On final week’s episode of 9to5Mac Comfortable Hour, I complained about an ongoing CarPlay drawback I’ve been experiencing on and off for practically a 12 months. Basically, the GPS frequently bugs out and utterly breaks navigation by way of Apple Maps, Google Maps, or another navigation app.
Since final week’s Comfortable Hour episode was launched (hear right here), I’ve heard from a number of CarPlay customers who’re going through comparable issues with GPS efficiency.
For reference, I take advantage of CarPlay in my Ford Mustang Mach-E, however the issue doesn’t seem like unique to the Mach-E. It doesn’t seem like unique to Ford. It doesn’t seem like unique to electrical vehicles. It’s a widespread bug that impacts CarPlay customers in numerous totally different vehicles, however not everybody. It impacts each wired and wi-fi CarPlay.
The bug is easy: When linked by way of CarPlay, the GPS performance is unreliable. This manifests itself in a handful of various methods:
First, typically the GPS connection will completely freeze and cease updating. The little course arrow simply stops updating, and the map will get caught wherever that occurs. This implies turn-by-turn instructions cease updating. This has occurred to me many instances, and I find yourself driving and never realizing that I used to be alleged to take an exit or make a flip many miles in the past.
Second, the GPS location simply freaks out, for lack of a greater time period. I’ll be driving down the freeway, then look over at CarPlay and see that CarPlay thinks I’m driving in the midst of a area. Or driving in a river. Or driving miles away from the place I really am at that second. It sporadically jumps round and strikes backwards and forwards. Once more, this utterly messes up turn-by-turn instructions. Apple Maps will get confused and begins giving utterly random directions, pondering you’ve ventured off the unique route.
Third, typically the GPS location indicator switches to the massive circle radius. CarPlay thinks I’m someplace inside that circle, however it doesn’t know precisely the place. This breaks turn-by-turn instructions. In spite of everything, Apple Maps can’t provide you with correct instructions if it has no thought the place you really are.
This drawback has been plaguing my CarPlay expertise for practically a 12 months, ever since I first obtained my Mach-E final November. And once more, it’s not unique to the Mach-E. Listed below are some hyperlinks to different CarPlay customers experiencing the identical drawback:
As you possibly can see, there doesn’t seem like any sample for what vehicles are affected by this drawback. Most of the complaints appear to correlate to final 12 months’s launch of iOS 16, however the bugs have continued since then – together with with iOS 17. The issues don’t seem like linked to any particular iPhone mannequin, with complaints coming from iPhone XS via iPhone 15 customers alike.
I’ve tried all the things conceivable and checked each single setting that I can consider. My automobile’s firmware is updated, my telephone is updated, and Google Maps and Apple Maps have all the required location/privateness permissions.
Doable workarounds
In my time battling this drawback, I’ve come throughout two non permanent workarounds.
Most not too long ago, I found what appears to be probably the most dependable repair but: Start the navigation in Apple Maps/Google Maps/and so on. in your iPhone earlier than you join your telephone to CarPlay. This seems to considerably cut back the possibilities that CarPlay will bug out and wreck your navigation instructions. That’s removed from a great repair, however it does appear to work most of the time.
I’ve additionally seen that if the CarPlay GPS connection breaks, you possibly can quickly “wake it up” by unlocking your iPhone and opening no matter navigation app you’re utilizing. This will get issues again on monitor for a couple of minutes earlier than they inevitably crumble once more.
9to5Mac’s Take
It is a actually, actually unhealthy drawback. One of many chief functions of CarPlay is to offer correct and dependable turn-by-turn navigation info. For many individuals, CarPlay is failing at this.
It’s additionally a harmful drawback. Within the final two weeks, the CarPlay GPS has utterly damaged for me whereas driving in Dallas and Austin, leaving me in chaotic visitors with no instructions on the place to go or the best way to get to my vacation spot.
Fortunately, my spouse was within the automobile with me and was in a position to pull up instructions on her telephone. What if I had been alone within the automobile? The most secure answer could be to drag off the highway and attempt to repair the issue.
I’m undecided why it took me so lengthy to jot down about this, however right here I’m. Hopefully, this publish attracts some consideration and may power Apple’s hand to really handle what appears to be a harmful months-old CarPlay bug.
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