Apple Carplay refuses to work on iOS 17.3.1: Finding a solution

Last week, I upgraded the phone to iOS 17.5.1 and voila, the problem was resolved.

BHPian autobahnjpr recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have been using Apple CarPlay for a couple of years and it has become a second habit as this is the first thing that I do when I get into the car. Recently, it stopped working suddenly after an iOS 17.3.1 update on my iPhone 15 Pro.

The problem was very interesting and unique. The phone would connect to Apple CarPlay after a reboot but would stop connecting the second time onwards. The interesting thing was that my wife's iPhone 11 continued to connect and work as usual. Being used to it for so long, it was very irritating to not be able to use Apple CarPlay. I did all the required research, and setting changes but with no success. Then I finally called Apple Care. They asked me to do so many setting changes and then check. It was a lot of back and forth.

When nothing worked, they asked me to simulate the problem on video and send them the video recordings. I did that. Then they installed a debug profile and collected all the required logs. After that, there was a long silence from their side. When I inquired about the issue resolution, they said that I needed to check the connection cable. I said that Apple does not have a USB-C to USB-A cable so how can I use an Apple cable? I am using a Samsung one and it is working the first time I connect after reboot so the cable is not the problem but they asked me to upload the photo of the cable and the make. I realized they were clueless and like any tech support, they were just buying some time by collecting all the useless stuff. When they have the video of the problem and I have given them the required logs then why do they want the photo of the cable?

Last week, I upgraded the phone to iOS 17.5.1 and voila, the problem was resolved. My Apple CarPlay is back and running just fine. As I had rightly suspected, the problem was with the OS.

The most interesting part of this whole episode was my mental reaction to the problem. It was frustration and irritation initially which later mellowed down to acceptance and finally, the realization that even if I am unable to use Apple CarPlay, it is important not to let it play on my mind and just say it is ok. Then I switched to Bluetooth mode for playing songs and used a secondary Android phone for maps as and when needed. I was not fighting with an invisible problem but making sure I solved the same and moved forward. This required a habit change and though it took time, I was able to do it. No longer, I fished for the cable to connect to my iPhone as soon as I sat in the car. So, sometimes things do not go as we wish or problems crop up unknowingly and thus it is important to maintain equanimity or as they say in the Bhagwad Gita - "Sarvatra Sambudhya" (always calm).

Here's what BHPian tud had to say on the matter:

There was a period of time around 2012-2015 when I have stayed up through the night to download the new iOS immediately when it is released for all users. I would stay up all night and explore the functionalities. There used to be minor bugs but it didn't matter.

Today with connectivity being paramount, I'm scared to install a new iOS for a couple of months at least. I was not even tempted to install iOS 17 and continued on iOS 16 till the financial apps stopped working and forced me to move to iOS 17.

Apple's iOS has surely become the Mahindra of cars. Don't touch it for the first year for your own mental peace and business continuity.

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