How to change your carplay wallpaper

iOS 14 introduces new features not only for the iPhone, but for your CarPlay-connected car too.

Add some colour to your CarPlay dashboard.

By Lewis Painter, Senior Staff Writer | 25 Aug 2020

iOS 14 introduces a number of new features to the iPhone, including widgets on the Home screen and the App Gallery, but it’s not the only area to be upgraded. As well as the iPhone interface, iOS 14 introduces several key features to the CarPlay experience.

Some of the additions are minor, such as the redesigned Siri interface to mirror that of the iPhone, but there are some interesting features available too, like the ability to find parking and EV charging (in certain countries) via the Apple Maps app and the ability to change the wallpaper. Finally, no more staring at a blank background when using CarPlay!

There are limitations to the feature, as is the case with CarPlay in general, to make it safe to use when driving. That means you won’t be able to use your own wallpapers, some of which may be brightly coloured and distracting while driving, instead only being able to choose from a number of wallpapers similar in design to those available on the iPhone in iOS 14.

Still, it adds a nice element to the overall interface, helping to personalise your CarPlay experience. You’ll find the red and blue dynamic wallpaper set by default, but there’s a quick and easy way to change your CarPlay wallpaper. Here’s how.

Changing your CarPlay wallpaper

The process of changing your CarPlay wallpaper is a simple one – you just need to be in the car to do it.

1. Open the Settings app within CarPlay.
   
2. Tap Wallpaper.
   
3. Tap on one of the five wallpapers to choose from.
   
4. Tap Set to confirm your choice and set your new wallpaper.
   

Fun fact: like with the dynamic iPhone wallpapers, the CarPlay wallpapers will automatically shift from light to dark depending on the time of day.

Can I change the CarPlay wallpaper via my iPhone?

With the ability to add, remove and rearrange CarPlay apps via the Settings app on your iPhone, it’s not a stretch to assume that you’d also be able to change the wallpaper, but it’s not the case – at least in iOS 14 beta 5. You can only adjust the CarPlay wallpaper via the CarPlay interface right now.

The good news is that there’s still time for this to change, with Apple making minor adjustments with each new beta to perfect the experience before general release in the coming weeks. We’ll be sure to keep an eye on each new beta, and the eventual release of iOS 14, to see if the functionality does come to iPhone.

For more, take a look at our top iOS 14 tips and tricks, and if you want to try the software before release, here’s how to download the iOS 14 beta.

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence. Learn more.

Author: Lewis Painter, Senior Staff Writer

Our resident Apple expert, Lewis covers everything from iPhone to AirPods, plus a range of smartphones, tablets, laptops and gaming hardware. You’ll also find him on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.

By Killian Bell • 3:15 pm, August 11, 2020

• How-To
• Top stories

A brand-new look for iOS 14.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

iOS 14 finally brings the ability to change your CarPlay wallpaper so that you don’t have to look at a blank background. Here’s how you can change yours in a few simple steps.

CarPlay ships with a number of helpful new features in iOS 14, including the ability to find parking and EV charging in Apple Maps, the same redesigned Siri interface found on other devices, and more.

Sadly, Apple won’t let you set one of your own pictures as your CarPlay wallpaper, but it does provide a number of nice designs you can pick from. They’re similar to the new iPhone wallpapers in iOS 14. –>

Change your CarPlay wallpaper in iOS 14

To set a new one, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app in CarPlay.
2. Tap Wallpaper.
3. Choose one of the five images available.
4. Confirm by tapping the Set button.

There are a bunch of designs to choose from.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

CarPlay wallpapers, like those on iPhone, have both light and dark mode options, and they will change automatically depending on the setting you have applied.

Want a cleaner look? Solid colors (black and white) are also still available as wallpaper options.

iOS 14 is now available to all iPhone users (with compatible devices) as a public beta. Check out our guide on how to get it before its official release this fall.

When it comes to CarPlay, Apple doesn’t let you modify much of the in-car infotainment system’s appearance. Thankfully, as long as you’re running iOS 14 or higher on your iPhone, you can change the CarPlay wallpaper. Here’s how.

Start by plugging your iPhone into your vehicle that includes CarPlay using a USB to Lightning cable (unless your car or truck supports wireless connections). Once CarPlay launches on your infotainment display, tap the App Grid button found in the bottom-left corner. This step is only necessary if viewing the overview screen or an open app.

Next, select the “Settings” app. You might have to swipe between home screens to locate the application.

From the Settings menu, tap the “Wallpaper” option.

You will now be presented with several wallpapers, which change in appearance when CarPlay is in dark or light mode. Choose one of the available wallpapers to see a live preview on your head unit.

Select the “Set” button if you like the wallpaper’s appearance. If not, tap the “Cancel” button and choose a different wallpaper.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing, you can’t use your own photo as a wallpaper in CarPlay. But don’t worry, changing the wallpaper on CarPlay won’t alter your iPhone’s background.

Source: Joseph Keller / iMore

CarPlay has gotten a decent amount of attention in iOS 14. While not as big for many people as widgets, CarPlay has seen a couple of customization options come its way with the release of the new software: wallpaper and appearance.

You can now select a colorful background from Apple’s small selection. You can’t upload and use your own wallpaper with CarPlay, but Apple has provided a colorful set of choices that can change depending on the time of day.

Here’s how to set wallpapers for CarPlay and change its appearance.

What you need to know

The first thing you need to know about setting appearance and wallpaper is that you need to have your iPhone connected to your car, and CarPlay needs to be running. Selections are made in the CarPlay interface itself, rather than on your iPhone.

The wallpaper selection is fairly simple. Apple has taken its built-in iOS 14 wallpapers, which you’ll find on your iPhone once you update, and made them available as backgrounds in CarPlay. All of the colorful options are dynamic, presenting both light and dark mode backgrounds depending on the time of day if you have dynamic appearance selected.

Speaking of appearance, you can now select whether you want CarPlay always to use dark mode or if you want it to switch between light and dark with the time of day. There is no always-on light mode, which would likely prove too distracting or dangerous for drivers at night.

How to set a wallpaper for CarPlay

Tap Settings while your iPhone is connected to your car, and CarPlay is running.

Tap Wallpaper.

Source: iMore

Tap Set.

Source: iMore

And that’s all there is to it.

How to change appearance for CarPlay

Open Settings while your iPhone is connected to your car, and CarPlay is running.

Tap Appearance.

Source: iMore

Tap either Automatic or Always Dark. There is no option for “Always Light,” likely for safety reasons driving at night.

Source: iMore

Like the wallpaper settings, the options here are simple. Apple doesn’t want to overly-complicate the in-car experience, so it keeps options to a bare minimum.

Questions?

Do you have any questions about how to set a wallpaper for CarPlay or change the appearance? Let us know in the comments.

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iOS 14 introduces a host of new features to iPhone, including widgets on the home screen and in the App Gallery, but it’s not the only area that gets updated. In addition to the iPhone interface, iOS 14 introduces several key features to the CarPlay experience.

Some of the additions are minor, such as the redesigned Siri interface to mirror that of the iPhone, but there are also some cool features available, such as the ability to find parking and EV charging (in certain countries) through the Apple Maps app and the possibility to change the wallpaper.

Regarding the change of wallpaper, there are limitations with the reason that a background should be used that is not too distracting while driving.

This means that you will not be able to use your own wallpapers, some of which can be brightly colored and distracting while driving, but you will only be able to choose from a series of wallpapers similar in design to those available on the iPhone in iOS 14. .

Still, it adds a nice element to the overall interface, helping to personalize your CarPlay experience. You will find the dynamic red and blue wallpaper set by default, but there is a quick and easy way to change your CarPlay wallpaper. Here we explain how.

Changing your CarPlay wallpaper

The process of changing your CarPlay wallpaper is very simple, you just have to be in the car to do it.

1. Open the Settings application within CarPlay.

2. Tap on ‘Wallpaper’.

3. Tap on the wallpaper of your choice.

4. Touch ‘Set’ to confirm your choice and set your new wallpaper.

Fun fact: as with dynamic iPhone wallpapers, CarPlay wallpapers will automatically change from light to dark depending on the time of day.

Can I change the CarPlay wallpaper through my iPhone?

With the ability to add, remove, and rearrange CarPlay apps through your iPhone’s Settings app, it’s no exaggeration to assume that you’ll be able to change the wallpaper as well, but that’s not the case – at least in the iOS 14 beta. 5. You can only adjust the CarPlay wallpaper through the CarPlay interface right now.

The good news is that there is still time to change this, with Apple making small adjustments with each new beta to perfect the experience before the general launch in the coming weeks. We will make sure to keep an eye on each new beta, and the eventual release of iOS 14, to see if the functionality makes its way to the iPhone.

For more information, check out our top tips and tricks for iOS 14, and if you want to test the software before it launches, here’s how to download the iOS 14 beta.

Among the features Apple has added with the iOS 14, one among the most unnoticed features was the quick tweak provided to Apple CarPlay’s appearance. From the default black or white background, the Apple CarPlay has upgraded to the newer version with customizable wallpapers and a new Siri interface. You can now change the wallpaper on Apple CarPlay with iOS 14.

In this article, we will show you how you can change Apple CarPlay wallpaper using your iPhone with iOS 14.

Change Wallpaper on Apple CarPlay

Apple CarPlay has a new set of wallpapers that are similar to the iOS 14 wallpapers. You can use them throughout the CarPlay interface, setting the background that matches your iPhone wallpaper. In order to get the wallpapers on Apple CarPlay, you need to update your iPhone to the latest iOS 14 version.

If you are new to the Apple CarPlay, check out our complete guide to setup Apple CarPlay in your car. See how to change the wallpaper on Apple CarPlay below.

1. Make sure your iPhone runs iOS 14 or newer.
2. Connect your iPhone to Car using the USB lightning cable.
3. Allow CarPlay streaming from your iPhone.
4. Open CarPlay on the infotainment system in your car.
5. Swipe right from the CarPlay home page.
   
6. Tap on Settings.
7. Tap Wallpaper from the settings window.
   
8. Choose the wallpaper you want.
9. Tap on “Set” from the next window to change Apple CarPlay wallpaper.

If you do not like wallpapers on the Apple CarPlay screen, you also have the option to switch back to the solid color. From the wallpapers changing settings, you can choose between white, black, and grey themes for CarPlay.

Change Dark/Light Appearance for Wallpapers

The wallpapers on iPhone with variable color modes can switch between the light mode and dark mode. By default, the Apple CarPlay has the dark theme set to “Always Dark” which causes the wallpapers too to be in the dark mode. If you want to check out a different version of your CarPlay wallpaper, adjust the dark mode appearance settings from your CarPlay.

Here is how to change dark mode or light mode on Apple CarPlay.

1. Open Settings from the Apple CarPlay.
2. Tap on Appearance.
3. Choose “Automatic.”

If you choose Automatic, it will display in white theme for the day time and dark for the night. You can have two different looks for a single wallpaper throughout the day.

With the new Wallpaper on Apple CarPlay, you can have an entirely different usability experience with the infotainment system in your car.

iOS 14 introduces a number of new features to the iPhone, including widgets on the Home screen and the App Gallery, but it’s not the only area to be upgraded. As well as the iPhone interface, iOS 14 introduces several key features to the CarPlay experience.

Some of the additions are minor, such as the redesigned Siri interface to mirror that of the iPhone, but there are some interesting features available too, like the ability to find parking and EV charging (in certain countries) via the Apple Maps app and the ability to change the wallpaper. Finally, no more staring at a blank background when using CarPlay!

There are limitations to the feature, as is the case with CarPlay in general, to make it safe to use when driving. That means you won’t be able to use your own wallpapers, some of which may be brightly coloured and distracting while driving, instead only being able to choose from a number of wallpapers similar in design to those available on the iPhone in iOS 14.

Still, it adds a nice element to the overall interface, helping to personalise your CarPlay experience. You’ll find the red and blue dynamic wallpaper set by default, but there’s a quick and easy way to change your CarPlay wallpaper. Here’s how.

Changing your CarPlay wallpaper

The process of changing your CarPlay wallpaper is a simple one – you just need to be in the car to do it.

1. Open the Settings app within CarPlay.
   
2. Tap Wallpaper.
   
3. Tap on one of the five wallpapers to choose from.
   
4. Tap Set to confirm your choice and set your new wallpaper.
   

Fun fact: like with the dynamic iPhone wallpapers, the CarPlay wallpapers will automatically shift from light to dark depending on the time of day.

Can I change the CarPlay wallpaper via my iPhone?

With the ability to add, remove and rearrange CarPlay apps via the Settings app on your iPhone, it’s not a stretch to assume that you’d also be able to change the wallpaper, but it’s not the case – at least in iOS 14 beta 5. You can only adjust the CarPlay wallpaper via the CarPlay interface right now.

The good news is that there’s still time for this to change, with Apple making minor adjustments with each new beta to perfect the experience before general release in the coming weeks. We’ll be sure to keep an eye on each new beta, and the eventual release of iOS 14, to see if the functionality does come to iPhone.

For more, take a look at our top iOS 14 tips and tricks, and if you want to try the software before release, here’s how to download the iOS 14 beta.

When it comes to CarPlay, Apple doesn’t let you modify much of the in-car infotainment system’s appearance. Thankfully, as long as you’re running iOS 14 or higher on your iPhone, you can change the CarPlay wallpaper. Here’s how.

Start by plugging your iPhone into your vehicle that includes CarPlay using a USB to Lightning cable (unless your car or truck supports wireless connections). Once CarPlay launches on your infotainment display, tap the App Grid button found in the bottom-left corner. This step is only necessary if viewing the overview screen or an open app.

Next, select the “Settings” app. You might have to swipe between home screens to locate the application.

From the Settings menu, tap the “Wallpaper” option.

You will now be presented with several wallpapers, which change in appearance when CarPlay is in dark or light mode. Choose one of the available wallpapers to see a live preview on your head unit.

Select the “Set” button if you like the wallpaper’s appearance. If not, tap the “Cancel” button and choose a different wallpaper.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing, you can’t use your own photo as a wallpaper in CarPlay. But don’t worry, changing the wallpaper on CarPlay won’t alter your iPhone’s background.

RELATED: How to Customize the Apple CarPlay Screen

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When it comes to CarPlay, Apple doesn’t let you modify much of the in-car infotainment system’s appearance. Thankfully, as long as you’re running iOS 14 or higher on your iPhone, you can change the CarPlay wallpaper. Here’s how.

Start by plugging your iPhone into your vehicle that includes CarPlay using a USB to Lightning cable (unless your car or truck supports wireless connections). Once CarPlay launches on your infotainment display, tap the App Grid button found in the bottom-left corner. This step is only necessary if viewing the overview screen or an open app.

Next, select the “Settings” app. You might have to swipe between home screens to locate the application.

From the Settings menu, tap the “Wallpaper” option.

You will now be presented with several wallpapers, which change in appearance when CarPlay is in dark or light mode. Choose one of the available wallpapers to see a live preview on your head unit.

Select the “Set” button if you like the wallpaper’s appearance. If not, tap the “Cancel” button and choose a different wallpaper.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing, you can’t use your own photo as a wallpaper in CarPlay. But don’t worry, changing the wallpaper on CarPlay won’t alter your iPhone’s background.