Early demo reveals how CarPlay handles video in iOS 26.4, including Apple TV app

Starting with iOS 26, Apple will officially allow video playback through CarPlay. Released this week in beta, iOS 26.4 appears to be the first version with support, as long as two conditions are met. While CarPlay video playback isn’t ready for users yet, one developer has shown off how it will look as well as how Apple’s TV app looks in the car.

Apple first told developers in June 2025 that iOS 26 would introduce support for video in the car through CarPlay. At the time, we learned that video playback would only be allowed while the car is stopped. For that reason, automakers need to opt in to support video playback.

Then on Monday, Apple released the first developer beta version of iOS 26.4, which includes the first signs of CarPlay video support in code. Apple’s TV app is noted as showing support for the feature.

Since then, developer Thomas Dye has unlocked some user interface elements that we haven’t seen before by simulating CarPlay in a development environment.

Specifically, Dye has tapped into a version of Apple’s TV app running a virtual CarPlay simulation. This shows how a video-specific CarPlay app will work once support is officially ready. It’s unclear if this is how the TV app will actually appear when CarPlay video playback is released, but it’s a pretty impressive implementation if so.

And for video from apps without CarPlay versions, Dye’s video unlocks a new UI element for moving a video between an iPhone and the connected CarPlay display.

Lastly, Dye shows off that a new Video section should appear in the Settings app when a CarPlay system eventually has support.

This is all very promising for drivers eager to start using video in CarPlay. The first step was Apple deciding to allow support. Now it appears Apple is completing the work on its side to actually support the feature.

Once iOS 26.4 is publicly released, we can finally start expecting automakers to put in the work to support CarPlay video playback as well.

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