Why some iPhone apps don't appear in Apple CarPlay

CarPlay has strict restrictions for what apps are compatible.

By Roger Fingas Oct. 27, 2026 10:45 am EST Harry Howitt/Shutterstock Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

Navigating and listening to music is far better via CarPlay than mounting your phone, or relying on your memory and listening to the radio. And while there are ways to improve CarPlay, the experience primarily comes down to the apps. 

You've probably noticed, though, that most of the apps on your iPhone don't appear in CarPlay. This even applies to some that don't have any fundamental usage barriers. Gmail and Apple Fitness might not make sense on your dashboard, but in theory, there's no reason why you couldn't run a calculation in Calculator or drop a few tiles in NYT Crossplay.