Hi Team!
Has anyone found a reliable way to detect CarPlay connection without the app needing to be in the foreground?
I’m exploring a concept where, for example, as someone nears home while driving, a prompt appears on the CarPlay screen asking “Would you like to turn on the lights / open garage?” triggered by proximity and CarPlay connection.
Would be cool to have it work automatically, but knowing you're in the car is kind of important.
From what I can see, apps can’t reliably detect CarPlay connection unless they’re actively open on the CarPlay screen. Most background detection methods (like external screen connect notifications) appear deprecated.
That is, unless you're specifically approved as a "messaging" or "navigation" app that appear to get special privilages to send alerts from the background.
If I send an alert (or poll Carplay periodically) it just gives silent/dead response.
Is there any approach, framework, entitlement, or UI pattern that could allow a passive trigger or background detection while driving with CarPlay connected?
I can't see any way to bring an app to the foreground either.
Not looking to abuse any rules... just want to understand if anyone’s found a clean, approved workaround.
Thanks in advance!