Apple Admits CarPlay Could Be Buggy With a USB-C to Lightning Adapter

The switch to USB-C comes after the European Union passed new regulations requiring tech companies selling products on the continent to equip their devices with this universal port. The new requirements come into effect in 2024, but Apple didn't want to wait until the very last moment, so the iPhone 15 comes with USB-C.

The transition should make charging and data transfers more straightforward. USB-C is a widely used adapter, so most users should already have the cables around their house. The EU says this would eventually reduce e-waste, as users no longer have to get a cable for every device they own.

The cables lying around the house are a big problem in the CarPlay world. Because some USB-C cables only support charging, many people ended up struggling with CarPlay, as the application failed to load after the iPhone 15 was connected to the head unit.

It's why many people who couldn't run CarPlay with USB-C cables switched to adapters. Apple has a UBS-C to Lightning adapter that allows drivers to use the old Lightning cable compatible with the iPhone 14 and older. They're certain these cables work, so using an adapter eliminated the likelihood of the cord breaking down CarPlay.

However, adapters have never been a good choice for CarPlay and Android Auto. They sometimes cause connectivity problems and random disconnects, but Apple selling such an adapter made many believe they could fix their CarPlay issues after the introduction of the iPhone 15.

The Cupertino-based tech giant now admits that using an adapter to run CarPlay could lead to various problems behind the wheel. The company says in a new tech support document that the USB-C to Lightning adapter can be used "with wired CarPlay in most vehicles," though it acknowledges potential problems that could "disrupt the wired CarPlay connection."

The tech giant eventually explains that wired CarPlay is more stable with "a direct connection with a USB-A to USB-C cable," pointing users to the Belkin USB-A to USB-C cable available in the Apple Store. Apple doesn't have its own cable but sells a Belkin cord to address this shortcoming after the debut of the iPhone 15.

CarPlay users getting a taste of Android Auto's ugly side

Unfortunately for CarPlay users, the debut of iPhone 15 turned the experience behind the wheel into a horrible experience that reminds everybody of what happens regularly in the Android Auto world.

USB-C has been around for many years for Android, so connection issues and random disconnects are fairly common for people using Android Auto in their cars.

Google is even offering several recommendations for choosing the best cable to run Android Auto, though not even following these tips guarantees a stable experience behind the wheel. Users claim that even the genuine cables that came in the phone box eventually malfunction, breaking Android Auto on random occasions.

Meanwhile, finding the perfect cable feels like a big challenge in the CarPlay world, too. Apple indeed sells a USB-A to USB-C cable to deal with the problem, but Belkin's cord only ships in three to four weeks.

I currently run CarPlay with a Samsung cable that connects my iPhone 15 to the infotainment system in my car, and I haven't experienced any connectivity problems. However, after I finished setting up my iPhone 15, I also reset CarPlay by deleting all vehicle problems from settings. In my car, I removed the paired phones, so I started from scratch on both devices. The moment I connected the smartphone to the head unit, it was detected immediately, so CarPlay launched in seconds.

I no longer use CarPlay wired because my car also supports a wireless connection, but every time I connect the smartphone to the vehicle for charging, the cable seems to work properly.

As a result, if you're looking for a cable to run CarPlay, try to stick with one that comes with a smartphone. If you previously owned a Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, or Google phone and still have the USB-A to USB-C cable around, you'd better try to run CarPlay with it. You should avoid using CarPlay with cheap cables from generic Chinese brands.

Such a cord doesn't cost more than a couple of dollars on the likes of eBay, but they typically offer a horrible experience, with limited charging speed and broken CarPlay. Apple's adapter works, but as the company itself admits, random disconnects might become very common. I also tried to use adapters in my car, but I couldn't rely on them in the long term, as CarPlay used to disconnect every time I drove over a speed bump. I eventually abandoned them and decided to stick with a full cable to run CarPlay and charge my phone in the car.