CarPlay and AirPods work better than ever together in iOS 26, here’s how – 9to5Mac

For the longest time, one of AirPods’ best features has been absent when in the car. But in iOS 26, Apple is making AirPods and CarPlay work better together than ever. Here’s how.

AirPods automatic switching supports CarPlay in iOS 26

Automatic switching is one of those ‘magic moment’ features that can make the Apple ecosystem so appealing.

Essentially, the AirPods feature detects which Apple product you’re using at any given moment, and switches your AirPods to connect to that active device.

So if your AirPods are connected to your Mac during work, but you decide to take a TikTok break on your iPhone, there’s no need to manually switch the Bluetooth connection. Rather, AirPods will automatically make the switch.

When automatic switching first arrived, it was admittedly not the most reliable. But after some Apple upgrades over the years, for me at least the feature’s become rock solid, and something I’d hate to be without.

Even though automatic switching has always supported Apple’s major computing platforms, there’s been one notable exception: CarPlay.

But that’s finally changing: AirPods in iOS 26 fully support automatic switching for CarPlay too.

It’s one of many new CarPlay features and AirPods features coming in iOS 26.

So if you’re listening to AirPods and get in the car, you can control media playback via CarPlay and have it all hit your AirPods automatically.

Similarly, when using AirPods in the car then arriving at your destination, you’ll be able to switch playback to your iPhone with ease.

This feature pairs nicely with a separate, but related new iOS 26 setting: ‘Keep Audio in Headphones.’ The setting will ensure your AirPods audio doesn’t switch to your in-car speaker system if you don’t want it to.

Do you expect to use AirPods automatic switching with CarPlay in iOS 26? Let us know in the comments.

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