Drivers Get More Control Over iPhone Messages in Cars

Apple's latest iOS 26.2 update is introducing changes to how drivers interact with their iPhone messages while using CarPlay.

New Customization Options

Before this update, iOS 26 had already introduced a feature that pinned important conversations at the top of the Messages app in CarPlay. While this was helpful for quick access, some drivers preferred the classic list view of all conversations.

With iOS 26.2, drivers now have the choice:

• Keep pinned conversations for easy access.
• Disable pinned conversations to return to the simple list view.

How to Customize Your Settings

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Go to CarPlay settings.
3. Toggle Pinned Conversations off to revert to the classic list view.

A Broader Effort to Enhance CarPlay

This update is part of Apple's ongoing effort to make CarPlay more customizable and user-friendly. iOS 26 has already introduced:

• Liquid Glass design for a sleeker interface.
• Live Activities for real-time updates.
• Widgets for quick access to important info.
• Compact view for phone calls to reduce distractions.

Release Date

The iOS 26.2 update is expected to roll out to all users in December, giving drivers time to test the new features and choose their preferred message view in CarPlay.