Everything about the CarPlay Dashboard: multiple apps on one screen
In addition to the standard screen with the icons and the individual apps in CarPlay, there is also the CarPlay Dashboard. This screen combines functions from multiple apps. This way you have everything clearly organized while driving, without having to switch between multiple screens. In addition, the dashboard provides smart suggestions that come in handy at important moments. This is how you can use the CarPlay Dashboard.
- Explanation
- Difference with CarPlay
- Apps
- Navigation
- Siri Suggestions
What is the CarPlay Dashboard?
The CarPlay Dashboard is a separate screen that can be found to the left of the home screen. It is best compared to the widget screen on your iPhone: information blocks from multiple apps, so that you can see what is important in one overview. You go to the Dashboard by swiping right from the home screen or by tapping the bottom left button, recognizable by the large block with three stripes. When the Dashboard is visible, this button changes to the eight black boxes, as you can see below. This will return you to the normal home screen.
The Dashboard combines four screens in one: a map for navigation, turn instructions, music controls and smart suggestions from Siri. This allows you to see your route, your instructions and your music at a glance. By tapping on the items you jump to the corresponding app for more information.
What is the difference with regular CarPlay?
CarPlay consists, as it were, of all apps on your car screen. It is a kind of mini iPhone, but with apps that are specially optimized for use in the car. The CarPlay home screen shows many similarities with that of your iPhone. You see the app icons in a grid and by tapping them you open the individual apps.
The difference with the Dashboard is that this screen shows multiple apps at the same time. This means you don’t have to switch between apps and operate the screen as much. You see navigation, music and more in one screen. So they are, as it were, widgets with useful information.
Which apps are in the Dashboard in CarPlay?
The Dashboard consists of these parts:
- Maps app (left): a small map with your current route. Third-party navigation apps can also be shown here.
- Instructions (top right): your next actions in your navigation and travel time. If no navigation is active, suggestions will appear here (for example, home address).
- Audio (middle right or bottom right): album cover of current song or radio station, including control buttons. You will also see an active telephone conversation here, so that you can continue to pay attention to the navigation while making a telephone call.
- Siri Suggestions (bottom right): Recommendations from Siri, such as your next calendar appointment or opening your garage door. This option appears depending on your location and/or time and is therefore not always visible. If it does not appear, the audio block will be given more space.
An advantage of the CarPlay Dashboard is that you can make phone calls and keep an eye on the navigation instructions at the same time. When you are in a phone call, it replaces the audio block in the Dashboard. You can see who you are talking to there and can switch off your microphone or hang up the call, without blocking your view of your navigation instructions. Previously this was not possible, meaning you had to manually return to the Phone app to hang up a call.
As for the music controls, it works with all audio apps. You can control the music from the standard Music app as well as from any radio, podcast or audiobook app here.
Third-party navigation apps in the dashboard
Since spring 2020, the Dashboard also works with other navigation apps with CarPlay. This means that you are not tied to Apple Maps for the Dashboard. Developers must adapt their navigation app to the Dashboard, so not all CarPlay navigation apps are supported. In any case, the Dashboard shows the instructions of the active navigation app or the navigation app you last opened, with support for the Dashboard. There is no setting to enable the Dashboard feature for a specific app: CarPlay automatically shows the app you last opened or used.
These navigation apps work with the CarPlay Dashboard:
- Magic Earth
- TomTom Go Navigation
- Google Maps
- Waze
- Flashmeister
- Sygic
- Maps.me
CarPlay Dashboard with Siri Suggestions
The Siri suggestions in CarPlay can also be found in the Dashboard. For example, Siri looks at your next calendar appointment. If there is also a location, it will appear in the Dashboard and you can navigate to it immediately. Tapping it will take you directly to the Calendar app, where you will see an overview of all your calendar appointments.
The suggestions are also useful if you have a garage door with HomeKit. As soon as you arrive at your home, a button will appear here to immediately open your garage door. This means you no longer have to activate Siri and ask manually, because one press of the button is enough to open your garage door. But this only works if you have a garage door with HomeKit and unfortunately the supply is very limited. The Siri suggestions will therefore mainly apply to your calendar appointments. You can disable Siri suggestions via the Settings app in CarPlay, if you wish.
The Dashboard was introduced in iOS 13. To use it, you need an iPhone 6s (Plus) or newer.
You can read more tips about CarPlay here:
- Apple Maps in CarPlay: Manually enter addresses and find popular locations
- Set up apps and notifications for CarPlay
- Adjust CarPlay display: choose light or dark mode
- Choose your own background: this is how you adjust the wallpaper in CarPlay
