Car Cinema
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Works on iOS 27.2 · Updated for the latest iOS Compatibility

Works with your car

Car Cinema runs on Apple CarPlay, so it works in practically every car that has CarPlay: wired or wireless, any screen shape, touch screen or knob. Here is what you get, where films can play, and what depends on your car and iOS.

Last updated: 4 November 2026

In every car with CarPlay

Video on the car’s display

Films, live TV and YouTube on the car’s screen while parked, on iOS 26.4 and later.

Your library on the car’s screen

Playlists, live TV with channel groups, films and series, favourites and what you watched last.

Sound through the car

Live TV, films and music play through the car’s speakers, on the road too.

The car’s own controls

Play and pause, the next or previous channel, episode or favourite, from the screen or the steering wheel buttons. A single film skips 15 seconds.

Now Playing

Title, artwork, progress and playback speed, the way CarPlay shows any player.

Wired and wireless

Plug in with a cable or connect without one: Car Cinema works the same way.

Picks up where you left off

Start on the iPhone, carry on in the car, and the other way round.

Car brands

Car Cinema works wherever CarPlay does. These makers offer CarPlay across most of their recent models.

  • Acura
  • Alfa Romeo
  • Aston Martin
  • Audi
  • Bentley
  • BMW
  • BYD
  • Cadillac
  • Chevrolet
  • Chrysler
  • Citroën
  • Cupra
  • Dacia
  • Dodge
  • Fiat
  • Ford
  • Genesis
  • GMC
  • Honda
  • Hyundai
  • Infiniti
  • Jaguar
  • Jeep
  • Kia
  • Land Rover
  • Lexus
  • Lincoln
  • Maserati
  • Mazda
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • MG
  • Mini
  • Mitsubishi
  • Nissan
  • Opel
  • Peugeot
  • Polestar
  • Porsche
  • Ram
  • Renault
  • Seat
  • Škoda
  • Subaru
  • Suzuki
  • Toyota
  • Volkswagen
  • Volvo

CarPlay availability varies by model, year, trim and country. Some electric models from GM brands don’t offer CarPlay. If your car shows CarPlay, Car Cinema runs there, and aftermarket stereos with CarPlay work too.

Screens and controls

CarPlay fits Car Cinema to whatever display the car has. Car Cinema is tested in Apple’s CarPlay Simulator with standard, widescreen, HD and portrait car displays.

Standard

800 × 480

The classic landscape display in most cars.

Widescreen

1920 × 720

The long dashboard displays in many newer cars.

HD

1920 × 1080

Large, sharp displays, including those that play video.

Portrait

Taller than wide

Upright touch screens: lists and tabs fit the width.

  • Touch screen
  • Rotary knob
  • Touchpad
  • Steering wheel buttons

Films on the car’s display

Every car with CarPlay, iOS 26.4 and laterCar Cinema’s own car screen: films, live TV, YouTube and even the iPhone’s screen on the car’s display, iOS 27.2 included. You tap “I am parked” before the picture shows.Works
Cars with video in CarPlayFrom iOS 27 the film can also play through CarPlay’s own player while you’re parked. When the car says video isn’t allowed, the sound carries on.Works
Car screen adapters and HDMIA full-screen picture through an adapter that takes the iPhone’s screen over AirPlay, or an HDMI adapter with a USB-C to HDMI cable. Films in MP4, MOV and HLS; the iPhone is the remote. Watch only when parked.Works

At home

Chromecast and Google Cast TVsPick the TV with the cast button in the player; the film plays on the TV and the iPhone stays the remote.Works
Smart TVs over DLNASamsung, LG, Sony, Philips and other DLNA TVs on your Wi-Fi appear under the cast button.Works
Apple TV and AirPlay TVsSend the player from the iPhone with the AirPlay button.Works
A TV over HDMIA USB-C to HDMI cable from the iPhone: the film fills the TV while the iPhone stays the remote.Works
Apple HomeViewApple says CarPlay audio and video apps appear on HomeView without changes. We’ll confirm it once HomeView is on sale from 13 November 2026.Expected

Check your own car in one minute

Connect your iPhone to CarPlay, open Car Cinema on the iPhone and go to Settings → What plays where. It shows what plays on the iPhone, on your TV and in the connected car. The free 30 minutes are there to try it in your own car.

iOS versions and updates

  • iOS 18 or later runs Car Cinema on the iPhone and in CarPlay.
  • iOS 26.4 to 27.1: films, live TV and YouTube on the car’s display in every car with CarPlay, while parked.
  • iOS 27.2 and later: the same, in every car with CarPlay — iOS 27.2 is fully supported. On the move the car’s screen keeps your lists and the sound plays on.
  • iOS 18 to 26.3: your lists on the car’s screen and the sound through the car; the picture plays on the iPhone or your TV.
  • Video only while parked. On Car Cinema’s own car screen you tap “I am parked” before the picture shows; in CarPlay’s own player the car decides. Laws in many countries forbid video in the driver’s view while moving.
  • Apple and car makers change CarPlay with iOS and car software updates. We update this page when that happens.

What doesn’t work

  • Films with DRM. Netflix, Disney+ and other protected services can’t be played in Car Cinema.
  • MKV, AVI and similar files in the car. They play on the iPhone and on a Chromecast; for the car’s display and AirPlay, use MP4, MOV or HLS.
  • Cars without CarPlay, such as Tesla, and Android Auto.

Changes

  1. Tested: car screen adapters and HDMI, and cars with video in CarPlay — both work. Version 1.0.3 casts to Chromecast and Google Cast TVs and to DLNA smart TVs. A TV over HDMI works too. iOS notes rewritten: video on the car’s display from iOS 26.4, and which formats play where.

  2. Updated: video and YouTube play on the car’s display on iOS 27.2, while parked.

  3. Page published: car brands, screens and controls, video on the car’s display, and what iOS 27.2 changes.