DRIVERS can unlock a clever upgrade for their car screens without paying a penny.
You’ll be able to make the inside of your car look much nicer thanks to a clever tech hack.
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Earlier this year, Apple showed off a brand new version of CarPlay.
That’s the iPhone-style interface you see on your car screen when you’ve got your Apple mobile with you.
It gives your in-car screen a slick new ‘Liquid Glass’ look plus loads of clever new tricks, like letting you ’emoji react’ to texts and a new driving safety feature.
Normally you’d have to wait until iOS 26 comes out for the iPhone in September to get the new look – but there’s a way to get it early.
WHAT’S NEW IN CARPLAY IN IOS 26?
There are loads of changes coming in the new update.
The update is technically for your iPhone, but Apple CarPlay runs off your mobile – so your motor gets an upgrade too.
For a start, it’ll get a brand new “Liquid Glass” look. That’s the swish redesign coming to the iPhone in September that makes the interface look more glassy and modern.
“We have some great updates this year to make CarPlay more beautiful and even easier to use,” said Emily Schubert, Apple’s Director of Car Experience Engineering.
“With iOS 26, the new design extends into the car for a consistent, expressive experience while you drive.
“It brings updates across the whole system, including icons that look great in light or dark mode.”
She called it “a must-have feature all over the world”.
It’s not just a makeover, though.
Your car’s screen will also get some new features, including a safety feature so that incoming calls don’t block your directions.
That way, you won’t suddenly be lost halfway around a giant roundabout.
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“We’ve also added new features to help keep you connected while driving,” Emily explained.
“Like a compact design when you get a call so you can still see what’s on the screen, like your upcoming directions.
“Along with Tapbacks and pinned conversations in Messages.”
Tapbacks are the emoji reactions that you can currently use on Messages.
IOS 26 SUPPORTED DEVICES – THE FULL LIST
Here are the iOS 26 supported devices…
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (3rd gen)
- iPhone SE (2nd gen)
Picture Credit: Apple
And they’re being added to CarPlay as a quick way to reply without needing to send a full text.
As well as that, Apple is adding widgets and Live Activities (showing ongoing info like sports scores) to your car’s display.
“iOS 26 also gives you widgets in CarPlay. They’re quick and glanceable ways to get information, which is perfect while driving,” Emily said.
“As well as Live Activities so you can stay on top of what’s important to you, like a friend’s flight status, all done in a way to help you stay focused on the road.”
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The updates will come to anyone with an iPhone that can get iOS 26 and a car that supports CarPlay.
Apple says CarPlay is used more than 600 million times a day around the world, so the changes will affect a vast number of drivers.
If you want to get it early, there’s an easy way to do it.
HOW TO GET IOS 26 EARLY
You don’t need to wait until September to try the new CarPlay.
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Apple tests out its software before the general release. This is called a beta test.
And you can get the iOS 26 beta test on iPhone for free right now.
But before you do, it’s worth being cautious.
Beta software is for testing, so you might find unexpected bugs or other problems.
So if you have a spare iPhone – maybe your previous model is still in a drawer somewhere – then consider installing iOS 26 on that instead.
That’s especially smart if you’re only wanting to use it for trying out the new CarPlay anyway.
It’s also worth making sure that all of your apps, messages and videos are backed up before you get on the beta.
To join the beta, go to Apple’s beta website, sign in with your account, and then register for it here.
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Once you’re in, restart your iPhone and you’ll be able to see the beta update waiting for you in Settings > General > Software Update.
Download the beta and your iPhone will update as normal.
Once it’s restarted after the update, you’ll be running iOS 26. You’ll also notice a new app called Feedback Assistant where you can tell Apple about how you’re getting on.
Now when you connect your iPhone to CarPlay with this new software, your car’s screen will be upgraded too.
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If you want to go back to regular iOS 18, you can switch back by going into Settings > General > Software Update again.
WAIT, IOS 26? AREN’T WE ON IOS 18?
You’re not going crazy – here’s what happened, via The Sun’s tech editor Sean Keach…
Some of you might be confused as to why we’re talking about iOS 26.
After all, if you have a relatively recent iPhone, it’ll probably be running iOS 18.
And like you, I was also expecting Apple to show off iOS 19 this year.
But at the company’s big WWDC event in June, Apple revealed that it was skipping a load of software versions to catch up with the year that we’re in.
So iOS 26 will come out in 2025 (stay with me here), because it’ll mostly be used in 2026.
Then in late 2026, iOS 27 will likely be released – and will probably run through to September 2027.
The idea is to make it all a bit less confusing.
After all, we were expecting iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16, tvOS 19, watchOS 12, and visionOS 3. That, frankly, would’ve been a mess.
So now we’ve got iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26. Much cleaner.
It should mean you know exactly what’s coming next on all devices, and whether you’re running the latest version.
And it means if you have multiple Apple devices, you’ll know that your iPhone and your MacBook are on the same year of software at a glance.
Picture Credit: Sean Keach