Apple Brings Widgets, Tapbacks, and a Fresh UI to CarPlay with iOS 26

In WWDC 2025, Apple formally introduced iOS 26, and the most thrilling aspect of the reveal belonged to the automotive aspect of iOS CarPlay. Although most of the spotlight was captured by Apple's new Liquid Glass design language, CarPlay was not ignored. Apple is bringing some significant visual and functional improvements that will make the in-car experience smoother, smarter, and more personalized.

In one of the largest UI upgrades since CarPlay launched, widgets are officially arriving on the platform. Starting with iOS 26, drivers will have the ability to customize their dashboard even more by adding widgets for weather, music, calendar, navigation, and more just like how widgets function on iPhone and iPad.

This update will result in users receiving more glanceable information without the need to switch between apps. It's a step that not only makes CarPlay fit in with Apple's wider ecosystem but also adds a new degree of interactivity and ease of use to the dashboard. Look for smoother multi-tasking on the road and less distraction.

Apple is also playing catch-up with CarPlay by introducing tapback support for incoming messages. That is, drivers can now reply quickly with emoji-like reactions (heart, thumbs up, thumbs down, laugh, exclamation, question mark), without typing or saying a full response.

Additionally, users will be able to pin conversations they like most within CarPlay. This replicates iMessage functionality on other Apple platforms and provides much easier access to frequently called individuals when driving once more, with less distraction and more convenience. Another clever usability adjustment revealed is the redesigned calls incoming interface. Phone calls previously occupied the whole CarPlay display which could be infuriating, particularly if you had been navigating in the middle.

With iOS 26, the call UI is pushed to the bottom of the screen so that users can keep seeing maps or other critical information without interruption while deciding whether to accept or reject the call. It's a small change but an enormous usability improvement in the real world.

iOS 26 introduces Liquid Glass design language throughout the Apple universe, and that extends to CarPlay. Look for a more transparent, liquid, and futuristic visual aesthetic throughout the interface. Menus, buttons, and background panels now look more streamlined, lighter, and layered presenting a more forward-thinking look without feeling overly complex. This updated look is all part of Apple's broader shift toward visual coherence across devices and it sparkles particularly brightly in the car, where legibility and sophistication are just as important as functionality.

Apple further disclosed that all these new CarPlay updates will be fully supported on the new CarPlay Ultra, which rolled out in May 2025. CarPlay Ultra provides a broader and more integrated experience with supported vehicles, such as multi-display support, instrument cluster integration, and more comprehensive controls for in-car systems like climate and seating.

The upgraded widgets, tapbacks, and Liquid Glass graphics are meant to take fullest advantage of this new hardware although most features will also arrive for regular CarPlay-compatible vehicles.

As with each WWDC, what we observe on day one is merely the tip of the iceberg. Apple will keep releasing deeper information to developers through the week, and it's probable we will hear more about CarPlay's developing functions before the ultimate release of iOS 26 in the fall.

For motorists who live in the Apple universe, all this is a huge boon. From more customizable home screens to less obtrusive alerts, iOS 26 looks like a benchmark update for CarPlay and an indication that Apple is taking note of how its software is being consumed on the move.

Stay tuned to AndroBranch for further in-depth coverage of WWDC 2025 and its implications for the future of connected technology.