Is YouTube Music on car play?

ByJael Lawler

What is CarPlay?

CarPlay is an iOS feature developed by Apple that allows iPhone users to integrate their devices with a vehicle’s built-in display, controls, and speakers. With CarPlay, drivers can easily and safely access their iPhone apps and functions while driving without having to pick up their phone.

Some of the key features offered through CarPlay include:

  • Maps and navigation through Apple Maps or third party apps like Google Maps
  • Phone calls and messaging via Siri voice control or the car’s touchscreen
  • Music playback from playlists, radio stations, podcasts and more
  • Selected third party audio apps like Spotify, Pandora or Audible

For CarPlay to work, the vehicle needs to be equipped with CarPlay integration by the manufacturer. Many new cars now come with CarPlay built-in, and some older models can also add CarPlay with an aftermarket receiver or software update. Once set up, an iPhone is connected to the car via USB cable and CarPlay launches automatically.

Overall, CarPlay aims to provide iPhone users with a seamless in-car experience that allows them to use the apps they know and love while minimizing distractions and staying focused on driving safely.

What apps work with CarPlay?

CarPlay integrates seamlessly with core iPhone apps for navigation, communication, and audio playback. According to Apple (https://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/), the following Apple apps work natively with CarPlay:

  • Apple Maps – for turn-by-turn navigation and traffic information
  • Phone – make and receive calls through your vehicle’s interface
  • Messages – dictate, listen, and reply to text messages
  • Podcasts – access your favorite podcasts
  • Audiobooks – listen to audiobooks purchased from Apple Books
  • Apple Music – stream over 90 million songs ad-free

In addition to Apple’s own apps, CarPlay also supports select third-party apps, primarily for navigation, audio playback, and communication. According to reviews on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/CarPlay/comments/13oy7uf/list_of_carplay_compatible_apps/), some popular third-party apps that work with CarPlay include Spotify, Overcast, Google Maps, Waze, and Pandora.

However, the CarPlay ecosystem is still limited primarily to audio, communication, and navigation apps. The platform does not yet support broader categories of apps such as social media, photography, or productivity.

What is YouTube Music?

YouTube Music is a music streaming service owned by YouTube and Google. It provides access to official songs, albums, playlists, and artist radio stations from record labels and music publishers. In addition to licensed music, YouTube Music also includes all music content found on YouTube, such as remixes, fan uploads, and cover songs.

Some key features of YouTube Music include:

  • Streaming over 70 million official songs, albums, playlists, and artist radio stations
  • Unlimited, ad-free music with a paid subscription
  • Access to all music content uploaded to YouTube
  • Personalized playlists and recommendations based on listening history and preferences
  • Offline listening for subscribed members
  • Background listening on mobile

In summary, YouTube Music aims to be a one-stop destination for all music listening needs, providing official recordings as well as a vast catalog of user uploads and remixes available on YouTube.

Is YouTube Music available on CarPlay?

YouTube Music is not natively supported by CarPlay at this time. There is currently no official YouTube Music app designed specifically for CarPlay that allows direct access to the streaming service through the vehicle’s infotainment system.

However, there are some workarounds that can provide access to your YouTube Music library while using CarPlay. The YouTube Music mobile app for iOS does allow you to play audio in the background. So you can play songs, playlists, albums etc. from the YouTube Music app on your iPhone and the audio will come through your car’s speakers while using CarPlay.

You just won’t have direct integration or be able to control playback through your car’s infotainment screen. You’ll have to use the YouTube Music app on your phone itself to browse, search, and play music from YouTube Music.[1]

Workarounds to enable YouTube Music

Since YouTube Music does not have native integration with CarPlay yet, there are some workarounds that can enable access to YouTube Music in the car:

If your car supports screen mirroring technology like Android Auto or Miracast, you can mirror your smartphone’s display to access YouTube Music through the YouTube Music app on your phone. This allows you to see and control the app through your car’s display.1

For iPhone users, jailbreaking your device and installing the CarBridge tweak from Cydia allows non-CarPlay apps like YouTube Music to run directly on your car’s display. This requires advanced modification of your iPhone.2

There are also third party apps like CarTube or SuperTube available on both iOS and Android that essentially act as wrappers to stream YouTube content. These apps can connect to your car’s display system. However, the functionality and legality of these apps is questionable.

Considerations for accessing YouTube Music in car

While there are some workarounds to enable YouTube Music on CarPlay, there are some important considerations to keep in mind:

Screen mirroring from your phone to your car’s display can quickly drain your phone’s battery. Constantly having to monitor and control playback from your phone can also be distracting and dangerous while driving [1].

Jailbreaking your iPhone in order to install unauthorized apps voids your device’s warranty. You may lose access to important security updates and app store functionality [2].

Third party apps that enable YouTube Music on CarPlay often have limitations, like inability to download music for offline playback. They may not be as fully featured or reliable as a native app.

While less than ideal, your safest option is likely to wait until Google provides official YouTube Music integration with CarPlay. For now, use built-in Apple Music or a streaming service like Spotify that is natively supported.

Native Integration Unlikely Soon

Based on current information from Apple and Google, native integration of YouTube Music into CarPlay does not appear likely in the near future. Apple has not announced any plans to add support for YouTube Music to CarPlay. Additionally, Google has yet to release a version of the YouTube Music app specifically optimized for CarPlay.

Some Reddit users have expressed frustration over the lack of YouTube Music integration with CarPlay, with one thread titled “Apple CarPlay please get it fixed” on r/YoutubeMusic. However, neither Apple nor Google have indicated this is a priority at this time.

Without updates from the two tech giants, YouTube Music will likely remain accessible only through basic playback controls and Siri voice commands in CarPlay for the foreseeable future. True native integration, with browse, search, and full app functionality, does not appear to be on the horizon based on the current stance of Apple and Google.

Alternatives for in-car streaming

If you want full integration with CarPlay, the best alternative is to use Apple Music. Apple Music is a music and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. It offers over 90 million songs, 30,000 playlists, and music videos. Since Apple Music is developed by the same company that makes CarPlay, it has native and seamless integration.

Other options are to switch to other supported music streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, etc. These services have apps designed to work with CarPlay, so you’ll be able to access their music libraries and features in your car. The integration might not be as deep as Apple Music, but they provide alternatives if you want to stream from other services.

Summary

YouTube Music is currently not supported as a native app on CarPlay. There are some limited workarounds such as using AirPlay or third party apps, but these options have significant drawbacks. Apple has not announced any plans or timeline for adding native YouTube Music support to CarPlay.

While it’s possible Apple could add YouTube Music to CarPlay eventually, it does not seem to be a priority in the near future. For now, iOS users who want to stream YouTube Music in their cars will have to rely on less than ideal workarounds or use a different streaming service that is natively integrated with CarPlay, such as Apple Music, Spotify or Pandora.

Sources

[1] Apple’s CarPlay webpage on apple.com detailing supported apps and functionality of CarPlay.

[2] YouTube Music’s product page on youtube.com outlining features and compatibility of the streaming music service.

[3] CNet article titled “Every app compatible with Apple CarPlay” providing an overview of current CarPlay app integration.

[4] Android Central forum thread with users discussing workarounds to access YouTube Music on CarPlay.

[5] The Verge article “YouTube Music can now stream to your car’s display through Android Auto” covering the platform’s limitations on iOS.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *