CarPlay quit working after 2.6.16 software update

[danabu]

My iPhone 16 iOS 18.4.1 was connecting via CarPlay to my 2022 Air GT just fine prior to the recent update, but now after updating the car I can't get CarPlay to work again. I've rebooted the car, rebooted the phone, removed it, re-added it. Sometimes the phone comes up asking if I want to do CarPlay, and I say yes, but I just get a spinning circle on the car that eventually times out. The audio will play as a Bluetooth device, but not as CarPlay. Has anyone else had this issue and found a solution?

 

[californiaboy935]

Is your WiFi on the iPhone turned on? It needs to be in order to connect to CarPlay. That might be it.

 

[Bobby]

My iPhone 16 iOS 18.4.1 was connecting via CarPlay to my 2022 Air GT just fine prior to the recent update, but now after updating the car I can't get CarPlay to work again. I've rebooted the car, rebooted the phone, removed it, re-added it. Sometimes the phone comes up asking if I want to do CarPlay, and I say yes, but I just get a spinning circle on the car that eventually times out. The audio will play as a Bluetooth device, but not as CarPlay. Has anyone else had this issue and found a solution?

When you removed and re-added, did you remove the car from the phone AND the phone from the car?

 

[danabu]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, WiFi on the phone is enabled. And yes, I deleted the car from the phone, and the phone from the car. The phone does seem to remember the custom name I assigned when I reconnect the car, so maybe there’s a way to more fully remove it… I’ll look for that.

 

[Bobby]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, WiFi on the phone is enabled. And yes, I deleted the car from the phone, and the phone from the car. The phone does seem to remember the custom name I assigned when I reconnect the car, so maybe there’s a way to more fully remove it… I’ll look for that.

On your phone, go to settings and then Bluetooth. Locate the entry that is entitled "Lucid Air XXX." Tap the info button and then choose "forget this device". After that, hard restart your phone. (The one entitled Lucid -XXXXX" is mobile key and not necessary to remove.)

 

[danabu]

I restarted my phone after removing the car from BT. No difference when I reconnected - the car and phone make a BT connection successfully, but not CarPlay.

Perhaps related - I couldn't get CarPlay to work when I connected a physical cable, either. The phone starts charging, but there's no recognition of it as a CarPlay device by the car.

 

[LucidGirl]

On your phone, go to settings and then Bluetooth. Locate the entry that is entitled "Lucid Air XXX." Tap the info button and then choose "forget this device". After that, hard restart your phone. (The one entitled Lucid -XXXXX" is mobile key and not necessary to remove.)

The hard reset of the phone is what fixed this issue for me. Good call.

 

[danabu]

An update - after multiple times removing, readding, restarting, I finally got things to pair successfully again. I think this is finally what did it:

• Removed the phone from the car
• Remove the car from the phone
• Stopped and restarted bluetooth on both devices
• Rebooted the infotainment system on the car
• Powered down the phone and powered it back on

I thought I had done all these steps before, but maybe not both sides completely at the same time.

 

[TOJ_Air]

I had a similar problem and I could not figure it out, however, after some time, it just seemed to suddenly start working. However, now that I think about it perhaps rebooting the phone helped. The weird thing for me was it first started working on wired only and for the next 10 to 15 trips only wired would work, and then suddenly wireless worked. Now it has been flawless, working both wired and wirelessly. Definitely the most stable CarPlay has been since I got the car.

 

[Bobby]

An update - after multiple times removing, readding, restarting, I finally got things to pair successfully again. I think this is finally what did it:

• Removed the phone from the car
• Remove the car from the phone
• Stopped and restarted bluetooth on both devices
• Rebooted the infotainment system on the car
• Powered down the phone and powered it back on

I thought I had done all these steps before, but maybe not both sides completely at the same time.

This is always been the solution. I made a video about this two years ago and nothing has changed!

 

[Plg]

This last month I have had random connection problems to CarPlay. Most of the started after the Lucid update for Android Auto. I now have it working again, but I found out some interesting changes that happened with that update. I did sort out some confusing issues regarding Wi-Fi connections. In the process, ChatGPT gave me wrong answers until I pressed it with more questions. But through the confusion, I came up with some answers and ChatGPT concurred.

My last statement to ChatGPT: "Here's what I'm finding. When I disconnect AndroidAP-7354, I lose CarPlay and it will no longer connect. So, Lucid must be using it for CarPlay also."

Reply from ChatGPT: "Thank you — this screenshot is very revealing, and you’re absolutely right to draw the connection."

Confirmed: Lucid is using AndroidAP_7354 Wi-Fi for wireless CarPlay

Despite Apple’s typical implementation of Wi‑Fi Direct, Lucid appears to be using an Android-based system that broadcasts a standard hotspot (AndroidAP_7354) for both:
• Wireless Android Auto
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
This is not typical for most vehicles, but is explainable:

Why this is happening:


1. Lucid’s infotainment system is Android-based


• It runs a custom version of Android (based on AOSP).


• This platform broadcasts a Wi-Fi hotspot to support wireless projection for both Android Auto and CarPlay.


2. CarPlay still uses Wi‑Fi under the hood


• Normally via Wi-Fi Direct initiated by the car, not a visible SSID.


• But Lucid’s approach is different: it simply broadcasts a visible Wi-Fi AP (AndroidAP_7354), which both Android and iPhones can connect to.


3. Your iPhone is connected to that hotspot as the data channel for CarPlay


• If you disconnect or switch Wi‑Fi networks (e.g., try to join “7th Heaven”), CarPlay breaks — as shown in your screenshot.


Why this matters

This confirms:


• AndroidAP_7354 is Lucid’s Wi-Fi network, used for both CarPlay and Android Auto.


• CarPlay requires it to function wirelessly in your Lucid.


• If you connect to any other Wi-Fi network (like your home), CarPlay disconnects — just as your iPhone warns.


Recommendation


• Do not “Forget” AndroidAP_7354 on your iPhone — it’s required for CarPlay to function wirelessly.


• Treat it as a trusted connection from your Lucid.


• If you need Wi-Fi data (e.g., internet) while using CarPlay, you’ll need to use cellular data or consider tethering via a second device.


Optional Workaround for Wi-Fi Conflict:

If you really need to connect to another Wi-Fi network (e.g., for internet while parked), consider:


• Using CarPlay via USB temporarily.


• Or using personal hotspot from another device (like an iPad or secondary phone) for internet access — since you can’t use Wi-Fi and CarPlay wirelessly at the same time on iPhone.


Summary


• Yes — Lucid uses AndroidAP_7354 Wi-Fi to enable wireless CarPlay (and Android Auto).


• Disconnecting from it disables CarPlay, as it breaks the Wi-Fi link.


• Although unusual, this approach is due to Lucid’s Android-based head unit, which simplifies wireless projection through a common visible hotspot.

 

[borski]

This last month I have had random connection problems to CarPlay. Most of the started after the Lucid update for Android Auto. I now have it working again, but I found out some interesting changes that happened with that update. I did sort out some confusing issues regarding Wi-Fi connections. In the process, ChatGPT gave me wrong answers until I pressed it with more questions. But through the confusion, I came up with some answers and ChatGPT concurred.

This is not new, and is how CarPlay has always worked. If you have the v1 TCU, it will show up as AndroidAP_XXXX and the v2 TCU will show up as LucidAP_XXXX (or maybe I have those swapped) but either way this is how wireless CarPlay works.

While Bluetooth handles the initial pairing and control signals, Wi-Fi provides the necessary bandwidth for data transfer between your phone and the infotainment system. Your phone will use its cellular data connection for internet access, not the car's Wi-Fi or your home WiFi.

If you need to be able to access WiFi and stay on CarPlay, plug in; hardwired CarPlay does not use WiFi.