- Apple has released a fix in iOS 26 for an annoying CarPlay audio issue
- Users can now keep their listening habits private
- Also works with other Bluetooth audio devices
Apple has added a new iOS 26 feature that gives owners of AirPods and other Bluetooth headphones more control over automatic transfer to wireless devices, including Apple CarPlay.
Imagine the scene: you are happily enjoying the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack as you approach the car, only for Apple CarPlay to kick in and automatically steal your audio stream, broadcasting your guilty pleasure to whoever’s driving.
Well, that’s probably not the end of the world, but it can be frustrating when, in the middle of an important phone call or Zoom meeting, Apple CarPlay decides to take over and the microphone goes silent and you try to troubleshoot the glitches.
Fortunately, Apple has made it much easier to prevent this from happening, thanks to a new feature in iOS 26 that MacRumors originally spotted. Works with any wireless earbuds, not just AirPods.
On the iPhone Settings appthere is a AirPlay and continuity section found on the General tab. Apple has added a ‘Keep the audio going with headphones‘ toggle option (see below) that does exactly what it claims to do.
After selecting the option, it is possible to activate Apple CarPlay, a vehicle’s Bluetooth sound system, or Bluetooth speakers without the audio automatically changing.
No more audio transfers
We’ve all been there: watching a YouTube video doing nothing, only to have the audio annoyingly streamed to a Bluetooth speaker at home or an Apple CarPlay-enabled system in a car. Anyone who dedicates themselves to something more nefarious can be very with a red face.
The new ‘Keep Audio with Headphones’ feature prevents this from happening while still allowing manual audio transfer through the iOS Control Center.
However, it is worth noting that driving with headphones is illegal in many US states and frowned upon in many other European countries as it reduces situational awareness.
Therefore, automatically transferring audio to wireless Apple CarPlay could save your bacon.
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