Apple iOS and carplay

[D-Train]

I use IOS 26.1 and I get disconnected from Airplay about every day. There is a problem with it when you are wireless - not sure what is causing it. The fix is easy enough, just find your device and re-enable air play on it.

This happens like clockwork about a mile from my house, everyday. Sometimes it will do this multiple times on a longer drive. I've tried all the usual things, unpairing/repairing, hard resets all around. No VPN running on my phone, etc.. etc..

Anyone have any luck resolving this? Don't want to start plugging in to 'fix' what should just work (and did work fine for about a year).

I've read on the web where other Toyo's had to get the HU replaced to fix a similar issue. Not opposed to that route if that in fact fixes this issue. TIA!

 

[sledgehammer]

I'm on IOS 26.3 now and it still does the same thing - only using the wireless bluetooth connection. I could connect with a cable and I'm sure it would work, but that is not the point of Airplay of course.

 

[D-Train]

I'm on IOS 26.3 now and it still does the same thing - only using the wireless bluetooth connection. I could connect with a cable and I'm sure it would work, but that is not the point of Airplay of course.

The last however many IOS updates have not changed/fixed the issue. It's a bummer as it worked fine for roughly a year and now it's kaput.

The problem is taking into Toyo to fix... 'It's an Apple issue'. Talk to Apple.. 'It's a Toyota issue'

 

[dato6966]

Same issue and attaching the cable (genuine apple cable) seems to make a small difference but it still disconnects but it just seems to take longer. No problem with my old android phone but damned if I'm going to pay for another phone just to use my radio. Borrowed my son's iphone & it disconnects as well so it's not my phone (it's a slightly older iphone). Toyota dealer blames apple for a lack of updates to carplay

 

[NB Rob]

I had nonstop problems with airplay disconnecting. I started using a cable, and it worked reasonably well, but I still had issues. Wireless gave me grief at the same geographical areas every single time.

A few months ago I switched out my old iphone x to a hand-me-down (new to me) iphone 11. The disconnection issue disappeared completely. I haven't had the issue ONCE since I switched phones.

I'm not saying get a new phone, but perhaps a factory reset would help. I was absolutely thrilled when the issue went away. It now works as it should, and I spent an obscene amount of time trying to fix the issue with my former phone.

 

[ultane]

I'm on IOS 26.3 now and it still does the same thing - only using the wireless bluetooth connection. I could connect with a cable and I'm sure it would work, but that is not the point of Airplay of course.

Welcome to the asylum.

 

[ultane]

I had nonstop problems with airplay disconnecting. I started using a cable, and it worked reasonably well, but I still had issues. Wireless gave me grief at the same geographical areas every single time.

A few months ago I switched out my old iphone x to a hand-me-down (new to me) iphone 11. The disconnection issue disappeared completely. I haven't had the issue ONCE since I switched phones.

I'm not saying get a new phone, but perhaps a factory reset would help. I was absolutely thrilled when the issue went away. It now works as it should, and I spent an obscene amount of time trying to fix the issue with my former phone.

Welcome to the asylum.

 

[Trailman]

This happens like clockwork about a mile from my house, everyday. Sometimes it will do this multiple times on a longer drive. I've tried all the usual things, unpairing/repairing, hard resets all around. No VPN running on my phone, etc.. etc..

Anyone have any luck resolving this? Don't want to start plugging in to 'fix' what should just work (and did work fine for about a year).

I've read on the web where other Toyo's had to get the HU replaced to fix a similar issue. Not opposed to that route if that in fact fixes this issue. TIA!

I had the exact same issue. I think it is related to the vehicles WiFi signal. If you paired it to the vehicles WiFi when you got a free trial for the first couple months of ownership, your phone periodically may be trying to connect over to a WiFi signal that no longer has service connected to it. Look in your phones WiFi connections and forget the Land Cruiser’s signal. Then do the usual restart your phone and forget/repair the Bluetooth signal. Also, try forgetting the phone’s Bluetooth pairing from the vehicles side as well as from your phone before you re-pair the Bluetooth.

 

[D-Train]

I had the exact same issue. I think it is related to the vehicles WiFi signal. If you paired it to the vehicles WiFi when you got a free trial for the first couple months of ownership, your phone periodically may be trying to connect over to a WiFi signal that no longer has service connected to it. Look in your phones WiFi connections and forget the Land Cruiser’s signal. Then do the usual restart your phone and forget/repair the Bluetooth signal. Also, try forgetting the phone’s Bluetooth pairing from the vehicles side as well as from your phone before you re-pair the Bluetooth.

I've done all that, multiple times. Same result. Hard resets and deleting/forgetting/re-pairing. It seems to maybe fix it for a day or two, then right back to the same deal.

I did install a DCM kill module, but it was having this behavior well before I installed it, and it being reported here by a lot of folks makes me think it's not just something I'm doing wrong.

 

[steveg]

I've done all that, multiple times. Same result. Hard resets and deleting/forgetting/re-pairing. It seems to maybe fix it for a day or two, then right back to the same deal.

I did install a DCM kill module, but it was having this behavior well before I installed it, and it being reported here by a lot of folks makes me think it's not just something I'm doing wrong.

Statistically about half the US population uses an iPhone, Toyota sold 45,000 Land Cruisers in the US last year, and over 15,000 in 2H 2024. So it’s fair to say that just in the US there’s over 30,000 iPhone users driving around in a Land Cruiser.

You’d know if there was an endemic issue with IOS 26 and Toyota’s Land Cruisers CarPlay implementation. Not forgetting the fact that it will be the same in all their new vehicles that use the same media wireless CarPlay implementation.

So if you and ‘lots of folks’ here have the same issue, it doesn’t mean it’s Apple’s or Toyota’s fault. It’s more likely a config or settings issue and potentially a certain combination of iPhone and IOS version issue. Not what you want to hear, but statistically the case.

 

[D-Train]

Statistically about half the US population uses an iPhone, Toyota sold 45,000 Land Cruisers in the US last year, and over 15,000 in 2H 2024. So it’s fair to say that just in the US there’s over 30,000 iPhone users driving around in a Land Cruiser.

You’d know if there was an endemic issue with IOS 26 and Toyota’s Land Cruisers CarPlay implementation. Not forgetting the fact that it will be the same in all their new vehicles that use the same media wireless CarPlay implementation.

So if you and ‘lots of folks’ here have the same issue, it doesn’t mean it’s Apple’s or Toyota’s fault. It’s more likely a config or settings issue and potentially a certain combination of iPhone and IOS version issue. Not what you want to hear, but statistically the case.

Regardless of the above's validity, not sure how any of that is helpful information? Looking for potential solutions here...

To reiterate, as the other posts highlight, I'm not alone in this. I'll also add in my friend how has a new-ish (2023) Highlander, his CarPlay with his iPhone displays odd behavior as well as disconnects from time to time. No idea what version iPhone he has. Hi's wife's car (not a Toyo) has no issues with either of their phones.

 

[cozye]

FWIW. I have had zero disconnects in 5k miles using carplay. I do have a new phone and keep it updated.

 

[67siia]

At 26.3 and no issues to report.

 

[kmershly]

Statistically about half the US population uses an iPhone, Toyota sold 45,000 Land Cruisers in the US last year, and over 15,000 in 2H 2024. So it’s fair to say that just in the US there’s over 30,000 iPhone users driving around in a Land Cruiser.

You’d know if there was an endemic issue with IOS 26 and Toyota’s Land Cruisers CarPlay implementation. Not forgetting the fact that it will be the same in all their new vehicles that use the same media wireless CarPlay implementation.

So if you and ‘lots of folks’ here have the same issue, it doesn’t mean it’s Apple’s or Toyota’s fault. It’s more likely a config or settings issue and potentially a certain combination of iPhone and IOS version issue. Not what you want to hear, but statistically the case.

I use Android, my '24 Land Cruiser can be flakey with Android too.

Interestingly enough, I had a '26 Camry as a rental, it worked flawlessly with my S24 Ultra the entire time I had the car.

The software build numbers are completely different, so incremental changed can make a difference.

My Brother has a "26 Sequoia and a iPhone 17 Pro MAX, it was works well in his Sequoia, but is flaky in my '24LC.

 

[D-Train]

Yeah, mine worked just fine for the first year... no issues. Now, having a lot of issues. I'm on a 17 and it doesn't seem to matter on the software for the phone.

I'm starting to wonder if it doesn't have something to do with the free year of Toyo connect? Once the year is up, you have to subscribe? I never signed up for any of that to begin with, just wondering if it's a change in the behavior of the car's DCM/etc? I think I've read that people were having issues with CarPlay after the software update for the rearview camera? I haven't gotten any updates done to mine yet (haven't had any issue with that), can't imagine the update making it worse than now?

 

[scott10s]

ios26.3 with an old iphone 11. No issues.

 

[D-Train]

Just occurred to me... my old iPhone 12 that I had last year. No issues... I upgraded to a 17 this last fall, issues.

I wonder why the new phones are causing these issues?

 

[Docsigmund]

I am pretty hesitant on upgrading. I hear horror stories with people having issues connecting to Toyota vehicles with iOS 26. Is there anyone on here that can relate? Whos got iOS26 and having problems or not with it and CarPlay?

I’m running IOS 26.2 and periodically I will start up the LC and CarPlay is not recognized. Have to go to settings to connect. Irritating but doesn’t happen often.

 

[D-Train]

I’m running IOS 26.2 and periodically I will start up the LC and CarPlay is not recognized. Have to go to settings to connect. Irritating but doesn’t happen often.

I get that as well, though not as often as the mile from home disconnect, which happens every time. The LC is turning off the 'Enable Carplay' on this phone setting for some reason? It's not terribly difficult to re-enable while driving, but really annoying!

 

[Dangler]

26.3 and not a single glitch