Apple’s iOS 26 update introduces a highly anticipated feature for CarPlay: customizable widgets. If you love using widgets on your iPhone to view quick information and control apps at a glance, you’ll now enjoy the same convenience while driving. From tracking the weather to managing your smart home, CarPlay’s new widgets make the dashboard experience more dynamic and personal than ever.
Getting Started with CarPlay Widgets
Setting up widgets in CarPlay is straightforward. After updating your iPhone to iOS 26, head to Settings > General > CarPlay > Your Vehicle > Widgets > Add Widget. Once added, you can swipe right on the CarPlay screen to access your widgets.
Apple currently offers a range of built-in widgets, including Home, Weather, Clock, Photos, Calendar, and Music. Even better, CarPlay now supports third-party widgets — meaning app developers can extend the experience far beyond Apple’s native ecosystem. Soon, your favorite apps could bring their own mini-widgets directly to your dashboard.
Control Your Smart Home from Your Car
The standout new addition is the Home app widget, which brings powerful smart home control directly to CarPlay. With this widget, you can manage up to four HomeKit devices or Scenes, automatically chosen based on your location, usage patterns, and Siri suggestions.
Need to open your garage door, adjust the thermostat, or turn on porch lights as you arrive home? You can do it all without grabbing your phone or distracting yourself from driving. The Home widget delivers immediate, tactile control that’s faster and more specific than issuing a voice command to Siri — especially if you have multiple connected accessories.
Pairing the Home widget with a hub like an Apple TV or HomePod (which also gains enhancements in iOS 26) makes the system even more seamless, ensuring your home responds instantly to your commands from the driver’s seat.
Stay Ahead of the Forecast with Weather Widgets
When you’re heading out for work or planning a long drive, having real-time weather updates on your dashboard is a game-changer. CarPlay’s Weather widgets come in four distinct styles, offering everything from a quick glance at current conditions to detailed information such as temperature highs and lows, wind speed, air quality, and precipitation probabilities.
You can also set the widget to follow your current location or display data for a destination of your choice — perfect for road trips or unpredictable weather routes. Whether you prefer simple summaries or detailed forecasts, there’s a widget view that fits every driver’s preference.
The Road Ahead for CarPlay Widgets
Since iOS 26 and the CarPlay widget platform are still new, third-party support is limited — but that’s likely to change fast. Developers are already exploring the possibilities for apps like navigation, productivity tools, smart assistants, and more to take advantage of CarPlay’s updated interface.
As these features evolve, experimenting with widget setups can help you tailor your driving experience. Just remember: set up and customize your widgets before hitting the road to keep things safe.
With iOS 26, Apple isn’t just refining CarPlay — it’s transforming the car dashboard into an even smarter, more interactive part of your daily life.
