Official documentation
CarPlay App Programming Guide
Apple Inc., Apple Developer, 2026
Read the originalRead on October 17, 2026
- What it is
- Apple's developer guide to building apps for CarPlay, including its rules for communication apps (messaging and VoIP calling), the list and search templates, and the keyboard restrictions that cars can apply. The copy we read is dated 2026-10-13.
- How much weight it carries
- Apple's own developer documentation, so it states what Apple requires for CarPlay apps. It covers apps, not what a particular car displays, and Apple can revise it, so check the current version before a decision.
Facts taken from this source
- Apple's CarPlay guide says communication apps in CarPlay provide their features through SiriKit Messaging, VoIP calling, or both.
“Communication apps enable communication features via SiriKit Messaging and/or VoIP Calling.” (Section on app categories, Communication)
- Apple's CarPlay guide says iOS automatically disables the keyboard and shortens lists when the car indicates it should do so.
“iOS automatically disables the keyboard and reduces list lengths when the car indicates it should do so.” (Keyboard and list restrictions section)
- Apple's CarPlay guide says that in many cars the keyboard is not available at all while driving.
“In many cars the keyboard is not available at all while driving.” (Search template section)
- Apple's CarPlay guide says a communication app that provides text messaging must support three SiriKit intents: send a message, request a list of messages, and modify the attributes of a message.
“must support all 3 of the following SiriKit intents” (Additional guidelines for CarPlay communication apps, guideline 2)