New Delhi: Good news for iPhone users driving cars with fancy digital displays. Google Maps has quietly rolled out multi-screen support on Apple CarPlay. This means your car’s instrument cluster and head-up display (HUD) can now show turn-by-turn directions, not just the main infotainment screen. For drivers with newer cars, this change is a big deal.
Until now, iPhone users using Google Maps through Apple CarPlay were stuck seeing navigation only on the central screen. In contrast, Apple Maps always supported full multi-display routing across compatible vehicles. Android users also enjoyed similar perks when pairing Android Auto with Google Maps. But iPhone owners had to wait. That wait is finally over.
No more glancing away! Google Maps now shows turns on HUD and speedo too
What’s changed with Google Maps on CarPlay?
Starting with the latest version of Google Maps (v25.27.1) and iOS 18.5 or later, your iPhone can now send navigation prompts to all available displays inside the car. We found this working on iOS 26 beta 3, as well, though Apple hasn’t made any big announcements about the change.
What this means in real terms:
- The main infotainment screen still shows your usual Google Maps view.
- Turn-by-turn directions will now also appear on your digital instrument cluster.
- If your car has a head-up display (HUD), you’ll see key route prompts there too.
This may not sound like a huge update, but if you’ve ever had to glance left or right to catch your next turn while driving at 120 kmph, you’ll know how helpful this is. Now, drivers can keep their eyes more aligned with the road.
Why this matters for drivers in India and beyond
Many newer cars in India, like the Mahindra XUV, Toyota Hyryder hybrids, BMWs, and MG Gloster come with fully digital instrument clusters. Premium variants of brands like Skoda, Volkswagen, and Mercedes also support Apple CarPlay with HUDs. Till now, most of these systems showed limited navigation info when Google Maps was used with an iPhone.
This update taps into that display tech better. Navigation steps right in front of your eyes is not just cool, it’s safer. Less head-turning means more time focusing on the road.
From a usability standpoint, it also brings Google Maps more in line with Apple Maps, which already supported multi-screen routing for a while for iPhone and CarPlay users. For someone like me, who prefers Google Maps but drives a multi-screen car, this finally feels like a complete setup.
How to get this feature
To try it out, here’s what you need to do:
- Make sure your iPhone is updated to iOS 18.5 or newer. The feature also works on iOS 26 beta 3.
- Update your Google Maps app to version 25.27.1 or later via the App Store.
- Connect your phone to your car via Apple CarPlay as usual. If your car supports multiple display output, it should start working automatically.
No extra toggles or settings needed. If your car and phone are both up to date, it should just work.