Max Headroom 
Back at WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that it was planning to allow CarPlay users to watch video via AirPlay in their vehicles while they are not driving, and the first beta of iOS 26.4 suggests the feature may be nearing availability.
There are several new references to CarPlay video streaming functionality within the iOS 26.4 beta’s source code. The feature is not yet visible to users, but software developer Thomas Dye managed to get it working to some extent in Xcode’s CarPlay simulator on the Mac, and he showed it off in a recent YouTube video (via 9to5Mac).
On an iPhone connected to CarPlay, it appears that videos in any AirPlay-supported app can be played on the car’s display. In the Dynamic Island, there is a button that allows you to show the video on the iPhone instead, when you want to.
The demo also reveals that an Apple TV app will be available on CarPlay, allowing you to access shows and movies from the Apple TV streaming service and your own library. There is also a tab for accessing MLS Season Pass. However, it is not entirely clear if the Apple TV app will actually be this fully featured on the real version of CarPlay.
The simulator provides an early albeit fairly clunky look at CarPlay’s video streaming in action. The feature will likely be available by time iOS 26.4 is released to the general public in late March or early April, but there is a chance it will get held back until iOS 26.5 or later if Apple needs more time to wrap up development.
Apple’s website indicates that automakers will need to implement support for the CarPlay video functionality, due to the safety requirement that the vehicle be parked, so it may take some time for the feature to widely roll out.
Related Reading: iOS 26.4 Adds These 12 New Features to Your iPhone
This article, “iOS 26.4’s Major New CarPlay Feature Revealed” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
CarPlay, iOS 26, AirPlay
MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories
[crypto-donation-box type=”tabular” show-coin=”all”]
