Wireless Apple CarPlay issues appear to be plaguing a variety of General Motors vehicles, frustrating owners who rely on the smartphone mirroring feature for infotainment, navigation, and the like. Reports of connectivity problems have surfaced across multiple GM models and iPhone generations, suggesting that the problem is not isolated to a specific vehicle or device. Thankfully, General Motors says it is working towards a solution.
The issue has been highlighted on social media, with General Motors vehicle owners sharing their frustration while attempting to wirelessly pair their device over Bluetooth. Some have noted that while Apple CarPlay functions properly when connected via a USB cable, the wireless projection fails to activate or frequently disconnects.
GM Authority reached out to General Motors for comment on the matter, in particular concerns regarding connectivity issues with iPhone 16 devices. In response, a General Motors company spokesperson provided the following statement:
“We’re aware of the issue and are working with Apple to address it in an upcoming software update,” the spokesperson told GM Authority. “Customers can also try restarting their phone, then pairing again. This resolves the issue in many cases.”
As it turns out, we here at GM Authority have personally experienced the issue at hand. In testing with an iPhone 14 Pro and 2025 GMC Sierra AT4, we observed that CarPlay functions without issue when connected through USB, but will fail to connect wirelessly.
It’s also worth noting that General Motors has announced plans to phase out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in future vehicles. Initially, the phase-out will include The Generals’ electric vehicle (EV) lineup, but the strategy is expected to extend to internal combustion engine (ICE) models as well. Instead, the automaker aims to promote its proprietary infotainment system co-developed with Google.
Of course, we want to hear from you – are you experiencing wireless Apple CarPlay issues in your General Motors vehicle? If so, please let us know by sharing in the comments, specifying which year, make and model you own, and which iPhone model you’re unsuccessfully trying to wirelessly pair with the vehicle.
Comments
I drive a 2022 Escalade in Europe. Due to the discontinuation of OnStar Europe, GM has shut down the system in my car. As a result, wireless CarPlay no longer works either. Does anyone know a solution for this?
The wireless CarPlay shouldn’t have to do with OnStar, it uses ‘local protocols. Have you tried all the usual troubleshooting like unpaired and pair again? As this article says reboot the phone/infotainment? Have you tried other devices to see if they work?
My dealer told me that, together with OnStar, they turned off the in-car Wi-Fi system. That system is used by Apple to stream CarPlay wirelessly.
apple uses bluetooth to talk to vehicle. Try plugging phone into usb C port inside vehicle.
Folks, Wireless CarPlay uses both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Stefan – that is an interesting situation. Let me see what I can dig up on this…
GM needs to pump the breaks on the built in Google system. We all already pay for a phone and a service plan, then we pay for the tech put in the vehicles. Just work on the wireless projection so that it’s customers can hope in and go seamlessly!! Apple CarPlay and Andriod Auto have been tried and true for years and so has bluetooth/wifi/projecting.
I mean that’s my 2 cents as a loyal GM customer.
GM obsoleting Apple Car Play and Android Auto is a deal breaker for me. I will be obsoleting future GM vehicles for purchase! Anyone know if Ford is as stupid as GM?
I’m right there with you! I read on GM Authority some time ago that GM could expect a $10 billion possible source of revenue with eliminating Apple and Android and using their google partnership developing a GM only system. If they do I have purchased my last GM! Tread carefully GM!!!
“We’re aware of the issue and are working with Apple to address it in an upcoming software update”
Are you actually working with Apple, or does “working with” really mean “Trying to get them to answer calls/emails and admit they have an issue”? iOS Bluetooth has been lousy for a while now, and like rest of their current quality I don’t think the fruit company gives a # or has any intention of fixing it.
I-Phone connects but in a few minutes reverts back to the I-Phone & sometimes will return to the Carplay? 2023 Silverado LTZ
Own a 22 Cadillac XT4 and a 24 Corvette Z06 and have these issues also. Using Iphone 15 pro max and Iphone 15. Same problem with both. I have reported to my dealer for whatever thats worth? Also I WILL NOT BE BUYING ANY GM VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT HAVE APPLE CARPLAY.
Haha, buys Z06 (supposedly) and yells Apple Car Play determines if I buy a particular vehicle or not. I can’t stop laughing at this enough, thanks for that Monday entertainment!
We just bought a 2025 Traverse High County. It uses Apply Car Play and have the same problem. It has got to be a soft ware glich at GM.
If GM pulls out of IOS in the future, my current truck will be the last GM I will buy. Going to Google, means more issues and massive data mining (googles source of income), which I cannot support. As noted by others, a GM proprietary system means more monthly fees that will drive people away. How about concentrating on more reliability of your engines and transmissions and the electronics and less on monthly fees.
LOL FYI GM was just caught selling your data from their blackbox in the vehicle…nothing to do with Google, CarPlay or Android auto.
If you are connected to Google in any way, you can be sure they are mining your data & selling it.
All I need is Bluetooth hands-free calling (a feature they nicely eliminated from the Express van).
All rest of the in-dash touchscreen # can go away.
My 2024 Trax does not connect wireless. It worked for a week at one time and I noticed that the wifi hotspot button and carplay icons on screen were white. Most of vehicle life the wifi icon is gray and car will not connect initial through the wifi to connect. The bluetooth is functioning. OnStar tried to activate wifi and it turns off immediately. They say it is problem with car. Dealer will not acknowledge that and said drop for 2 weeks to “diagnose” (I suspect so I wouldn’t hold them to it). Vehicle has been in a few times but my service record doesn’t make any mention of it. 10XR and 13 phones. They work perfect in my Equinox. NOT an issue with phone.
We have a 2025 Blazer RS. Appleplay works without any problems with an iPhone 15 Pro.
I’m posting this for information only.
Tom
I have a 2025 Chevy High Country with an iPhone 16. Now, the text messages do not appear on the screen when I get a text. When I had an iPhone 11, they appeared. I was told the reason they do not appear is a safety issue . not sure about that, but I guess the dealership doesn’t know how to fix it so they go with that story. all the settings on the phone are set and correct. can anyone help me with this ?
If you go to the I phone app on your screen then open up messages you can hear and can reply but nothing will appear on your screen, I was told by my dealer it was a safety issue also.
My 25 suburban high country reads my texts to me and answers my calls. It will disconnect for unknown reasons and then reconnect next time I drive it.
Frustrating to say the least.
The more tech, the more frustration and issues. Just pump the brakes gm and don’t change everything every year. Very few things are the same as my 24 was. It’s nuts…
Similar on my 2024 Acadia Denali. Sometimes CarPlay won’t connect at start up but will connect miles down the road.
With all their new hires, they over promise and under produce!
I agree with you and want to scream out loud how angry this makes me. Long story short we bought a “lemon” 2021 Tahoe high country. We spent two years fighting to get a new vehicle. They finally let us buy a 2024 premium and NOTHING is the same. The entertainment sound is garbage and my iPhone 16 doesn’t work in the vehicle. It’s a terrible company and if I could convince my husband to sell it I’d never buy another GM again. Prior to that we owned a brand new suburban, had engine problems from day one. It’s been non stop issues.
I bought a new 2022 Chevy Spark and the infotainment system was total junk friom the start. Wireless was not available. Back up camera wouldn’t even work on it. Everette Chevy in Benton Arkansas where i bought the car would not fix it. Give the run around. No more business from that dealership !!!!!!!!! I put up with it for a year and traded it off for a 2024 Chevy Trax at ANOTHER dealership. The Trax would not hook up for a few days but after working on it I finally got it to hook up. It still would not hook up wirelessly about half the time even with plugging it in direct. Going on a trip was a pain because I needed the GPS on Car-Play. Restarting after making a stip was almost always a no hook up. Even with plugging it in. My first oil change the dealership they ran a update and it helped some. But after running errands and making 3 or 4 stops no hook up again. Still even with plugging it in. I have rebooted my phone many times with no help. Sometimes after going into settings and turning iff the car’s Car-Play and turning back on would help sometimes. Last week I drove 200 miles and first time I stopped and restarted it, no hook up. Went to dealership and ther did a reprogram of the system ir seems to work better. But I have not tested it much since then. Hopfully that does the trick but I can’t cross my fingers for ever. I DO NOT think the Google platform is the answer as I refuse to have to pay foe a subscription to use my car’s System. I had an Iphone 11 but traded for an Iphone 14 when I owned the Spark. No change in performance. It might partly the problem of the IOS but not which Iphone you own. GM needs to step up to the plate. I wonder if other car brands have the same problems ????
I have owned nothing but GM vehicles for over 25 years replacing them every 24-30 months, GM really needs to rethink eliminating being able to use I-Phones and and others with their own. On star is expensive as it is is. I drive 35000 years as a Sales Person on the road every week for 3 or 4 days.
We have. 2024 Colorado Z71 and CarPlay is erratic at best. We have iPhone 14 Pro Max with latest software and my phone will sometimes connect wirelessly , while my wife’s identical phone will only connect via USB. I have found that if I repeatedly touch the grayed out CarPlay icon it will connect after three plus attempts. Also, wireless charging has never worked. Dealer stated it was a known problem with iPhone 15, but I have the 14. Really like tge truck, really disappointed with GM technology
GM going away from Car Play is a major blunder. It is a cash grab that customer research will not support. I purchased a AT4X HD, 3500 Denali Ultimate, Corvette Z06, and Buick Encore new this year. The Corvette is the only one that I would have purchased without Car Play. That is because it is a car I don’t daily drive and it is driven for the experience.
With a $185K Z06, the built in Google Navigation only worked for 30 days and then requires a paid subscription! I assume it worked. I never used it. I’m not going to pay to find out. GM can’t include the function on a car with a $185K window sticker for more than 30 days. This is a sign of the future.
Paid subscriptions are a real turn off for me. I would have shopped three of my four purchases with non GM brands if Car Pay was not available. Getting rid of Car Play is like committing to an electric future before the customers, infrastructure, and technology supported it. I don’t want a monthly fee. Charge me when I buy the car or don’t charge me at all.
Hopefully GM will see that Car Play is something that a majority of their customers use every time they use the vehicle and as such are very unwilling to do without.
I would prefer GM work with Apple / Google to use our phones internet connections to bring more value to us rather than to try and create a monthly revenue stream for them. We should be able to have wireless software updates using our phones internet connections.
Having to pay a monthly fee to make my infotainment system function is a non-starter for me.
“Paid subscriptions are a real turn off for me. I would have shopped three of my four purchases with non GM brands if Car Pay was not available. Getting rid of Car Play is like committing to an electric future before the customers, infrastructure, and technology supported it. I don’t want a monthly fee. Charge me when I buy the car or don’t charge me at all.”
Totally agree. Last year I purchased a 2024 $87,700.00 Silverado High Country and the demand for a subscription for the customer interface experience with the Android Auto, Apple Car play, handsfree phone calling, navigation, etc which was standard my ‘2022 has completely turned me off to the point I am now looking to other manufacturers that have those features as part of the vehicle content. I hate money grabs and that is all that the subscription requirement is.
Yes! 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali and iPhone 15 Pro. Software on the vehicle acts like it was written by drunken hackers over a cursed burial ground during a full moon eclipse. Won’t connect after remote start. Sometimes connects wirelessly but only plays iPhone media and can’t find the factory Sirius. Never had a problem when connected by wire in my 2009 Chevy Avalanche. My wife is driving a 2024 Cadillac Lyriq. Connectivity issues with it as well. Both vehicles have had software updates over the air and at the dealer to no avail.
I have a 2024 Buick Envision and an iPhone 14 Pro Max, love the car, but connecting to CarPlay is so frustrating! Have used CarPlay since it was introduced, this is the first GM model I’ve had trouble connecting wirelessly.
I have owned Chevys exclusively, 13 to be exact, since I started driving in 1981. Recently switched to my Buick, it will be the last GM car I buy if they drop CarPlay.
I phone 13
2021 Silverado 1500,rst,z71
2022 blazer
I have spent hours trying to fix and sometimes it works for awhile than drops.
What’s confusing is that everything worked fine until about a year ago.
I think it’s the I phone software updates that cause the issue.
I have same problem with IPhone 12
I just bought a 2025 Equinox EV, in spite of no CarPlay, and I am incredibly disappointed in the new Google system and the loss of features and functionality without CarPlay. I was expecting to replace this when the lease was up with a Equinox PHEV, which I’ve been told is coming, but if aGM does away with CarPlay, this EQEV will be the last GM product I buy. And that’s from a GM family with over 36 years of service working for GM.
GM, Please do phase out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. I need yet another reason to not buy a new GM…. NOT…..
COME ON GUYS! Make it EASIER for us to use your products, not harder! That’s how you sell more product, make us want to buy your stuff!
I have a 23’ Tahoe and have been having sporadic issues with CarPlay and usually at the most inconvenient time(losing connection while receiving directions) and missing my turn.
I have a 2024 buick envista, and an iPhone 11. Ever since I bought the car, the music on Apple Carplay will stop and mute by itself several times throughout one song, even disconnect my phone completely. When I disconnect and try again or even shut the car off and try again it does not solve the problem. I’ve taken it to the dealership to be “serviced” for this problem twice now, they reset the system and it does not solve the problem at all.
iPhone 15Pro and 2025 Hummer ev 3X
I have had intermittent issues with Bluetooth pairing being lost, but I also believe I have lost connection with a USB cable connectionas well.
2020 Silverado 3500 HC wired CarPlay doesn’t work very well either. Screen locks up, sound for calls randomly switches between car speaker and phone and sometimes says missing SIM card.
2024 GMC Yukon XL Denali- when the vehicle is connected to home WiFi in the driveway or any external
WiFi, ApplePlay will not connect wirelessly. Disconnect the vehicle from external WiFi and appleplay works wirelessly just fine.
I am experiencing this issue. I bought a 2024 Chevy Silverado last year and I can only connect Apple CarPlay using a cable with my iphone 15+. And typically that cabled connection can take up to 5 minutes to work. I can’t use CarPlay with Bluetooth only. I’ve been to the dealer twice on this and they say GM knows the issue and is working on it.
2022 GMC Denali 3500, texts quit showing up on screen plus other little issues. IPhone 12 pro max
2021 GMC 1500 SLT, text messages no longer appear on the screen. Tho i can hear the tone when a message arrives. I thought it was only me.
Not surprising to hear that GM infotainment systems are having trouble.
I am not an Apple guy but, I had a ’22 Silverado High Country that had nothing but issues with Android Auto. I got rid of the truck after 14 months.
Messages would sometimes play other times not, timer for a phone call would start automatically upon starting the vehicle. Only way to clear it was to shut the truck off and restart it, sometimes taking multiple attempts. Phone calls could be answered using the infotainment system but sometimes the audio wouldn’t come thru the speakers.
I have had constant problems with wired Carplay since August 2024, I have owned my 2017 Acadia for 6 years, no problem til now. Music on Carplay keeps getting “SSL” errors, voice command to play music get “Oh oh, there’s a problem here try again later” voice. I work at the dealership and had them reflash radio. That was not the problem. Just want my music to work with voice commands. Text & phone by voice does work.
GMC Dealer here. I HATE the new infotainment system. I’m an Android user and it still gives me problems. MANY customers can’t get it to log in during their delivery setup process. MUCH frustration moments after signing papers. Half the time it seems to be a server error. Sometimes it seems to be the software in the truck. And sometimes it seems to be issues with the customer’s own phones. The pre-Google system was far more reliable.
GM should abandon its plans to handle software development. Let the phone manufacturers handle that. Just provide a reliable interface for their systems, which will always be more up-to-date than vehicles. The industry is getting completely clogged with vehicles with abandoned infotainment systems that are tied to other vehicle systems so they can’t be replaced and can’t be updated. This is not a good trend!
I have a 16 Tahoe and an iPhone 12 Pro Max. CarPlay connects and disconnects intermittently while connected via USB. Problem seems to go away when connected via Bluetooth. (Opposite of what article suggests.) Phone is running latest iOS.
This will be my last GM if CarPlay isn’t available. Probably my last GM anyway due to known issues with the transmission.
I have a 2024 Buick Envision Avenir. Wireless Car Play works most of the time with my iPhone 14. There is a problem when I shut off my vehicle and start up the vehicle within 10 minutes. My iPhone does not connect to Wireless Car Play and this is very frustrating when using Waze off my phone to continue on my journey without any display in my car.
Car Play is awesome when it works but not reliable.
If GM does not offer Car Play in the future… this will be a major deal breaker for me.
2024 GMC Canyon AT4X AEV wireless Apple car play not working. Plugged in works fine.
2025 Buick Envista Avenir…..Car Play worked fine the first week, no issues. (iphone 13 pro max) and then it just stopped working. Car Play will work if I connect to my in-car wifi (that is activated for On Star) but I shouldn’t have to be connected to wi-fi…it should connect via Bluetooth. So frustrating. I love the car, but travel quite a bit and would like to view Maps on screen! I can’t get to connect with USB either.
2024 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 and iPhone 14Pro – Apple CarPlay is inconsistent. Sometimes connects without issue, then other times will not even connect with USB. Annoying.
Own a 2025 Silverado RST and have updated my iPhone 14 Pro to 18.3.2 this past weekend. Since, I have not been able to connect to Apple CarPlay at all (wired or wireless) and only Bluetooth connects. I have restarted the phone and the infotainment system (per dumb AI generative text on google) to no avail. I have ‘forgotten’ the devices (truck from the phone and phone from the truck) Nada.
Own a 2022 Buick Envision, I have Apple iPhone 13 pro and it is up to date. The wireless was working until a few months ago. I have taken to dealership and they have no answers for why it stopped working. I have restarted iPhone and infotainment. This is very frustrating.
I recently leased a 2025 Trailblazer Activ and am having issues also with in apple play and my I phone. there are times it goes in and out. i’ve tried shutting phone off, re-pairing and now i don’t even see anything listed in my phone under bluetooth connected and yet my apple play is playing music from my phone. Not sure how that is working. i’m going to try plugging it in, see what happens. It’s Crazy issue. I think my phone is 13 or 14.
CarPlay icon no longer shows up in my screen as an option in my 2019 Yukon xl.
I have a 2024 Tahoe RST and iPhone 14 Pro. When connected to Apple Car Play, wirelessly, every 5 minutes, my audio will fade for 13 seconds, then come back to regular preset volume. I have recorded this a number of times. The data doesn’t change. Written time stamps of fade out. Given to dealer. Dealer has updated radio numerous times. Dealer has replaced radio. My phone has been removed/re-added, numerous times. Issue still occurs. Looking for someone with similar audio fading out issues.
We have suddenly problems with our new iPhone 16E. Not connecting. Our previous IPhone SE never had problems. We have Tahoe HC. 2021.
Picked up my 2025 Traverse today. I was able to pair my IPhone 14 with my C cable, but unable to via Bluetooth and CarPlay. Decide to look online to see if I was doing something wrong! Guess not..
Every vehicle we own are Chevrolets – 2025 Blazer RS, 2025 Chev 3500 High Country Diesel, 2023 Corvette, and 2022 Traverse. IF GM and Chev can’t fix the CarPlay or if they discontinue CarPlay we will no longer be Chev owners PERIOD OnStar is a joke – expensive and inefficient – and we use all Apple devices personally and in our various businesses. This is a trigger issue that is simply untenable
Car Play being iffy at best is bad enough but. I cannot get my garage door or my gate remotes to sync with the units. We still to use the hand held ones we got with the openers. I’m being told they will probably never work because of a software change, by GM, that is not compatable.
2022 Buick Enclave Avenir; Just turned 22,000 miles. iPhone 12.
Apple Carplay has worked well up until recently. Now it either does not want to connect at all or it will connect, then suddenly it disconnects. I drove a round-trip 9-1/2 hour drive twice this week with it not working, which was not only annoying but also hazardous when needing to deal with incoming texts/calls. Normally talk-to-text always worked well with CarPlay, but now I have to deal with handling the actual phone which increases driving risks in heavy city traffic, particularly in the ubiquitous construction zones. GM, please fix CarPlay SOON! It’s a safety issue, not just a convenience issue.
22 High Country – I started having the same issue a while back. I also have the same issue trying to use the actual Waze app. I believe it started after a GM update. CarPlay will connect about every other startup or if I do an infotainment reset it will connect most of the time until I turn off the truck again. My iPhone 15 pro is connected via Bluetooth . I’ve tried everything.
I have a brand new Buick Encore and started having problems immediately with CarPlay. It would drop several times a minute. Then after software updates in both the iPhone 16 and the vehicle, it now connects intermittently. The dealer said there is nothing to do until GM releases another software update. Reading these comments, makes me think they will not spend any more money on software development given the phased out approach. So I basically have a brand new vehicle with no entertainment or navigation.
I had a 2024 traverse RS and my iPhone 13 connected wirelessly no problem. Now I have a 2025 traverse and it won’t connect unless plugged in. So frustrating.
I am in NJ and have a 2021 Cadillac Escalade and iPhone 16 Pro. I cancelled my GM / Cadillac data subscription shortly after buying the car because the service was awful, nowhere near as reliable as my cell service. Over the past year or maybe longer I’ve had intermittent issues where my cell connects to CarPlay via WiFi + Bluetooth then no longer has access to internet or GPS. About a month or 2 ago it stopped altogether. Now 100% of the time, even after hard reboots of phone etc. my Internet + GPS service is unavailable on my phone and therefore useless. GM really needs to fix this NOW, it could not be more frustrating!
I have a 2025 Trax that was fine until today (approx. 9 months old) – I was in the car, iPhone was fully connected, i ran into a store to pick something up and was back in 10 minutes max. Now? Won’t connect. Said it was connecting but never did. I turned my phone off and on. Nothing. I reset the infotainment system. Nothing other than now my phone can’t even find a MyChevrolet bluetooth to pair with. Phone finds others just fine. I can’t believe this is an issue in both 2024 and 2025 traxes and there still isn’t a fix. I really want to return my car. This is the second problem I’ve had with it in 9 months – I’m over it.
2025 Buick envision. CarPlay works, then craps put, then works, then craps out. If I would’ve know. About this I would’ve NEVER bought this and stayed with the terrain which had ZERO issues.
I recently bought a 2024XT 5 and have had issues with the connectivity with Car play since I got it and I only have 3000 miles. Had I done my homework and researched before I bought it I would have never bought any GM product. We pay good money for a product that you would assume works properly only to be disappointed. GM has known this is an issue but has done nothing to fix the problem. I have a I phone 16 and continue to have the issue that it is a guessing game as to whether it will connect each time I get in the car. With the money paid for this car it is crazy that I have to reboot my phone or disconnect the Bluetooth constantly over and over to get the service that I paid to have in the first place. I am very disappointed in GM. I had a 2017 Lincoln MKX prior to this and NEVER had an issue. So sorry I ever got rid of it. I have to say that this will be the first and last time my money will be spent on a GM product.
I have a 2022 Buick Encore Gx. CarPlay just stopped working and I have tried everything. It doesn’t work with wireless or connected to USB. Is anyone also having issues with both? I have a iPhone 13
I own 2022 Buick Encore GX a month or so ago CarPlay stopped working. I’ve done everything I found to solve the problem. Several people have tried to connect to my CarPlay and cannot. It will not even work with USB. My phone is an apple iPhone 13.