MG4 CarPlay with cable/adapter and iOS 26

[shiremail]

I upgraded my phone to iOS 26 (12 Pro Max) and since then, the CarPlay is not usable any longer:

• The CarPlay connection randomly quits and reconnects
• During navigation, the picture of the map (apple or google doesn't matter) slows down and freezes after a while. The spoken directions still seem to work fine.

I tested this with a cable connection and an Ottocast Mini Wireless-Adapter. Same problem.

I also upgraded my phone to a 17 Pro Max this week. The problem is still the same. Even with the latest beta of iOS 26.1.

Is somebody having the same issues with iOS 26?

---
Solution:

The constant needed BT connection (besides CarPlay) of an app caused this issue. While this worked under iOS 18, it does not under iOS 26. After deactivating the app in the CarPlay settings of iOS the connection between Phone/Car worked without any issues.

This also seems highly dependent on the CarPlay dongle. Ottocast (mini) CarPlay adapter doesn't work. Now I use a Carlink 2025 adapter, which doesn't have this issue.

 

[tsedge]

This won't help you but I always wait a long time to update my phone to new releases of iOS precisely because of problems like this.

Apple often break things when they make changes. The MG CarPlay support is also not brilliant and has bugs.

What version of infotainment do you have? I believe the latest version is R67, which might work better.

 

[shiremail]

I had the choice with the 12 Pro Max but not with the 17 Pro Max. When you get a new phone you get the latest iOS version installed.

The infotainment shows R32. I don't know if the versioning is the same in the UK and Germany.

I will visit the dealer sooner or later. I want an update for the drive assistance systems (I got the car this summer)...

 

[siteguru]

Ah - just noticed your car is a ZS EV ... this is the MG4 board, so we can't help with your ZS, sorry.

 

[tsedge]

R67 was for MG4 UK Trophy, others can advise on the latest european software versions.

 

[shiremail]

Ah - just noticed your car is a ZS EV ... this is the MG4 board, so we can't help with your ZS, sorry.

We have both its a MG4 in this case.

 

[siteguru]

What's the SWI part of your software version in the MG4? SWI133? If yes then I suspect R32 is quite recent.

 

[shiremail]

Yes it says:
SWI133 and R32

 

[ReintjeWA]

This sounds silly perhaps, but have you tried deleting the CarPlay connection on your phone and then re-connecting it as a new device? I have to do this sometimes with my wireless dongle after my phone has done an update. iPhone 15plus on iOS 26.0.1

 

[shiremail]

It was a new phone (12 -> 17 Pro Max). I also (painstakingly) setup the new device from scratch (without backup) to be sure to avoid any issues with a corrupt setup on the old phone.

 

[JonnyG]

Sorry to be no help but just to let you know mine has worked fine since updating to IOS 26 and then IOS 26.01. I have a standard Iphone 16 and this cable which has been faultless so I wonder if yours is an Iphone Pro/Pro Max issue ? :-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DK738GR5?th=1

I also always wait for the car to fully boot up its software, press the brake pedal for "READY" mode, unlock my Iphone and then plug the phone in. It sounds a bit of a ritual but seeing as it always works for me I stick with it . The USB lead is left permanently in the cars left hand USB socket.

 

[JonnyG]

This may (or may not help) you :-

CarPlay stopped working after iOS 26 upda… - Apple Community

 

[shiremail]

Thanks...I also tested a bit more:

I used the phone with an older adapter from ottocast in the MG ZS EV and it worked without any problems. The new adapter (the one from the MG4) froze after a while. This is the same issue that occurred in the MG4.

After the upgrade to 26b4 and this test I would say that the adapter is responsible. Maybe something was introduced with a firmware update I did a while ago which doesn't do anything with iOS 18 but iOS 26.

God... I love technology.

Anyways...I will do a bit of testing with the MG4 (cable/old/new-adapter) this weekend. I have to drive a few hundert miles...

 

[shiremail]

This may (or may not help) you :-

CarPlay stopped working after iOS 26 upda… - Apple Community

I also have done this:

"The CarPlay widgets are what’s causing the issue. Your CarPlay head unit isn’t powerful enough to have them running even in the background. To fix it, go to Settings > General > CarPlay, select your CarPlay stereo, and then go to Widgets. Now, slide the Show Widgets toggle off to disable them."

As I wrote in the previous post...I suspect the adapter...

 

[redwood98]

I upgraded my phone to iOS 26 (12 Pro Max) and since then, the CarPlay is not usable any longer:

• The CarPlay connection randomly quits and reconnects
• During navigation, the picture of the map (apple or google doesn't matter) slows down and freezes after a while. The spoken directions still seem to work fine.

I tested this with a cable connection and an Ottocast Mini Wireless-Adapter. Same problem.

I also upgraded my phone to a 17 Pro Max this week. The problem is still the same. Even with the latest beta of iOS 26.1.

Is somebody having the same issues with iOS 26?

I only got my car today but I have not had any problems with car play so far and I run the beta of iOS 26 on my iPhone 16 pro max, maybe try going into car play settings and removing all the apps you can and see if it still has those problems. Only thing I can think is a 3rd party widget or app is causing it.

 

[ReintjeWA]

I also have done this:

"The CarPlay widgets are what’s causing the issue. Your CarPlay head unit isn’t powerful enough to have them running even in the background. To fix it, go to Settings > General > CarPlay, select your CarPlay stereo, and then go to Widgets. Now, slide the Show Widgets toggle off to disable them."

As I wrote in the previous post...I suspect the adapter...

I think you’re right about the adapter, I run widgets in CarPlay and have no issues with them, so whoever claims the head unit isn’t powerful enough seems to be mistaken.

 

[tsedge]

Surely with CarPlay the whole point is that everything runs in the iPhone and not the head unit - the head unit is just a touch screen.

So if anything is overloaded, it would be the phone, not the car's infotainment.

 

[Wadda]

Widgets work fine on mg4.

 

[Anon70]

iPhone 16 pro iOS 26.0.1 MG version R30 all good

 

[redwood98]

I only got my car today but I have not had any problems with car play so far and I run the beta of iOS 26 on my iPhone 16 pro max, maybe try going into car play settings and removing all the apps you can and see if it still has those problems. Only thing I can think is a 3rd party widget or app is causing it.

should specify after an update I am running dev beta 4 of 26.1