Apple Car Play

Hey, I’m not sure if it’s me but I can’t get my iPhone connected to my Tacoma to save my life. I just switched to iPhone, had non stop issues with my pixel 6 pro with no resolution from Google so I switched and got an iPhone. When I bought my truck a few years ago I simply plugged in my phone through the usb and android auto popped up immediately. I searched on here, although I’ll say I don’t know tacomaworld or how to navigate the site great. But all I found was someone selling a wireless adapter. What am I missing with using Apple Car play? Shouldn’t it be easy? Connected Bluetooth is simple, but when I plug in the phone, nothing.

 

Did you try multiple cables?

 

Did you unlock your phone and enable carplay? I think you have to do that once per car.

 

I have an aftermarket HU and samsung phone but sometimes I plug in an nothing happens. Sometimes unugging and re plugging works, other times I need to reboot the HU or the phone. A few times over the years, swapping to a new cord worked best. Worst part about rebooting the HU is there us no power botton so you have to restart the engine. When did HU's stop having power on/off control?

 

I just spent the week out of town in a 21 ford escape. Plugged it in with the same cord and it connected to CarPlay immediately. Is it possible the Tacoma won’t accept the same cord?

 

Not sure. I do know CarPlay is weird about cords. I’d try another one just for sanity’s sake.

it’s been a while but I want to say when I test drove my Tacoma I tried to hook it up and it didn’t work either. I’m pretty sure I had to either go into the head unit settings or the phone settings to finally get it to work. That was a while ago and I’m not using that radio anymore so I don’t really remember.

 

Sounds like a protocol of some sort is blocking the connection/transmission. I think i may have had similar issues with my iphone when i first got my truck? I can't remember for sure, BT was just easiest for me so i've always used that and never bothered to troubleshoot any further.

 

Where are you plugging it in? It only works in the usb above the QI shelf.

 

Not sure how to reply to everyone but I figured I’d mention that I called my local Toyota dealer. Got a cool guy on the phone who was familiar with the software and stuff. Apparently my head unit needs an update which they do at the dealer. Makes sense, and I’m glad to know I’m not going crazy. Also interesting to find out my stock head unit is made by Pioneer.

 

Are you using a secure VPN on your phone? I found that my Iphone 10, and then my14 won't allow Carplay to work if it is activated. I simply don't use my secure VPN when I am in the truck and tethered to the head unit for Carplay, and everything works fine.

 

I had the same issue and when I got an Apple cable it started working again. It's touchy for sure but it hopefully just needs a new cable.

 

I actually called the dealer and they guided me through some settings and he claims that I need an update on my head unit based on the current update code. Didn’t mention in the previous post but when I plug it in the head unit says “searching iPod” then says “no music files found”. Hopefully the update fixes it.

 

I’ve had android forever, first iPhone. It’s a 14 pro max. Is a vpn standard? I haven’t added one.

 

I’ve tried 2 cords including the one that worked in another vehicle. I’d hate to have to constantly buy new iPhone cords. The “official “ cord that comes with the phone is usb-c to lightening so using that isn’t an option. I mentioned in other posts that the dealer says the head unit needs an update but I’ll try a new cord for the hell of it. I actually considered getting a new head unit entirely. I have two 10in JL’s behind the rear seats. When they installed them I was considering head units, they say it will sound much better, even the factory speakers. Dealer takes forever around here in NJ. Just had my oil change a month ago and won’t be due for quite a while so I’d hate to go sit there for an hour plus while they update my head unit.

 

You should be able to go here and download the update to a USB drive and install it yourself: https://www.toyota.com/firmware-updates. Instructions are on the web page.

 

No VPN is not standard. You would have to add it manually.

Make sure you are using the USB port above the Qi wireless charging pad. Should plug your USB into that, lighting into iPhone, unlock iPhone, good to go.

Might try taking it to the dealer for hands on support. It should just work.

But for troubleshooting: try another iPhone from a friend in the truck. Try a different cable.

 

Greatly appreciate the help. I’m on the website, I have a flash drive but the site doesn’t have a download option for the update. I put in my vehicle vin and nothing. Any experience downloading this?

 

I’m thinking that may be it, the phone itself. Wife has an iPhone, CarPlay works fine in her car, won’t work in my truck. We get the same message “searching iPod for music files” She has a 13, mine is a 14. And yes, of course using the correct outlet. I’ve been using android auto for years. It got wonky from time to time and I had to unplug and re-plug the usb, in some cases restart the phone. But this just won’t connect at all. I’m probably not gonna make a special trip to the dealer for a radio update, I’ll just wait until the next oil change. Maybe it’ll work itself out in the meantime. Thanks for your help though

 

I just got home from out of town and put in my VIN number. It sent me to the next screen and it had 3 download options, one for Premium JBL and 2 for Premium non-JBL. Perhaps there is no firmware update for your particular head unit and the dealer is wrong.

 

I bought a new iphone and had this same issue. Checked settings on phone, checked the cable, settings on the head unit, etc and nothing worked. Checked it with my buddies iphone and carplay worked. Updated the iphone with the latest update and voila it worked!