How to Turn Off Apple CarPlay: 4 Ways to Disconnect or Disable It

You can turn off Apple CarPlay for one drive by disconnecting your iPhone, stop it from reconnecting to one vehicle by choosing Forget This Car, block CarPlay across vehicles with Screen Time, or disable it in your car’s infotainment settings if that option is available. The best method depends on whether you want a temporary break, a vehicle-specific change, or a systemwide restriction.

Choose the level of disconnection

• Just for now: Disconnect from the car’s screen or unplug the cable.
• One vehicle: Remove that car from the iPhone’s CarPlay list.
• Every vehicle: Turn off CarPlay in Screen Time restrictions, if your iOS version shows the control.
• Car-side change: Disable CarPlay or remove the iPhone from the vehicle’s paired devices.

1. Disconnect CarPlay for the current drive

For wired CarPlay, park safely and unplug the iPhone’s USB cable. CarPlay ends when the wired connection ends. If you want to keep charging, use a separate power adapter rather than a data-capable USB port that launches CarPlay.

For wireless CarPlay, use the vehicle display’s phone or connectivity menu and choose an option such as Disconnect, Stop projection, or Switch source if the car provides one. The wording is manufacturer-specific. Selecting a different audio source may only hide the CarPlay screen while leaving the phone connected, so use the vehicle’s disconnect control if CarPlay returns. Apple describes wired and wireless setup separately in its CarPlay connection guide.

2. Stop one car from reconnecting to your iPhone

Use this method when you no longer want a particular car to launch CarPlay automatically but still want to use CarPlay in other vehicles.

1. On the iPhone, open Settings.
2. Tap General, then CarPlay.
3. Select the vehicle you want to remove.
4. Tap Forget This Car and confirm.

This removes the car from the iPhone’s CarPlay list; it does not necessarily erase information or a saved phone profile stored by the vehicle. For a rental or borrowed car, also remove the iPhone from the car’s paired-device list or guest profile using the vehicle’s controls. Apple documents the Forget This Car path in its CarPlay connection troubleshooting instructions.

3. Block CarPlay on the iPhone with Screen Time

If you want CarPlay unavailable in every car, Screen Time can restrict the feature on iPhone versions that include CarPlay under allowed apps. This is a broader change than forgetting one vehicle: CarPlay stays blocked until you allow it again.

1. Open Settings and tap Screen Time.
2. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. Turn the restrictions on if needed.
3. Open Allowed Apps (the label or location can vary by iOS version).
4. Turn off CarPlay.

If Screen Time requests a passcode, enter the one used for those restrictions; a family organizer may need to change a managed setting. Apple’s current CarPlay troubleshooting page points to Screen Time and Allowed Apps when checking whether CarPlay is restricted. If you do not see CarPlay in that list, use the vehicle-specific method above or your car’s controls instead of changing unrelated restrictions.

4. Turn off CarPlay in the vehicle

Some vehicles provide a switch for Apple CarPlay, smartphone projection, or automatic phone connection in the infotainment system. While parked, look under menus such as Settings, Connectivity, Phone, or Projection. If available, turn CarPlay off or remove your iPhone from the list of paired devices.

There is no single menu path that applies to every head unit. Check the owner’s manual or the automaker’s support site for the exact procedure. Apple also directs drivers to the vehicle manual for model-specific connection details in its instructions for using CarPlay.

If CarPlay keeps reconnecting

First identify whether your car is using a cable or a wireless connection. Some vehicles that support both may offer wireless CarPlay after you initially connect by USB, so unplugging the cable may not stop future sessions. Use the car’s disconnect option, forget the vehicle on the iPhone, or turn off the vehicle’s wireless CarPlay setting if it has one.

Wireless CarPlay uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Apple’s setup guidance checks that both are on and that Auto-Join is enabled for the CarPlay network. If you want to keep the pairing but prevent automatic wireless joining, check Settings > Wi-Fi for the CarPlay network’s info button and Auto-Join control; availability and behavior can vary by car. Turning off Bluetooth or Wi-Fi globally can also affect headphones, calls, and other connections, so it is usually a less convenient fix.