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Why isn't the Apple CarPlay in my BMW functioning properly?
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35 answers
★ Top Answer
If your BMW is experiencing issues with Apple CarPlay, the first step you should take is to attempt restarting both your phone and the head unit. Often, these problems stem from software issues that can be resolved with a simple restart. It is also important to ensure that both your car's and phone's software are up to date, as updates frequently address bugs. If restarting doesn't resolve the issue, try deleting your device from the car and then re-pairing it. This can help resolve issues related to the pairing process by adding your device as a new one.
More answers
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Encountered an issue with my phone connectivity in the car. Tried various troubleshooting steps like restarting, updating software, but nothing worked. Finally, fixed the problem by rebooting the idrive system. Turned off the engine, held down the volume button for 30 seconds until it shut off, then turned it back on. This successfully reconnected my phone and resolved the issue.
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I’ve tested all those options as well, but none of them have been successful thus far. I can pair my phone using Bluetooth, but Apple CarPlay isn’t showing up. It seems to have disappeared.
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This issue must be dealt with since it is significantly impacting BMW customers.
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I turned off the engine, pressed and held the volume/power button on the radio for 30 seconds to shut down the infotainment system. When I turned it back on, it was functioning properly.
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If you're experiencing problems with CarPlay in your BMW, try deleting the Bluetooth pairing between your iPhone and car. Reboot your iPhone and attempt to use CarPlay once more.
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I appreciate your tip about turning off the car engine and pressing the volume button for 30 seconds! It did the trick! 😊 I only wish I had known this earlier.
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It's often difficult to restart your phone or the car in order to use CarPlay. This is because you usually discover that CarPlay is not working while you're driving. As a result, CarPlay becomes unusable for that trip unless you have a passenger who can restart your phone for you.
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Hey, has anyone found a solution to this issue? I drive a 2017 530xdrive and suddenly my car's navigation, weather app, and CarPlay have stopped working. I attempted a USB software update, but it didn't fix the problem. Like someone else mentioned in this discussion, the CarPlay option is now missing. I can still connect via Bluetooth, but it only works for phone calls and not CarPlay. Despite this, I can still access my car's location and status through the app, so there is some kind of connection. Customer service advised me to reboot by pressing the radio button for 70 seconds, but that didn't resolve the issue.
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If all else fails, attempt accessing the CarPlay settings on your phone and choose to 'forget' your car, even if it's already listed. Afterward, the phone will search once more and you can select your car. Following these steps resolved the problem I was experiencing.
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I have attempted all possible approaches, but none of them seem to be effective.
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Everything was fine, but suddenly the car's Apple CarPlay stopped functioning. I tried removing the device, then re-pairing it, but unfortunately it still isn't working. 😔
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Hey everyone, I ran into an issue with my dad's car. Initially, his phone connected to CarPlay with no problem. However, when we tried using the splitscreen feature, it disconnected his phone and we couldn't reconnect it. I attempted various troubleshooting methods, like forgetting the device on the phone's Bluetooth, but to no avail. As a last resort, I checked the Wi-Fi settings on his phone and clicked on 'edit,' which displayed all the saved networks. I discovered that the phone still had the BMW saved as a known network even though it was no longer connected via Bluetooth. After removing it from the known networks and reconnecting to the BMW, the connection worked perfectly. I hope this information is useful to you all.
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I had a similar problem and tried everything, including resetting my phone and iDrive, but nothing worked. Then, I found a solution by going to the CarPlay settings. I navigated to Settings > General > CarPlay, where I noticed an outdated car listed. I selected "Forget this Network" and left the CarPlay screen open. As I got into my car, CarPlay began searching for a connection and I was able to successfully pair my phone. I hope this tip helps someone else dealing with this frustrating issue!
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I fixed the BMW audio system by pressing and holding the volume knob for 30 seconds. After it restarted, it successfully reconnected.
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Is anyone else experiencing the same problem with a 2023 model? I find it necessary to frequently reboot by pressing and holding the audio power button.
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In the year 2018, pressing and holding the button does not function except for powering off the radio.
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I've tested all the recommendations mentioned above, and they do work while I'm driving. However, whenever the car is turned off and I return to it, I need to go through all the steps again to make it work. This is really frustrating, and I believe it's a technical issue that the service provider needs to address and fix.
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In the Bluetooth settings of your BMW, look for the code specific to your car and tap on the "i" icon to check if the toggle for "CarPlay" is switched on. Mine was accidentally switched off, which was causing my phone to not connect. I hope this information proves useful!
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Suddenly, Apple CarPlay stopped working out of the blue, while the BMW iDrive system connected without any issue. It was a strange situation, so I decided to try turning off the engine and holding down the volume button for 30 seconds, following a tip I found online. Surprisingly, that fix seemed to do the trick. It was such a bizarre experience!
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I attempted various methods without success, initially I was able to link through Bluetooth to BMW iDrive. However, when attempting to switch to the Apple CarPlay connection, it would disconnect. Even alternating between iDrive and CarPlay resulted in a disconnect each time. After turning off the engine and holding the volume/power button for 30 seconds, I restarted the car and a prompt appeared on my iPhone asking if I wanted to connect via CarPlay. I selected to connect, and the connection is now functional again!
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The 30-second reset successfully restored Apple CarPlay. I am extremely grateful for this solution! Thank you so much!
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I'm not sure.
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I encountered a problem with my g20, but I was able to resolve it by holding down the volume button for an extended period. This action muted the I drive, and the issue disappeared. I appreciate the assistance!
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I encountered a similar issue where there were ongoing connectivity problems and eventually it completely stopped connecting. I reached out to Apple and was advised to call back if BMW attributed the problem to Apple. In the meantime, I tested the connection with my sister's iPhone, but encountered the same issue. However, after rebooting for about 30 seconds, the connection was restored. I will monitor if it continues to work tomorrow. Just to share, I started my car, drove a short distance, then turned the vehicle off and held down the volume button for the full 30 seconds. When the system rebooted, it appeared to be connecting and a message popped up on the phone to connect to CarPlay. I was thrilled with the progress and am hopeful that it will still function properly tomorrow.
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Got it, thank you for the quick 30-second response!
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My idrive won't restart at all. I pressed the button for over 4 minutes, tried multiple times, but no luck. Frustrating!
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Here is a paraphrased and revised version: Greg S.
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Absolutely! Many thanks, brilliant minds. The technique of holding down the volume and power buttons for 30 seconds did the trick!
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I have trouble connecting any phone to my car, it’s not the phone itself, it's my car that's the issue. Twen-ty-twen-ty by seven.
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I encountered the same problem, and I want to give a big thank you to everyone in this forum for sharing their experiences. Using the volume button to reset the system right away did the trick for me. Now, I can finally move on with my life after wasting a whole day attempting to troubleshoot it on my own, classic male stubbornness.
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Continuously pressing down on the volume button had a remarkable effect.
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I currently have this rental car in October 2023, and I would not buy it because it does not sync well with my modern iPhone. The navigation screen goes blank when using Google Maps, which is actually a safety concern. I rely on a functional GPS, and dealing with technical issues while driving is dangerous.
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The 30-second method was a success!! I really appreciate it.
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Unplug all connections, disable split-screen mode, reboot your phone by pressing and holding the volume/power button until it shuts down and restarts. Once it's back on, connect to your BMW's Wi-Fi, enable CarPlay, and it should function properly. I had to click 'Allow' when connecting to my Wi-Fi and then CarPlay - that was the only method that worked after spending 2 hours trying to fix it!
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