Apple CarPlay on Toyota Sienna, how to connect

Toyota Sienna supports Apple CarPlay that lets you access your iPhone apps like iTunes, Google Maps and Spotify through the touchscreen of your vehicle. You can also make phone calls, send messages or use navigation with voice commands using Siri.

Toyota Sienna fourth generation – (photo by Toyota)

Enable CarPlay and Siri on iPhone

You must have iPhone 5 or newer device with iOS 7.1 or newer version to use Apple CarPlay on Toyota Sienna. Before you begin, ensure CarPlay and Siri are enabled on your iPhone. Also, make sure that the “Press Home for Siri” option is enabled under “Siri & Search” in settings.


If you can’t see CarPlay or Siri & Search under your iPhone settings, then go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps, and make sure both CarPlay and Siri & Search are enabled.

Enable CarPlay in Sienna

CarPlay must be enabled in your Sienna’s infotainment system settings before you can use it. This can be done by selecting Menu > Setup > General > Projection Settings, and make sure that Apple CarPlay is turned on.

Apple CarPlay enable / disable option under Menu > Setup > General > Projection Settings – fourth generation Toyota Sienna

Connect iPhone to Sienna’s USB port

  1. Connect your Apple iPhone to your Toyota Sienna USB port using an Apple-approved Lightning-to-USB cable.
  2. A message will appear with three choices, select Enable Once or Always Enable.
  3. Touch Allow on your iPhone when prompted. This allows the use of CarPlay with your Sienna while phone is locked.
  4. CarPlay will launch automatically on the infotainment system display.
USB data port location on Toyota Sienna fourth generation

If CarPlay does not start automatically after you plug in the USB, then touch its icon in the list of apps in the infotainment display.

If you’re unsure which USB port supports CarPlay on your particular Sienna variant, then consult your vehicle’s owners manual – or you can try plugging in the cable, one by one, in all the USB ports in dashboard and center console.

Apple CarPlay on Toyota Sienna

CarPlay not working on Toyota Sienna

If Apple CarPlay does not start on your Sienna when you plug in the USB cable and there is no CarPlay icon in the list of apps in the infotainment system, it can be due to a number of reasons:

  • CarPlay is disabled in the infotainment system settings of your Sienna.
  • CarPlay is disabled in your iPhone, go to ‘Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps’ and enable both CarPlay and Siri.
  • The Lightning-to-USB cable you’re using is defective. Try a different cable, preferably original Apple cable.
  • The connected USB port on your Sienna does not support CarPlay. Try other USB ports.
  • A software glitch is responsible for the CarPlay problem. Reset the Sienna’s infotainment system to its factory settings.
  • You’ve an older model of Sienna that does not support Apple CarPlay. Only 2019 and later model year Toyota Sienna vehicles are compatible with CarPlay.

Using Siri on Toyota Sienna

Siri is Apple’s voice recognition feature that helps you to concentrate on the road while driving your Sienna as you can control the functions of the iPhone with voice commands.


The virtual assistant allows you to place phone calls, listen to and send text messages, play music on your iPhone, get directions and use other functions of your iPhone hands-free. You can even ask Siri for current weather conditions, stock prices or upcoming events on your calendar.

To access Siri, press and hold the talk button on the steering wheel of your Sienna until you hear Siri tone.

Voice command button on Toyota Sienna activates Siri when CarPlay is active in the infotainment system

You can also access Siri by holding down the home button located at the bottom left corner in the CarPlay app.

If the Listen for “Hey Siri” function is enabled in your iPhone device under Siri & Search settings, you can also just simply say: “Hey Siri”. After hearing the audible alert, you can begin asking Siri for assistance.

Video: Siri features explained

Brief video on using Siri on Toyota

Which Sienna models support CarPlay?

2019 and later model year Toyota Sienna vehicles are compatible with Apple CarPlay.

Using Google Maps on Toyota Sienna with CarPlay

If your iPhone has iOS 14+ operating system, you can freely use Google Maps in Apple CarPlay on your Sienna. Apple now allows the use of Google Maps in the home screen. Apple has allowed the competitor’s map service in its car application since iOS 12, but the homescreen that was newly introduced in iOS 13 in 2019 could not yet be equipped with maps. Here, users were still limited to Apple’s own map service. With iOS 14 that changes. Now CarPlay automatically selects the last service used for the view.

Using Waze navigation on Toyota Sienna with CarPlay

You can use Waze navigation app in CarPlay if you have iOS 12 or higher operating system installed on your iPhone. Download and install Waze app from App Store on your iPhone, then start CarPlay on your Sienna’s infotainment system display. Then touch Waze icon to launch the app.

Using Spotify on Sienna

You can use Spotify to stream music on your Sienna. Just install the Spotify app from App Store and its icon will appear in the infotainment display when CarPlay is active.


You can use voice commands to play music hands-free on Spotify with Siri. Just add “on Spotify” at the end so that Siri knows which service you’re referring to (e.g. “Hey, Siri, play my ‘Your Mix of the Week’ playlist on Spotify”).

Siri can play songs, artists, albums, playlists, podcasts, and more. You can also “like” music, ask what’s playing, and control playback (e.g. volume, skip song, play / pause).

Do not disturb while driving

When driving, keep your eyes on the road. A quick look at the navigation device is of course allowed in order not to miss the next junction. The “Do not disturb while driving” function can be activated so that your iPhone does not distract you with unnecessary notifications while driving your Sienna. iOS 13 extends this option to CarPlay as well. On your iPhone go to Settings > Do Not Disturb, then scroll down and touch “Activate” under “Do not disturb while driving”. You can now switch on the automatic activation for CarPlay.

Not all apps are compatible with CarPlay

If you think you can use all your iPhone apps in your Toyota Sienna with CarPlay, then you’re wrong. The selection of compatible applications is limited, and you have to live with restrictions, especially with messenger apps. iMessage and WhatsApp can be controlled almost exclusively via Siri. That means you cannot see your message history, but only have new messages read out to you or even dictate messages yourself.

The following apps can be used with CarPlay on your Sienna, among others: Music, Phone, News, Podcasts, Audio books, Audible, Google Maps, Sygic TomTomGO, Whatsapp, calendar, Settings, Telegram, Waze, Spotify, TuneIn, Tidal, Pandora, Youtube Music and Amazon Music.

Sort apps in CarPlay

You can sort CarPlay apps in your Sienna quickly and easily through your iPhone. To do this, go to Settings > General > CarPlay, then select your vehicle under “MY CARS”. On the next screen you can rearrange app icons by touching and dragging them. You can also hide icons by touching the minus button on them.

Video Demonstration

Watch this video demonstration on setting-up CarPlay on Toyota Sienna (fourth generation)
Author: Nabeel K
Email: nabeel@wheelsjoint.com



Subscribe
Notify of
guest

1 Comment
most voted
newest oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Rebecca
Rebecca
2 years ago

Thank you for doing this – very helpful! I did not realize you had to connect the phone with a physical cable to use CarPlay. I mistakenly thought Bluetooth would be enough.