CarPlay Integration

Time cost: 15-20 minutes (if MPNowPlayingInfoCenter already working)

Key Insight

CarPlay uses the SAME MPNowPlayingInfoCenter and MPRemoteCommandCenter as Lock Screen and Control Center. If your Now Playing integration works on iOS, it automatically works in CarPlay with zero additional code.

What CarPlay Reads iOS Component CarPlay Display MPNowPlayingInfoCenter.nowPlayingInfo CPNowPlayingTemplate metadata (title, artist, artwork) MPRemoteCommandCenter handlers CPNowPlayingTemplate button responses Artwork from nowPlayingInfo Album art in CarPlay UI

No CarPlay-specific metadata needed. Your existing code works.

CPNowPlayingTemplate Customization (iOS 14+)

For custom playback controls beyond standard play/pause/skip:

import CarPlay

@MainActor class SceneDelegate: UIResponder, UIWindowSceneDelegate, CPTemplateApplicationSceneDelegate {

func templateApplicationScene(
    _ templateApplicationScene: CPTemplateApplicationScene,
    didConnect interfaceController: CPInterfaceController
) {
    // ✅ Configure CPNowPlayingTemplate at connection time (not when pushed)
    let nowPlayingTemplate = CPNowPlayingTemplate.shared

    // Enable Album/Artist browsing (shows button that navigates to album/artist view in your app)
    nowPlayingTemplate.isAlbumArtistButtonEnabled = true

    // Enable Up Next queue (shows button that displays upcoming tracks)
    nowPlayingTemplate.isUpNextButtonEnabled = true

    // Add custom buttons (iOS 14+)
    setupCustomButtons(for: nowPlayingTemplate)
}

private func setupCustomButtons(for template: CPNowPlayingTemplate) {
    var buttons: [CPNowPlayingButton] = []

    // Playback rate button
    let rateButton = CPNowPlayingPlaybackRateButton { [weak self] button in
        self?.cyclePlaybackRate()
    }
    buttons.append(rateButton)

    // Shuffle button
    let shuffleButton = CPNowPlayingShuffleButton { [weak self] button in
        self?.toggleShuffle()
    }
    buttons.append(shuffleButton)

    // Repeat button
    let repeatButton = CPNowPlayingRepeatButton { [weak self] button in
        self?.cycleRepeatMode()
    }
    buttons.append(repeatButton)

    // Update template with custom buttons
    template.updateNowPlayingButtons(buttons)
}

}

Entitlement Requirement

CarPlay requires an entitlement in your Xcode project:

Info.plist:

UIBackgroundModes audio

Entitlements file:

com.apple.developer.carplay-audio

Without the entitlement, CarPlay won't show your app at all.

CarPlay-Specific Gotchas Issue Cause Fix Time CarPlay doesn't show app Missing entitlement Add com.apple.developer.carplay-audio 5 min Now Playing blank in CarPlay MPNowPlayingInfoCenter not set Same fix as Lock Screen (Pattern 1) 10 min Custom buttons don't appear Configured after push Configure at templateApplicationScene(_:didConnect:) 5 min Buttons work on device, not CarPlay simulator Debugger interference Test without debugger attached 1 min Album art missing Same as iOS issue Fix MPMediaItemArtwork (Pattern 3) 15 min Testing CarPlay

Simulator (Xcode 12+):

I/O → External Displays → CarPlay Tap CarPlay display Find your app in Audio section Important: Run without debugger for reliable testing (debugger can interfere with CarPlay audio session activation)

Real Vehicle: Requires entitlement approval from Apple (automatic for apps with UIBackgroundModes audio; no manual request needed).

Verification App appears in CarPlay Audio section Now Playing shows correct metadata Album artwork displays Play/pause/skip buttons respond Custom buttons (if any) appear and work Tested both with and without debugger Resources

Skills: axiom-now-playing, axiom-now-playing-musickit

axiom-now-playing-carplay

安装