Choose a method
| Method | Requirements | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in car hotspot | APK-compatible Android; actual firmware test needed | Car hotspot enabled; exact SSID/password saved; Bluetooth pairing |
| Wi-Fi Direct | Android 10+ and working group-owner implementation | Permissions, Location on older Android, actual radio/channel behavior |
| USB | Android 9+; data port/cable and correct USB roles | A useful comparison when wireless fails |
Built-in hotspot setup
- Turn on the car hotspot. Choose 5 GHz if available; do not use iPhone Personal Hotspot.
- In DiPlay Settings → Connection setup → Built-in car hotspot, save the exact name and password. Update them if the car settings change.
- Enable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on the iPhone, pair with the car, tap Connect phone, then accept CarPlay prompts. You do not need to join the hotspot manually first.
Radio and version caveats
A 5 GHz station capability does not prove a 5 GHz Wi-Fi Direct group can be created. Firmware may reject group channels. Keep a supported fallback instead of changing country codes or driver properties.
Android 10 getNetworkName crashes were reported in #15/#44/#79. Current source avoids the problematic getter; #79 maintainer says fixed in 0.2.8, while the reporter has verified a custom build only.
The old Local hotspot option was removed in 0.2.6. Follow the current saved-hotspot flow if you are using an older tutorial. No ADB or car internet subscription is required for hotspot connection setup.
Reported setups
The following are source reports, not a universal affected-car list. Unknown fields remain unknown.
iPhone 14 Pro Max / iOS 27.0 · DiPlay 0.2.0
Reported incompatible
Bluetooth pairs but CarPlay startup crashes with getNetworkName error. AI-generated cause in the report is not accepted as proof. Do not generalize this to all DiLink 3.
View original reportRelated GitHub issues
Closed does not necessarily mean fixed. The source is authoritative for later updates.