Is CarPlay / Bluetooth not working (properly) after iOS 18.4? Here's how to fix the problem step by step

Why CarPlay Might Suddenly Become Unstable

Since iOS 18.4, users have been reporting unstable CarPlay (wireless) connections more frequently: constant reconnections, disconnections, and "infinite loading."

Rapid Action Plan (from most effective to least effective)

1) Remove your car from CarPlay and reconnect it

Settings → General → CarPlay → Select your car → Forget this car

Next, reconnect it (preferably using a cable first).

For many people, this solves the problem (sometimes you have to try again several times).

2) Check the 3 essentials for wireless CarPlay
In practice, wireless CarPlay uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Make sure that Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and the “automatic connection” option are enabled.

3) Turn Bluetooth on or off + the airplane mode tip

• Turn on airplane mode (10 seconds)
• Turn off Airplane Mode
• Turn on Bluetooth → reconnect

4) Reset network settings (often the real solution)
Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Network Settings

Warning: Your Wi-Fi networks and passwords will be deleted.
But CarPlay issues often go away after that.

5) Update iOS and your car's multimedia system
It may seem basic, but firmware updates on the car's end can really help.

Bonus tip: If CarPlay is “stuck in a loop” (endless loading)

Try a trip using wired CarPlay.
If it works reliably, the problem is usually with the wireless handshake (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth), and step 4 almost always works.

Is CarPlay still a nightmare on your current device?
Check out our models that are known for being stable and fast.