How to stop CarPlay from disconnecting calls after iOS update?

Hey everyone, I’ve found a solid fix for me, that I’ve tested with multiple types of calls for a few weeks now.

Unfortunately it may depend on the make of your vehicle and the OEM - I got the CarPlay firmware (in the car) updated from 70 to 74. I did this at the dealer, but if your car has a good online community, someone may have posted the firmware on a forum or something that you could download (at your own risk - remember you’re trusting they haven’t modified it) and install it (simpler, but also could be tricky depending on the procedure - try to follow any instructions to the letter, botched firmware updates can brick hardware).

There must be something in iOS 18 that older versions of CarPlay just doesn’t like. Good luck everyone! Please post your process/results if you try it!

100% Resolved!

Solution:

Update the car audio system software.

Confirmed it’s independent of call type (more or less) - tried FaceTime, carrier and WhatsApp, same problem.

Reminder to report: Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Report template in this reply: How to stop CarPlay from disconnecting ca… - Apple Community

Same issue on my 14 pro. First call, 5-10 seconds into and CarPlay shuts down and I pick up my phone and kick on speaker real quick. Super annoying since my phone is my business. Im hard wired. (Have to in my 2025 Telluride) I’m on 18.4.1 and keep praying it’ll get fixed in one of these updates but never does.

This is for everyone!

Report this Bug Fix to Apple:

Do your Part: These are just user-to-user forms. Apple barely reads the forums as it is on their own time and will. Apple will know nothing of this concern, if you do not spread the word to them. So, report it to Apple. They wont get back to you directly, but the more they hear about this, the more likely they will look into, knowing what is going on. They will know knowing of this fix, if you don't report it to them.

1. Go Here: Feedback - iPhone - Apple
2. Select: "Bug Report" for the "Feedback Type"
3. Comment: on the problem and that it all started after installing this update. Include the URL of this thread.
4. Proceed from there as necessary.

i’ve had this issue for some time. Did all of the tricks… changing settings, delete and re-add from car, super usbc cables. Nothing worked.

i bought a wireless CarPlay adapter. Same issue. So it’s NOT cabling. Something in the phone hardware or IOS is causing this. My iPhone 12 Pro Max was fine. 15 pro max is not. I have Jeep UCONNECT.

So frustrating.

I have this issue too. 2024 Kia Telluride with 15 Pro Max.

Started recently. Updated to iOS 18.4.1 and still same problem.

It's intermittent, occurs in wired and third-party wireless (Carlinkit 5).

Unsure if it also happens with FaceTime Audio.

All cables are impacted - short and long.

It either could be...

1. USB-C port has degraded, and there is a connection issue (I've tried to jingle the cable with no luck).
2. Phone is overheating, because it's gotten older.
3. Something else internally has degraded.

Regardless, from this thread, it's impacting the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. We're all pretty much out of 1-year warranty, and getting AppleCare to replace a phone is between slim and none.

My next step is to go to a beta (18.5) and pray.

My son suggested a hard reset. I will try this to see if it fixes the problem and report back.

The hard reset is: press volume up then volume down next hold the power button until the phone turns off without any more action. Power up the phone as normal.

Same here. iPhone 13 Mini, Mazda 3, wired OEM Carplay.

• Tried several cables including OEM, Belkin and random Amazon/IKEA cables.
• Removed and re-paired from Carplay and Bluetooth, separately and also together.
• Reboot (it's been months this has been an issue).
• Cleaned (lightning) port.

Current iOS is 18.4.1.

Happens with carrier calls as well as FaceTime.

Disconnect happens between a few seconds to a few minutes.

Did a feedback thing.

As AriSch84 has said PLEASE REPORT IF YOU ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Updated to 18.5, same problem, here's my latest report to Apple and a template, I encourage all here to report so this gets attention:

Subject:

DANGEROUS PROBLEM Carplay disconnects during calls

Comments:

Carplay almost always disconnects a few seconds to a few minutes after I make or receive

a call.

Others reporting this issue - multiple phones, OS versions & vehicles:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/25595916

PLEASE FIX THIS IT'S A HUGE DISTRACTION

AND ROAD HAZARD

[PHONE MODEL]

[CAR MODEL]

[CARPLAY WIRED / WIRELESS]

[LIST WHAT YOU TRIED]

I’ve had the same problem for a few months. I use wired CarPlay in 3 vehicles, two Ford and one Chevrolet. CarPlay works as usual with Maps, Podcasts, Music. Shortly after I receive a call it will disconnect completely. The screen goes to the factory screen and the radio comes on. My call is not disconnected. It is as though I unplugged the phone from usb. If I unplug the phone and plug it in again, CarPlay will return and the call can resume. However, if the call goes on a while, which is typical for me as I often have lengthy business calls, the phone disconnects again. I have replaced the USB cable in 2 vehicles to no avail. Thinking it might be a conflict with Bluetooth, I removed the phone from all 3 cars and deleted the vehicles from the phone’s Bluetooth list. No improvement.

i have the same problem. 15 pro max. I have tried 3 different cables and every suggested trick to get this fixed. So I have been only making phone calls using Bluetooth because it was so infuriating. NOW Bluetooth disconnects randomly as well. I’m on 18.3. I’ve had it using this phone on my car. (Jeep UCONNECT)

Hi, has anyone found a solution for this yet? I’m experiencing the same issue, both wirelessly and wired. During calls, the CarPlay connection gets disconnected — sometimes it reconnects on its own, other times I have to pull over, restart the car, and continue. Super annoying.

At first, I thought it was my car, but today I had a loaner car and faced the same problem.

I’m using an iPhone 15 Pro – version 18.3.2.

I’m having the same issue. 15PM I can listen to music non-stop, receive texts and other notifications without issue. But as soon as I get a call, I always end up having connection issues. This is definitely a software issue either in iOS or CarPlay OS.

Same, iPhone 15 Pro. Tried wireless and wired. Both are the same. Everything is perfect until you make a call, then about 15 seconds into the call, CarPlay disconnects. It comes back again after another 20ish seconds and then it doesn’t happen again. It’s only on the first call I make each time.