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[Solved] Nissan Carplay Not Working (Causes and Solutions)

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It comes as no surprise that the CarPlay app already comes pre-installed in every modern vehicle. For those that own a car and use an iPhone as a daily driver, CarPlay is a must-have. However, it can be frustrating if it fails to work properly for no obvious reason.

So if you have a Nissan vehicle and the CarPlay app is not working, fret not. In this article, we lay out the quickest fixes you can do to get your Nissan CarPlay working again.

Contents hide
1 Why is CarPlay Not Working on your Nissan
2 Unable to connect to Wireless CarPlay
3 Unable to connect to Wired CarPlay
4 People Aslo Asked
4.1 Why does my NissanConnect service stop working?
4.2 Does NissanConnect have Apple CarPlay?
4.3 How do I download CarPlay on my Nissan?
4.4 How do I update my Nissan Wireless CarPlay?
4.5 Can I use Google Maps on Nissan with CarPlay?
4.6 Can I use Waze Navigation App on Nissan with CarPlay?
4.7 Are all applications compatible with CarPlay?
5 References:

Why is CarPlay Not Working on your Nissan

There are a couple of reasons why the CarPlay app on your Nissan is not working. But before we get into it, make sure that you don’t fall into the following cases:

My iPhone is running on the latest iOS version (or at least iOS 7,1)

iOS versions older than 7.1 are not supported. In fact, for a better CarPlay experience, we recommend you keep an updated OS as this will provide the required drivers and software, as well as the necessary fixes for bugs and glitches.

Nissan vehicles that support CarPlay

The 2017 Nissan Maxima was the first Nissan vehicle to support CarPlay out of the factory. For other models, we recommend visiting Nissan’s official website for the complete list of available features per model.

Is CarPlay supported in my region?

Similarly, not all countries and regions support CarPlay. We recommend checking your region in Apple’s list on their official website as there are over 30 countries listed including the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Australia, and the United States.

If you don’t fall to any of the cases above, and your CarPlay is still not working, try performing these fixes:

Unable to connect to Wireless CarPlay

Wireless CarPlay is a new set of features that you would find in modern vehicles. If you’re having a problem connecting your iPhone to your Nissans CarPlay wirelessly, do the following steps and see if it does the trick for you:

  1. Enable your iPhone’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
  2. Pair your iPhone to your NissanConnect via Bluetooth
  3. Confirm to use CarPlay wireless in the pop-up menu

If it fails to connect with your car’s Wireless CarPlay, we recommend checking if your iPhone’s Bluetooth connection is designated with the highest priority should there be another device simultaneously connected to your Nissan.

Also, if your Nissan car model does not support Wireless CarPlay, we recommend using a USB cable to connect with NissanConnect’s infotainment system.

Unable to connect to Wired CarPlay

If your iPhone isn’t detected by CarPlay, primarily it can be due to disabled CarPlay in your iPhone and/or your NissanConnect Infotainment System.

Enable CarPlay and Siri on your iPhone

CarPlay is dependent on voice command, thus you will need to have Siri enabled, or it will not function according to its purpose. We recommend having the “Press home for Siri” function enabled. To turn these on, follow these simple steps:

  1. Go to “Settings”
  2. Tap “Screen Time”
  3. Go to “Content & Privacy Restrictions”
  4. Tap “Allowed Apps”
  5. Toggle on “CarPlay” & “Siri & Search” buttons.

Enable CarPlay in your NissanConnect infotainment system

Similarly, CarPlay should be enabled in your car’s infotainment system before you can utilize it. To turn it on, follow these simple steps:

  1. Go to “Settings”
  2. Go to “Apps”
  3. Tap “Apple CarPlay”

NOTE: There’s a drop-down list next to “Enable after USB Connection” with options like “Always“, “Ask“, and “Never“—choosingNeverdisables CarPlay, and the function of the USB port will then be changed to “charging only”.

If everything is enabled and your CarPlay won’t still work, try doing these steps:

  1. Re-plug your USB Cable
  2. Tap the “CarPlay icon” on the launch bar of the infotainment display’s home screen.

Or you may also:

  1. Touch the “Info” button on the launch bar
  2. Go to “Apps”
  3. Tap “Apple CarPlay”

If it still won’t work, you may consider these solutions:

Try a Different USB Cable or USB Port

The usual causes of Wired CarPlay’s inability to function are:

USB Cable

Consider using a different USB cable as you might be using a defective one. We recommend using an Apple-certified USB cable when connecting to any car’s infotainment system.

USB Port

Typically, there should be a smartphone or CarPlay icon beside the ports that support CarPlay. If you can’t see a logo and you’re unsure of which port supports CarPlay, kindly check your car model’s manual as a reference, or you can try plugging your USB cable, one after the other, into all USB ports in the dashboard and center console of your Nissan.

Wait for your NissanConnect’s infotainment system to finish loading

Most users plug in the USB cable immediately the moment they get in the car. And that’s even before starting the engine or immediately after starting the engine. This would usually cause connection problems between your iPhone and the CarPlay app. We highly recommend waiting for the system to finish loading before plugging in your USB cable.

Reboot your NissanConnect’s infotainment system

Sometimes, the problem is less than what we expect it to be. Thus the famous term “Did you try turning it OFF and ON again?” usually fixes every problem most of the time. So to restart your NissanConnect, simply follow these steps:

  1. Press and hold the audio system power button for about 10 seconds.
  2. The Nissan logo will flash on the screen before going completely dark
  3. Wait until the system finish rebooting

This should work generally on most Nissan vehicles. If this doesn’t work for you, it’s best to seek your car’s user manual.

If you already tried all the solutions we prepared for you and none of it got your Nissan CarPlay working again, perhaps the problem might be something a certified technician should handle. In this case, it’s best to bring your Nissan vehicle to your trusted dealer to have it checked.

People Aslo Asked

How about taking a look at some of our answers to related questions usually asked by people regarding Nissan CarPlay?

Why does my NissanConnect service stop working?

NissanConnect requires a stable internet connection. Hence, if you’re in a location where your mobile service provider does have a weak signal, your NissanConnect may not work how it should.

Does NissanConnect have Apple CarPlay?

Yes, Apple CarPlay is available in NissanConnect Services as a standard Entertainment feature.

How do I download CarPlay on my Nissan?

If your Nissan car is already compatible with CarPlay, there is no need to download the app. For models that don’t support CarPlay, you can opt to upgrade your infotainment system with 3rd party modules that come with a pre-installed CarPlay app.

How do I update my Nissan Wireless CarPlay?

Nissan’s software can be updated with over-the-air updates but on select vehicles. For other models, it can be done through a Wi-Fi connection. To update your software please follow these steps:

  1. Connect to Wi-Fi
  2. Go to “Menu”
  3. Tap “Info”
  4. Tap “System Information”
  5. Tap “software update”

Can I use Google Maps on Nissan with CarPlay?

Yes, your iPhone’s Google Maps can now work on your Nissan car as recent developments made by Apple on iOS 14 and later versions allow the use of its competitor’s map service on the home screen.

Can I use Waze Navigation App on Nissan with CarPlay?

Yes, Waze works with NissanConnect infotainment through CarPlay. It is, however, required that your iPhone is on iOS 12 or later.

Are all applications compatible with CarPlay?

Applications that can be used through CarPlay are limited. On top of that, restrictions are still present, specifically for messenger apps like iMessage and WhatsApp, whose functions are mostly controlled by Siri. Of course, new messages received will be read aloud by Siri to you, to which you can also respond through dictation.

Aside from these essentials, you may also use the following apps on your Nissan:

  • Apple Music
  • Spotify
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Youtube Music
  • Podcast
  • Audio Books

If you’re one to organize apps according to your preference, we also provide these quick and easy steps so you can sort these apps in your Nissan:

  1. Go to your iPhone’s “Settings”
  2. Tap “General”
  3. Tap “CarPlay”
  4. Select your vehicle in “My Cars”
  5. On the next screen, you may start touching and dragging each icon to sort it.

NOTE: You may also hide icons by tapping the “minus” button

References: