Skip to main content

You Won't Believe How Easy it is to Upgrade your 2018 Camry and Sienna for Apple CarPlay

I have a service appointment at my local Toyota dealership this week to add Apple CarPlay to my 2018 Toyota Camry XLE. This is really exciting news for me! Thousands of Camry and Sienna owners will be notified in the coming with the same great news.
2018 Toyota Camry

In a move to strengthen its image and branding with its multimedia entertainment features and benefits, Toyota is offering a software update to retrofit 2018 Camry and 2018 Sienna vehicles with the popular program Apple CarPlay. They will also be updating systems with Amazon Alexa compatibility as well. On a side note, Android Auto will not be included in this update, for all the Google users reading this.

Eligible Camry and Sienna owners will be notified by email starting May 15th and running through the Summer. They will be instructed to contact their local Toyota service departments to schedule their software update appointments.

Based on initial testing, installation time will run anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour. Average installation time has averaged 30 minutes so far. The length of time you will actually be waiting at your dealership for full installation depends on each individual dealership’s traditional wait times.

Toyota is recommending that dealerships perform this installation at no charge to customers, in order to improve its image as a leader in multimedia technology. However, they do caution this is determined by each dealership, and that there may be a small installation service fee charged.

I bought my 2018 Toyota Camry XLE a year ago, and I was disappointed to learn Toyota was adding Apple CarPlay for the 2019 models the following year (See 2019 Toyota RAV4 Trim Levels Explained). I even briefly considered trading mine in for the 2019 to take advantage of CarPlay. I couldn’t be more thrilled with this news that I will be rewarded for my loyalty instead of punished. I hope many others can take advantage of this exciting upgrade!

What do you think of this news? Will you be scheduling your Apple CarPlay upgrade this Summer too?

In addition to writing for Torque News, I also run a popular Toyota review and how-to YouTube channel called “Toyotajeff in Raleigh.” I encourage everyone to check it out and subscribe.

Also see: The Man Behind the One Million Mile Tacoma.

You can reach Jeff Teague on Twitter at @toyotajeff1 and tweet him tips for new stories.

Automotive News
Toyota

Comments

Matt (not verified)    June 21, 2019 - 9:59AM

Permalink

In the Omaha area this has been a total flop. One dealership said they'd need the car all day and even then the installation hadn't been working. Another said they are waiting for an updated software version from Toyota because the initial installations haven't worked due to software bugs.

Jeff (not verified)    June 29, 2019 - 3:58PM

Permalink

To get the software, go to Toyotanation. In the Camry forum there is a post with download and instructions. There are 3 radios. Get the correct download. . Very easy to do if u have a pcand usb drive

Anne (not verified)    August 21, 2019 - 1:59AM

Permalink

This may sound silly but where does this file download come from? Is it legit from Toyota? I would like to try it but scared i might mess up my car because my dealership is asking for an arm and a leg to do the upgrade ($540) imagine that. They must be out of their mind.

Jim P (not verified)    July 9, 2019 - 12:01PM

Permalink

i won't do the CarPlay upgrade, but haven't seen any emails either. wish they'd make Android Auto available. The entune system has been pretty disappointing.

Bernard Lewis (not verified)    July 11, 2019 - 1:50AM

Permalink

I had Carplay installed two weeks ago in my 2018 Camry XLE. Sometimes on short trips, I don’t hook up the iPhone using the USB. Is it normal for the voice command button on the steering wheel to longer work properly when I do not have my iPhone connected?

Sean Hollenbeck (not verified)    July 11, 2019 - 11:21AM

Permalink

This time quote & claim of easibility is garbage. It's a pain in the ass & takes 2.5hrs. Shame on Toyota & shame on you for claiming its so great.

Jeff (not verified)    July 13, 2019 - 12:39AM

Permalink

You obviously are computer challenged. No installation takes more than a hr. Once the software has been installed on the thumb drive, it a simple process. Shame on you. Read how many did their own installation while others go to the dealer. The process is the same time ( except for dealer waiting time)

nap man (not verified)    July 11, 2019 - 8:55PM

Permalink

Sounds like many people's experience depends on the dealer, and how tech savvy they are. Mine had the software ready to load on a thumb drive to do it quickly. IF they didn't, it would take a while to download the large upgrade over phone data speeds. They did it for free in Mpls and seemed to think it was predictable.

B. Sumner (not verified)    July 25, 2019 - 7:39PM

Permalink

Just had my 2018 Camry with Entune 3.0 Standard upgraded to CarPlay today. Unfortunately, it doesn't work with my Motorola Android phone even though Entune 3.0 does. I have the Android version of Carplay installed on the phone but the Projection app that was added to my Camry doesn't see my phone. I have not been able to find a list of phones that the upgrade is compatible with. The tech at the Toyota dealership was able to get his iPhone 6+ to come up in my car. So, right now it seems to require an Apple phone.

Jeff (not verified)    July 25, 2019 - 8:23PM

Permalink

It’s CarPlay. Only for Apple IOS. Android does not use CarPlay. It uses an android version of CarPlay, android auto. Toyota has not upgraded to any Android, only Apple

Jim (not verified)    September 22, 2019 - 4:58PM

Permalink

I have a 2018 Camry and want to install the update for Alexa myself. Other people on this forum noted an individual could download the files to a USB to install. Can anyone provide the URL that has the files as I tried to find them on various sites adn could not locate them. Thank you in advance for your help on this.

Lowell Cassity (not verified)    October 14, 2019 - 8:22AM

Permalink

Jeff. I love your videos on YouTube. Have you heard anything about an Android Auto upgrade/ retrofit for the 2020 Corolla LE? Seeing as the Corolla is a top seller, Toyota would be all over this. The 2020 Corolla Hatchback just came out, and it has AA.
I refuse to convert to an iPhone just to get better functionality.

Carmen K (not verified)    December 9, 2019 - 7:39PM

Permalink

I'd really like to know as the dealership don't tell you anything, I purchased my Toyota CH-R in June 2019, should of waited as now they come with car play Ugh, does anyone know if and what I could do to have car play in the system I have or do I have to buy an aftermarket system?

CaTcHmG (not verified)    July 22, 2020 - 12:20AM

Permalink

Guys here it is from Toyota themselves, if your head unit is on software/firmware version 1000, update to 1021 then 1030 just follow the instructions on page, i downloaded & installed in less than 20 mins hassle free... Enjoy!

Mark Littleton (not verified)    March 7, 2021 - 4:43PM

Permalink

So I don't ever remember getting an email about this, and that could be because my particular Camry trim level isn't eligible. Would the CarPlay update be available for a 2018 Camry LE? If so, would it cost anything now that my car is out of warranty?

David (not verified)    November 23, 2021 - 5:44PM

Permalink

I just received this email for my 2018 sienna update today Nov 23, 2021. Just a tad late don't you think? But my question is why not android auto, or now that it is 2021 do you do that or not? Also does this even apply so many years later?