Apple’s new iOS 26 operating system brings new wallpapers not only to the iPhone, but CarPlay as well, with 12 new options available.
iOS 26 is Apple’s most design-forward update in years, and CarPlay isn’t being left behind. With the release of iOS 26 developer beta 4 yesterday, the company has introduced a vibrant set of twelve brand-new wallpapers designed for CarPlay.
Found and shared by Aaron Perris, they’re part of Apple’s Liquid Glass design language in iOS 26 and other “26” operating systems launching this fall. They bring elegant, translucent layers and concentric patterns that shift subtly depending on lighting mode, creating a sleek, futuristic feel on your car’s infotainment display.
iOS 26 brings these 8 new wallpapers to CarPlay
Whether you prefer a subtle backdrop for your driving interface or a pop of color that matches your dashboard aesthetic, the new CarPlay wallpapers will have you covered.
iOS 26 beta 4 adds 12 new CarPlay wallpapers!
See thread for them all:
Blue (Dark/Light)
Brown (Dark/Light) pic.twitter.com/OTH9VZCwmz— Aaron (@aaronp613) July 22, 2025
Each wallpaper is offered in both light and dark versions, totaling 12 dynamic options. These walls automatically adjust between light and dark modes depending on your system settings. Dark Mode wallpapers can reduce glare during night drives.
The available colorways include:
- Blue
- Brown
- Gray
- Green
- Purple
- Red
If you’re running iOS 26 beta 4 or later and your car supports CarPlay, follow these steps to access the new wallpapers:
- Connect your iPhone to your vehicle using CarPlay.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > Wallpaper > CarPlay.
- Browse through the options and select the one you like best.
The CarPlay interface will refresh immediately after selection.
Other new CarPlay features in iOS 26
iOS 26 also brings compact phone calls and notifications, which appear in a less intrusive banner. However, outgoing calls still take over navigation. You can also react to Messages chats with emoji (aka Tapback) just like on your iPhone.
iOS 26 also brings your iPhone’s Home Screen widgets directly to CarPlay with zero setup; they automatically sync. CarPlay now supports Live Activities, so you can track things like flight info, Uber rides or food deliveries without switching apps.
A new Smart Display Zoom option can enable an extra row of app icons on vehicles equipped with bigger displays, and mapping apps can finally use multitouch gestures to zoom in and out on vehicles equipped with touchscreens. Oh, and you can AirPlay videos from your iPhone to CarPlay when parked.
And with CarPlay Ultra on supported vehicles like those from Aston Martin, iOS 26 unlocks enhanced controls and fullscreen experiences.