How can I fix Wi-Fi and CarPlay issues on iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The 26.0.1 update did nothing to fix the problem for me either.

The radio silence on Apple's part is disconcerting. My 14 days finishes up at the end of this week, can a fix be expected or is my new 17 Pro technically faulty and I'm better off making an appointment to swap it out at the Apple store?

I was hopeful that the CarPlay connection would start working after the update! but what else!! they couldn't get iPhone CarPlay to work!??! Now users need to get CarPlay working as it was before switching to the new iPhone 17 (pro/max) phone!!

iPhone 17 Pro Max running latest iOS26.0.1

Mercedes C200 2017

Carplay screen is gliched, I can see some artifacts no matter how you connect the phone, using USB cable or wireless adapter its the same problem.

iPhone 13 Pro, 14 Pro, 15 Pro Max and 16 Pro Max work just fine.

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Yep exactly same thing happened with me. I went to the store and they were like if there is no hardware issue found we can’t offer the same day replacement. They basically asked me to order a new device and then they extended the warranty period of my current device till the date when the order is expected to arrive.

lol they did not even try to troubleshoot at the store or anything

Apple we need a fix for this! I depend on CarPlay so much. When traveling for work it's my source of navigation in unfamiliar cities, at home it's so I can see real time traffic updates and respond to messages. Not having it is like going back to 2005 when I needed a paper map quest print out. PLEASE FIX!

shananies wrote:

Apple we need a fix for this! I depend on CarPlay so much. When traveling for work it's my source of navigation in unfamiliar cities, at home it's so I can see real time traffic updates and respond to messages. Not having it is like going back to 2005 when I needed a paper map quest print out. PLEASE FIX!

Apple isn't here. This is a user to user only forum, which Apple doesn't participate, nor read for user feedback. Asking Apple to fix anything here won't get you anywhere.

Use this link to get your message to Apple --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Install latest update seemed to work better for a couple days. Now it somehow keeps breaking the connection to the server and maps or apps for music won’t work. Phone calls will work but that’s about it. I have to load a map before connecting to CarPlay or it won’t even work. If the route needs to change for whatever reason won’t work. Last night got caught in a traffic jam for over two hours that easily would’ve rerouted me before. Very frustrated with the iPhone 17 so far. I’m seriously considering downgrading phones or changing to android phone.

I’m experiencing the same issue!

Coming from:

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Apple Watch Series 3

Upgraded to:

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Apple Watch Series 11

I have never had any issues with CarPlay previous to these upgrades.

Removing VPN and resetting network settings seemed to help but the issue returned.

Disabling Bluetooth on watch has made no change.

Will continue trying different methods until a resolution is found… I need CarPlay to work!

Another iPhone 17 Pro to add to the list. Uninstalled VPN and switched off Apple Watch but still disconnecting from CarPlay. Could be after 10 mins, could be after 30 mins…all very random.

Tomorrow I will give wired CarPlay a go and see if that is a temporary fix for me.

Woohoo! Thanks for the fix! Wired Carplay worked fine with my iPhone 11 hooked to a Sony head unit in my 2011 Nissan Xterra. It had a standard USB A plug in the dash. I plugged in a USB A/USB C cable with my new iphone 17 Pro Max and no connection. It didn’t show up on the Sony Home Screen and no car appeared on the phone’s CarPlay setting. No VPN and I fiddled with all suggestions in everything I could find with no success until I found Kless1’s post. Bought a USB/A to USB/C adapter at Walmart and grabbed my cable that came with the phone and it fired up first time, immediately, with no delay. Perfect!

I’ve had my 17PM for a couple weeks now and I’m had to make several long trips where my phone disconnects from wireless CarPlay for a few seconds and then reconnects. Super annoying…especially when I’m on the phone on speaker (bc my CarPlay unit mic isn’t that great) and then my phone disconnects and reconnects mid conversation and connects back to the Bluetooth audio instead of staying on speaker.

I'm pleased to tell you that I no longer have problems with CarPlay wireless. It works like it used to work. Short and longer drives no problem for the last 1,5 day.

• iPhone 17 base model
• Installed latest iOS available
• Carplay with Carlinkit 5.0 (no updates available at this point)
• Wired was never a problem, just wireless was freezing every x minutes
• Apple Watch 7 latest OS available
• no VPN

I'm keeping the old problems that Calinkit not always shows itself but that is more a Renault - Carlinkit (or any other solution) software incompatible problem that was always there. After a quick disconnecting the USB en plug it in it always works. I can live with that :-) 

Same issue for weeks. Never hand an issue wired before. Apple reached out, did some troubleshooting but no solution. Took my diagnostics and said they would pass it to an engineer.

Something definitely wrong with the phone, hopefully it’s software and will be fixed soon. Very disappointing from Apple.

My problem is with wired carplay. Many pre-2020 vehicles don't support wireless carplay.

I spent two weeks resetting, re-installing and re-starting the iPhone in various sequences suggested by Apple tech support. I updated the SYNC system in my Ford. No improvement.

I consulted AI, which perused a zillion messages online about the issue. It recommended that I return the phone for replacement. It claimed there were many reports that phones shipped as replacements work fine. We'll see soon enough.

Hello, I have exactly the same problem. With an iPhone 14 Pro Max running iOS 26 I had no issues, and now with the iPhone 17 Pro Max fully updated, the wireless CarPlay adapter keeps disconnecting every 5 minutes… A nightmare!!!

We need a solution!!!