iOS 26 Spotify Widget Not Displaying

[Point37]

a couple weekends ago i updated my iphone se 2022 3rd gen from ios 16 to 26...i mostly use bluetooth when driving cause i don't feel the need to plug in a phone that doesn't need to be charged...yesterday i had run my phone battery down so i decided to plug in and start carplay on the way home to run spotify and nothing comes up on the screen aside from the side bar where you can pick which widget to open but it will play...is there a way to fix this?...spotify displays fine on bluetooth

 

[ADS-B]

Try to disconnect the bluetooth first. I am guessing that, since you had the bluetooth setup for CarPlay, it's trying to connect through the bluetooth while plugged in.

 

[Point37]

i'll give that a shot...here is the chatgpt answer that i plan to try as well...

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Q:
i have a 2025 mazda cx-5 and recently updated my iphone se 2022 3rd gen to ios 26 and when i plug my phone in to used spotify through carplay the infotainment screen is blank aside from the side bar where you can click which widget you want to open, the audio will play but nothing displays on screen, how do i fix this?

A:
This is a known CarPlay behavior after major iOS updates, and your symptoms (audio plays, CarPlay sidebar visible, main app area blank) strongly point to a CarPlay + Spotify compatibility glitch, not a Mazda hardware failure.

Work through these in order — most people don’t need to go past step 4.

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Step-by-step fixes (in order)​

1. Force-close Spotify on the iPhone​

Even if it’s “running” in CarPlay, it can be stuck.

• Unplug the phone
• On the iPhone: swipe up → swipe Spotify away
• Plug the phone back in and try again

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2. Reboot both devices (important)​

This clears the CarPlay handshake cache.

iPhone SE (3rd gen):

• Hold Side button → Slide to power off
• Wait 30 seconds → turn it back on

Mazda CX-5 infotainment reboot:

• With the car on, press and hold:
  
  • Mute (volume knob)
  • Back button
  • Navigation button
• Hold all three for ~10 seconds until the screen restarts

(Yes — this works on 2025 CX-5s.)

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3. Try a different Lightning cable (very common fix)​

CarPlay is picky after iOS updates.

• Use an Apple-certified (MFi) cable
• Avoid:
  
  • Frayed cables
  • Long or cheap third-party cables
• Plug directly into the vehicle USB, not an adapter

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4. Remove and re-add CarPlay for your Mazda​

This is the most reliable fix.

On your iPhone:

1. Settings → General
2. CarPlay
3. Select your Mazda
4. Tap Forget This Car

In the Mazda:

1. Settings → Connectivity → Apple CarPlay
2. Remove your iPhone (if listed)

Then:

• Plug the phone back in
• Approve all CarPlay prompts
• Open Spotify again

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5. Check Spotify permissions (this matters on iOS 26)​

Apple tightened background and display permissions.

• Settings → Spotify
• Make sure these are ON:
  
  • Background App Refresh
  • Cellular Data
  • Siri & Search
  • Notifications (temporary fix for some users)

Then force-close Spotify and reconnect.

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6. Update Spotify (or reinstall it)​

Spotify often lags behind iOS releases.

• App Store → Spotify → Update
• If already updated:
  
  • Delete Spotify
  • Reboot iPhone
  • Reinstall Spotify
  • Reconnect CarPlay

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7. Temporary workaround (until Spotify patches)​

If it still blanks:

• Start Spotify on the phone first
• Begin playback
• Then plug into CarPlay
  This often forces the UI to render.

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If none of this works​

This is almost certainly an iOS 26 CarPlay rendering bug with Spotify, not your CX-5.

Two things to check:

• Mazda infotainment software update (dealer or OTA)
• iOS 26.x point update (Apple usually fixes this quickly)

If you want, tell me:

• Whether Apple Maps or Messages display correctly in CarPlay
• Whether the issue happens with Apple Music

That will confirm 100% whether this is Spotify-specific or a broader CarPlay issue.