Right now, Apple CarPlay does not let you watch YouTube videos on your car’s screen. This limit exists for a good reason — to keep drivers from getting distracted while driving. But that may soon change. A recent report from MacRumors suggests that Apple is working on bringing video streaming to CarPlay in a future update.
YouTube Streaming Coming Soon to Apple CarPlay — But Only While Parked
This feature won’t be entirely new to the automotive world. Some cars running Android-based systems, as well as Tesla vehicles, already let users stream videos, watch movies, and even play games. However, these features only work when the car is fully parked. Apple appears to be following the same path with its expected iOS 26 update. If this rolls out as planned, CarPlay users will finally get the option to stream YouTube — but only when the vehicle is not moving.
Even though this change is on the horizon, it may take a while before it becomes common in all CarPlay-supported vehicles. App developers will first need to update their apps to support AirPlay video streaming on CarPlay. Car manufacturers may also be slow to adopt the feature. Automakers are usually cautious with new functions, especially those that involve video content. They will want to make sure that this feature is only usable when the vehicle is safely parked.
Apple Plans to Bring Video Streaming to CarPlay Safely
Despite these challenges, the feature will arrive sooner rather than later. Technically, it’s a simple feature to add. Apple is likely to provide strong controls to make sure the streaming option works only when the car is stationary. This should reassure both car makers and safety regulators.
In time, almost every CarPlay-enabled vehicle should support YouTube streaming while parked. This would give drivers and passengers an easy way to watch videos while waiting in the car — like during charging sessions, traffic stops, or while picking someone up.
As cars continue to offer more tech features, it makes sense that video streaming would come to CarPlay too. But for now, safety remains the top priority — and video playback will stay disabled unless the car is not in motion. Expect more details when iOS 26 officially launches.
