Using SharePlay and CarPlay, you and your passengers can all control the music that’s playing in the car.
Passengers can join from a notification on their iPad, or with a QR code on the CarPlay Now Playing screen or another passenger’s iPad. The driver needs to be an Apple Music subscriber, but passengers don’t. Everyone needs iPadOS 17 or later, and has to let contacts discover them when playing music in the car.
Before you begin
- The driver must have an iPad with iPadOS 17 or later and be an Apple Music subscriber.
- Passengers must have an iPad with iPadOS 17 or later, but don’t need to have an Apple Music subscription.
- Everyone must allow their contacts to discover them when playing music in the car—go to Settings > Apps > Music, then turn on Discoverable by Nearby Contacts if it isn’t on already.
Start SharePlay with CarPlay on your iPad
You and your passengers each have a part to play in using SharePlay in the car.
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Begin playing music from your iPad using CarPlay.
A notification appears on the Lock Screen of passengers’ iPad devices. After they tap Connect, you receive a notification in CarPlay.
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Tap a passenger’s name. Tap the Checkmark button to allow the passenger to choose and stream music from your iPad.
After you approve a passenger, they can join SharePlay in the future without going through the same process unless you end their access.
Use a QR code to join SharePlay
Or let passengers join SharePlay over Bluetooth® by scanning a QR code.
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On the Now Playing screen in CarPlay, tap the SharePlay button.
A QR code appears on the CarPlay screen.
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Ask a passenger to open the Camera app on their iPad and point the camera at the QR code.
A button appears below the picture of the QR code on their iPad to request a connection to SharePlay. The passenger taps the button, then taps Connect.
- Tap the Checkmark button on the CarPlay screen to allow the passenger to join.
Use a QR code to add other passengers
Passengers who use SharePlay to control music in a car can invite other passengers while the driver stays focused on the road.
- Start the Music app on your iPad.
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Open the Now Playing screen and tap the SharePlay button at the bottom of the screen.
A SharePlay window appears, listing all the participants as well as a QR code for joining.
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Ask a passenger to open the Camera app on their iPad and point the camera at the QR code, tap the button that appears below the code, and then tap Connect.
The driver taps the Checkmark button on the CarPlay screen to allow the passenger to join.
Leave or end SharePlay in the car
- If you’re a passenger: Tap the SharePlay button at the bottom of Now Playing, then tap Leave.
- If you’re the driver: Tap End on the CarPlay screen.
See also
