How to Add CarPlay Widgets in iOS 26/27

Apple added widgets to CarPlay starting with iOS 26, and iOS 27 expanded the pool of available ones, Engadget reports. Before you dive in, know the difference: a CarPlay app (like Maps or Spotify) takes up most of the display, while a widget shows a specific piece of info from an app in a customizable stack.

How to add a widget

While parked (or not driving), grab your iPhone and open Settings. Go to General > CarPlay and tap your car. Select Widgets, make sure Show Widgets is enabled, then tap Add Widget. You'll see recommended choices at the top, followed by a list of compatible apps. Some apps offer multiple widget sizes, so scroll through them. The number of widgets that show at once depends on your car's infotainment screen size.

Rearrange or remove

From the same Widgets page, use the handles on the right to drag items and reorder them. Tap the red minus button to remove a widget. Some widgets have a blue i icon — tap it to customize, like picking a saved location in the Weather app.

Automation options

At the bottom of the Settings page, toggle Smart Rotate to have the most relevant widget appear based on time or location. Widget Suggestions will surface possibly useful widgets even if you haven't manually added them, Engadget says.

While driving

To see your widgets on the road, swipe from left to right on the CarPlay screen. They live on the leftmost page. Swipe up or down on a stack to move through them.

What to add

Widgets can fill gaps CarPlay apps can't, Engadget notes. Feeling homesick on a long trip? Add the Photos widget and choose an album. Worried you left a lamp on? Use the Home widget to turn it off via HomeKit. First-party options include Reminders, Weather, Clock, and Apple Sports. Third-party widgets expanded with iOS 27 — you can check Instagram stories, Amazon order status, or even use chatbot widgets like Claude and Gemini.

Some widgets are more useful than others. You likely don't need to check your Duolingo streak or LinkedIn updates while driving. For best results, stick to widgets that give quick, non-distracting info.

Engadget advises sticking with glanceable, low-distraction widgets. Pick what you actually need at a glance.

• Apple
• CarPlay
• iOS 26
• iOS 27
• settings
• widgets