iOS 26.2 Adds New CarPlay Setting

iOS 26 extended pinned conversations in the Messages app to CarPlay, for quick access to your most frequent chats. However, some drivers may prefer the classic view with a list of individual conversations only, and Apple now lets users choose.

CarPlay Pinned Messages
Apple released the second beta of iOS 26.2 this week, and it introduces a new CarPlay setting for turning off pinned conversations in the Messages app. After installing the beta on your iPhone, simply open the Settings app on CarPlay, look for the Pinned Conversations toggle in the main menu, and turn it off if you prefer to.

iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, according to Apple.

CarPlay received many other upgrades on iOS 26, including a Liquid Glass design, Live Activities, widgets, a compact view for phone calls, and more.

Related Roundups: CarPlay, iOS 26, iPadOS 26

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Top Rated Comments

TheGhostWalker Avatar
12 weeks ago
Hoping this update fixes the connection issues
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
markgpearse Avatar
12 weeks ago
Am I the only one who thinks the CarPlay GUI is ugly? I am a fan of how iOS and MacOS look on my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
12 weeks ago

Apple needs to make the basics just work before adding more features.

CarPlay does not work on my RAV4. The maps jump all over the place. Toyota won't (can't?) fix it, but I'm sure Apple could fix it. Friends' Android devices work fine with the maps.
CarPlay works great on my wife's Toyota. Sounds like it's an issue with your car.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TechRemarker Avatar
12 weeks ago
In Messages remember being initially excited for pinned people in messages since some people message all the time. But quickly realized those people then don't show excerpt of their latest message to see without marking as read, and so never used pinned people. Hopefully some day it can be updated to be able to pin people to the top but still allow latest message excerpts.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DocMultimedia Avatar
12 weeks ago
I really wish the title of these articles would give the actual version of the software. It's not in iOS 26.2, it's in 26.2b2. And as we all know, things occasionally get pulled from beta versions before release.

I actually thought 26.2 had already been released since so many posts put that version in the title.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ATmahe Avatar
12 weeks ago
Why isn’t it possible to change CarPlay settings directly on the iPhone.
It would be even better if they can be changed even if the phone is not connected to CarPlay.
I mean, it’s already possible to order the apps and change the widgets.
Why not every setting?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)