Apple quietly reveals CarPlay video playback coming with iOS 27
At WWDC 2026, Apple announced that CarPlay will support video browsing and playback in iOS 27, but only when the car is parked, and the feature requires newer hardware and automaker support.
Apple quietly announced at WWDC 2026 a long-anticipated feature for CarPlay: video playback and browsing directly on the car's infotainment screen. This capability will arrive with iOS 27, but it will only work when the vehicle is stationary. If the system detects motion, it switches to audio-only mode.
The new feature builds on AirPlay streaming, which Apple introduced with iOS 26.4 for video mirroring from an iPhone. With iOS 27, users will not only mirror but also browse and play videos. In its developer demo, Apple used a fictitious app called “Landmark,” but the feature is intended for any video streaming app like Apple TV or YouTube.
Video playback requires specific hardware: a display with at least 1920x1080 resolution, H.265/HEVC codec support, and 4 GB or more of RAM. Many existing car head units do not meet these specs.
So far, no automaker has announced support for CarPlay video. Apple previously stated that automakers need to implement the functionality themselves, but no concrete announcements have been made. In contrast, Google demonstrated YouTube playback on Android Auto in a Kia EV at its I/O 2026 conference and revealed specific supporting manufacturers: Skoda, Volvo, Kia, and Mercedes-Benz.
Apple's silence suggests the feature may not arrive soon. However, the expected iPhone 18 launch in September could provide more details about when CarPlay video will finally help drivers stave off boredom while parked.
