Music and driving have always gone hand in hand. However, gone are the days of fumbling with AUX cables or picking up your phone at a red light just to change tracks. Today, Apple CarPlay makes it easy to stream your favorite Spotify music hands-free and without even taking your eyes off the road. However, before you can enjoy this convenience, there’s a setup process to go through.

If you’re wondering how to use Spotify on Apple CarPlay, you’ve come to the right place. This guide walks you through every step, covering multiple ways to link your iPhone with CarPlay and stream Spotify music on it. No matter your preferred method, whether you like hands-free voice commands, touchscreen controls, or even offline playback, we’ll show you the best ways to listen to Spotify in your car.

What Is Apple CarPlay

Apple CarPlay lets you transform your car’s infotainment interface with your iPhone’s screen and syncs its controls. So, you can play Spotify music, send messages, and make calls on CarPlay, all without ever touching your iPhone.

Yes, your iPhone remains connected to the car, wired or wirelessly. However, once paired, you can use the touch panel, physical buttons, or Siri on CarPlay to control apps like Spotify.

Requirements for Playing Spotify Through Apple CarPlay

Playing Spotify through CarPlay doesn’t come with strict requirements. Both free and premium Spotify accounts work, so no extra subscription is needed.

When it comes to compatible vehicles, there’s an extensive list: over 800 models. However, even if your car isn’t on it, you can still get an aftermarket car media system to bring CarPlay into your vehicle.

Besides, CarPlay is only available in 36 countries as of now. As for iPhone compatibility, any device running iOS 7.1 or later supports CarPlay.

Hint: You can also follow Part 4 below to play Spotify through Apple CarPlay without your iPhone. Use Eassiy All-in-One Music Converter to save Spotify songs to a USB drive, then insert the USB drive into your car for offline playback.

How to Use Spotify on Apple CarPlay

As long as your vehicle meets the requirements, you can connect and start using Spotify on CarPlay right away. Simply follow the steps here and you’ll have Spotify set up on your car in no time.

Step 1: Build the Connection Between Your iPhone and Car

To start playing Spotify through Apple CarPlay, your iPhone needs to connect to your car’s media system. This first-time setup is important: it tells your car how to recognize your iPhone. And depending on how you connect, that’s the method you’ll need to use every time.

Option 1: Via USB Cable

Just grab a high-quality cable: one that’s MFi-certified or, better yet, an original Apple cable. A bad cable can make you think CarPlay isn’t working when it’s just not connecting properly.

Here’s how to activate CarPlayfor iPhone Connection:

Step 1. Plug in your iPhone using a reliable USB-A to USB-C cable. Make sure to find the right USB port in your car (look for a USB trident symbol or one labeled CarPlay/Bluetooth CarPlay).

Step 2. Unlock your iPhone (only needed the first time) and check your car’s screen. The Apple CarPlay menu should pop up. If not, you can manually find it under Smartphone Connection or something similar in your car’s settings.

Step 3. A few prompts will appear on both your iPhone and the car’s display. Approve them: this is crucial for syncing.

Step 4. Once confirmed, your car’s screen will transform into a familiar iPhone interface whenever you connect the phone to the system in the future.

Option 2: Through Wireless Connection

Before you start, make sure your car actually supports wireless CarPlay. Not all models do, so check your car’s manual first. Now, to connect iPhone with CarPlay:

Step 1. Turn on Wi-Fi on iPhone. Yes, CarPlay starts as a Bluetooth connection, but once paired, it switches to Wi-Fi for faster, lag-free data transfer.

Step 2. Then, enable Bluetooth on your iPhone.

Step 3. Find the CarPlay or Bluetooth pairing option in your car’s settings. Then, select Add New Connection (or a similar option).

Step 4. Check your iPhone’s Bluetooth list and you’ll see your car’s name pop up. Tap the name to connect and confirm the pairing code.

Step 5. Verify and approve the prompts that appear on both devices.

Step 2: Control Spotify on Apple CarPlay

Depending on what feels most natural, there are multiple ways to browse and play your Spotify music after the Apple CarPlay is active.

Option 1: Via Siri

If Siri is enabled and your car has a dedicated Siri button on the steering wheel (most models do), you can control Spotify without touching the screen. Here’s an example to do this:

Step 1. Enable Siri on your iPhone.

Step 2. Press and hold the Siri button on the steering wheel.

Step 3. Siri will appear on the car’s display screen. Now, say your command, like “Play Telephone on Spotify.”

Step 4. Siri will instantly process the request, just like on your iPhone.

Option 2: Use iPhone

You can still manually control Spotify on your phone while it’s connected to CarPlay. Simply, unlock your iPhone, open the Spotify app and select any song or playlist as usual.

The music will start playing through your car’s speakers if CarPlay is active.

Option 3: Use Car’s Touchscreen

Make sure that Spotify is listed as an allowed-user app. Only then, it will appear on your car’s display or even work.

• Go to Settings.
• Tap General > CarPlay.
• Select your car’s name from the list. Then, tap Customize.
• Ensure Spotify is in the allowed apps section. If not, add it from the More apps section.

When Spotify appears on your car’s display screen:

Step 1. Simply tap on the Spotify icon.

Step 2. Navigate through your library and find the desired playlists or songs.

Step 3. Select a track to start playback.

Tip: You can always tap the grid icon (bottom left corner) to return to the CarPlay home menu. Spotify will continue playing in the background while you use Maps or other apps.

Option 4: Use Voice Control (Not Siri)

Some steering wheels might not have a Siri button. In that case:

• Open Settings on your car’s display.
• Navigate to Accessibility > Voice Control.
• Switch on the toggle assigned to Voice Recognition.

Once voice control is activated, your car will continue to listen for any voice inputs. Simply say: “Play I Like It on Spotify.” Needless to say, you can use other commands like “Pause the music” and “Shuffle my playlists”. And you don’t have to trigger Siri every time.

Alternative Way to Play Spotify in Your Car

StreamFox for Music, the Eassiy All-in-One Music Converter, provides an easy way to download Spotify tracks onto a USB drive. Once downloaded, you can simply plug the USB into your car’s port and enjoy seamless playback through your car stereo.

The downloaded Spotify songs are in widely compatible formats like MP3 and AAC and are DRM-free. They can also be saved to your phone, MP3 players, and other devices for offline playback, in addition to the USB drive. Even better, StreamFox ensures that every track is downloaded at up to 320kbps, maintaining the original sound quality. And the best part? You don’t need a Spotify subscription to download your music.

Steps to Download Spotify Music on USB Drive

Step 1. Set up StreamFox for Music on your Windows or Mac computer. Run the app and select Spotify from the available platforms.

Step 2. A built-in Spotify browser will appear. Click Log in and use either a free or premium account to access your playlists and library.

Step 3. Find any playlist, album, or individual song and drag and drop them onto the red + button in the top right. This adds them to the download queue.

Step 4. Insert a USB drive into your computer and ensure it’s formatted in NTFS or exFAT (check your car’s manual for compatibility).

In StreamFox’s Converting tab, click Output from the bottom left, change the save path to the connected USB drive, and confirm the selection.

Step 5. Hit the Convert All button from the bottom right.

Once completed, safely eject the USB drive and insert it into your car’s USB port. Your music is now playable through the car stereo.

Tip: If you want to listen to your USB-stored Spotify music while using Apple CarPlay, download Spotify music with StreamFox to your computer and then copy them to your iPhone. This way, you can enjoy Spotify music offline without ads via any third-party media player installed on the CarPlay. 

Spotify Apple CarPlay Not Working [How to Fix]

If Apple CarPlay isn’t working or Spotify refuses to play while CarPlay is active, these quick adjustments can get everything back on track.

Fix 1: Change Country or Region

Apply to:

CarPlay is unavailable because your current location isn’t on Apple’s supported country list.

Steps to Make CarPlay Available in Your Location

• Open Settings.
• Tap General> Language & Region.
• And set it to your home location or a country that is in Apple's active list for CarPlay.

Fix 2: Check Screen Time Settings

Apply to:

You have enabled Screen Time feature on your iPhone.

Steps to Allow CarPlay When Screen Time is on:

• Open Settings and select Screen Time.
• Scroll down and tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
• Choose Allowed Apps and ensure CarPlay is enabled.

Fix 3: Allow CarPlay While Locked

Apply to:

Spotify works fine when iPhone is unlocked but stops playing when the phone screen locks.

Steps to Allow CarPlay While Locked:

• Open iPhone Settings, go to General, and select CarPlay.
• Under My Car, find and tap your vehicle’s name.
• Enable Allow CarPlay While Locked.

Now, your iPhone will stay connected even when the screen turns off, ensuring uninterrupted playback.

Wrap Up

That ties up everything nicely. Now, you’ve not only learned how to use Spotify on Apple CarPlay but also explored multiple ways to connect and stream your music seamlessly.

Of course, the best method remains StreamFox for Music, as it allows you to enjoy high-quality Spotify music without the internet. With your entire Spotify playlist saved permanently to a USB drive, you’ll never have to worry about internet connectivity or subscription status and stream them with or without Apple CarPay being active on the car.