less help after you buy.

Which AAWireless Adapter Makes Apple CarPlay Wireless?

For Apple CarPlay you need the AAWireless TWO+. The TWO supports Android Auto only. If someone else in the car uses an Android phone, the TWO+ works with both systems.

In our own testing, AAWireless adapters connected in 15 to 20 seconds on average, measured from the moment the car started and the USB port received power. They are now used in more than 7,000 car models.

How to Set Up a Wireless CarPlay Adapter

Setting one up usually takes a few minutes.

1. Plug the adapter into the same USB port you use for wired CarPlay. Check which port your car has first, because USB-C may need a different cable or adapter than USB-A.
2. Put the adapter into pairing mode. On most adapters that's a button on the device itself.
3. Pair your iPhone to the adapter in your Bluetooth settings.
4. Wait for CarPlay to appear on screen. Your setup is complete.

After that, the adapter connects by itself every time you start the car.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Pair More Than One iPhone to a Single Adapter?

Yes. You can pair several phones to the AAWireless TWO+ and switch between them with one press of the multifunction button.

Does a CarPlay Adapter Work With an Android Phone?

That depends on the adapter. The AAWireless TWO+ supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The TWO works with Android Auto only. Do you only use an Android phone? Take a look at our wireless Android Auto adapters.

Will Wireless CarPlay Drain My Battery Faster?

It uses slightly more battery than a cable connection, because your iPhone stays connected wirelessly throughout the drive.

Does Wireless CarPlay Work With an Aftermarket Head Unit?

Usually, as long as that head unit supports Apple CarPlay over a cable. The test is the same as for a factory system: if CarPlay starts when you plug your iPhone in, an adapter can make that connection wireless.

Do I Need Internet for Wireless CarPlay?

No, but Wi-Fi has to be switched on. Your iPhone connects to the adapter's Wi-Fi network, which carries the CarPlay connection and nothing else. It gives you no internet access. Apps that need data, like navigation and music, use your iPhone's cellular data, exactly as they do over a cable.