Using CarPlay without Siri

No.

Apple assumes you'll use CarPlay to interact with the car (make phone calls, respond to messages, etc.) so Siri allows you to do that safely. Apple doesn't allow for the case where, for example, you only ever want to listen to Music on CarPlay and will not be using voice commands.

Siri must be turned on, there are no exceptions. It is the very first step here:

1. Start your car, then make sure that Siri is on.

Set up CarPlay

You don't have to use Siri though, and you don't even need to have it set to listen for the Activation word.

in iOS 26 and every version before I could use Car Play without Siri. I have Siri and AI deactivated on my phone and always have. Now with iOS 27 it won't let me use Car Play without Siri. I think that's pretty underhanded to force me to use Siri to just use on screen navigation etc. I am so tired of every tech making it harder and harder for me to protect my privacy.

Blungld wrote:

am so tired of every tech making it harder and harder for me to protect my privacy.

If your concern is Privacy then read the information provided here. Note, that this includes when you are actually using Siri for making requests and how your data is handled, which is not even required when using CarPlay. Siri is not listening when you have the Requests set to Off at Settings > Siri > Requests.

Siri Privacy Statement

Thanks for the answers. I have always avoided Siri, Alexa, etc. but need to use CarPlay to have gps on my car. I guess I need Siri too. Maybe it is time to find an old fashioned stand alone gps unit.

Thanks again all!