At WWDC 2025, Apple announced plans to enable CarPlay users to stream and watch videos via AirPlay-compatible apps on their vehicle’s display — but only when the car is parked and not in motion, for safety reasons (passengers be damned 😉).
The first developer beta of iOS 26.4 now includes code references indicating this feature is progressing toward release.
Multiple new strings and references related to CarPlay video streaming appear in the iOS 26.4 beta source code. While the functionality isn’t yet accessible or visible in the standard user interface, developer Thomas Dye successfully activated elements of it within Xcode’s CarPlay simulator on a Mac. He demonstrated its early workings — including how the interface and the Apple TV app appear — in a recent YouTube video (via 9to5Mac).
Joe Rossignol for MacRumors:
On an iPhone connected to CarPlay, it appears that videos in any AirPlay-supported app can be played on the car’s display. In the Dynamic Island, there is a button that allows you to show the video on the iPhone instead, when you want to.
The demo also reveals that an Apple TV app will be available on CarPlay, allowing you to access shows and movies from the Apple TV streaming service and your own library. There is also a tab for accessing MLS Season Pass. However, it is not entirely clear if the Apple TV app will actually be this fully featured on the real version of CarPlay.
The simulator provides an early albeit fairly clunky look at CarPlay’s video streaming in action. The feature will likely be available by time iOS 26.4 is released to the general public in late March or early April, but there is a chance it will get held back until iOS 26.5 or later if Apple needs more time to wrap up development.
MacDailyNews Takee: Wonder which vehicle maker will be the first to implement CarPlay video streaming? BMW often leads with Apple integrations — they were quick to adopt early CarPlay and wireless versions. Other vehicle makers historically fast with Apple stuff include Porsche, Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Volvo.
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