Is BMW Apple CarPlay activation free?
When CarPlay comes included, when BMW charges for it, and how to activate it by USB on NBT EVO ID5/6 cars.
Compatibility result
BMW Apple CarPlay activation
Enter your VIN to see whether your car can be activated by USB and the exact price. Checking is free.
The short answer
It is free if your BMW already has CarPlay: BMW stopped charging subscriptions for it in 2019. Many BMWs built from around 2016 to 2019 with NBT EVO have the hardware but left the factory without CarPlay switched on, and activating it is a paid upgrade, either from BMW or from a specialist.
- Factory-fitted CarPlay: free, no subscription
- NBT EVO without CarPlay: paid activation
- BMW route: ConnectedDrive Store, price after sign-in
- Our route: USB activation from £49.99
Easier than ever
Can CarPlay be activated on your BMW? Just type your VIN.
We have made it easier than ever to check whether your head unit is compatible. Type your VIN into the search box at the top of this page and we will show whether Apple CarPlay can be activated and the exact price. Checking is free.
When BMW CarPlay is free
In 2019 BMW briefly planned an annual CarPlay subscription, then reversed it after a backlash from owners. Since then, cars on the newer iDrive systems that came with CarPlay from the factory use it without any fee. If CarPlay already appears in your car's menu and connects to your iPhone, there is nothing to buy.
If you are not sure, sign in to the My BMW app or the ConnectedDrive Store with your car, or check whether "Apple CarPlay" shows up under the phone or connected settings in iDrive.
When BMW charges for CarPlay activation
BMW UK sells Apple CarPlay Preparation in the ConnectedDrive Store and activates it over the air. According to BMW UK the car must be from July 2016 or later, with BMW Navigation Professional and enhanced telephony with extended smartphone connectivity or wireless charging, and an iPhone 5 or newer.
The store only shows the price once you sign in with your car. When BMW scrapped the subscription in 2019, older models were moved to a one-off upgrade, reported at £235 in the UK at the time. If the store offers CarPlay for your car at no cost, that is the easiest option and worth taking.
BMW's activation covers standard CarPlay. It does not add FullScreen or Video in Motion.
Your options compared
| Option | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| CarPlay already enabled | Free | Nothing to buy: just pair your iPhone |
| BMW ConnectedDrive Store | Shown after sign-in | Over the air for eligible cars; standard CarPlay only |
| Remote coding with a laptop | Varies | Usually needs an ENET cable and a Windows laptop |
| Our USB activation | From £49.99 | NBT EVO ID5/6; FullScreen and Video in Motion +£10 each |
| Hardware retrofit | Several hundred pounds | For older CIC and NBT units without CarPlay support |
How USB CarPlay activation works
For NBT EVO ID5/6 units with Navigation Professional and an 8.8 or 10.25 inch screen, you can activate CarPlay yourself from a USB stick. You don't need a laptop, an ENET cable or a dealer visit:
Check your VIN
We confirm the head unit and region before you pay.
Choose options
Screen Mirroring is included. FullScreen and Video in Motion are +£10 each.
Download
Get the activation file for your VIN and the PDF guide.
Activate in the car
Copy the file to USB exactly as named and follow the steps in the guide.
The in-car activation usually takes around 10 minutes once the USB stick is ready. If a dealer software update ever resets it, it can be activated again in the same way without paying again.
FullScreen and Video in Motion
Standard BMW CarPlay runs in a window on the widescreen display. FullScreen stretches CarPlay across the whole screen on compatible units, which makes maps and apps noticeably easier to read. Video in Motion lets passengers watch video while the car is moving. Both are optional with our activation at £10 each, chosen before checkout. The driver should always keep their attention on the road.
Older BMWs: CIC and early NBT
BMWs with the older CIC system, and with NBT units before NBT EVO, cannot have CarPlay switched on with a file: the head unit software does not include it. For those cars the option is a hardware retrofit module. See does my BMW have Apple CarPlay? for compatibility by model and iDrive. Our VIN check tells you straight away which unit your car has, or you can decode it first with our free BMW VIN check.
BMW CarPlay activation FAQ
Is Apple CarPlay free on a BMW?
On many newer BMWs, yes. If the car left the factory with CarPlay, there is no subscription to pay: BMW dropped its CarPlay fees in 2019. Cars from around 2016 to 2019 with NBT EVO that were built without CarPlay need it activating, which BMW charges for through the ConnectedDrive Store.
How much does BMW charge to activate CarPlay?
BMW UK shows the price for Apple CarPlay Preparation in the ConnectedDrive Store once you sign in with your car. When BMW scrapped the subscription in 2019, older models were moved to a one-off upgrade, reported at £235 in the UK at the time.
Which BMWs can have CarPlay activated?
BMW UK lists cars from July 2016 onwards with BMW Navigation Professional and enhanced telephony with extended smartphone connectivity or wireless charging. Our USB activation is for NBT EVO ID5/6 units with Navigation Professional and an 8.8 or 10.25 inch screen, and the VIN check confirms compatibility before you pay.
Do I need a laptop or ENET cable for USB activation?
No. You receive a USB activation file generated for your VIN and head unit, copy it to a USB stick and follow the steps in the car. A small number of compatible units cannot use the USB route; for those it can still be done with a laptop and an ENET cable, and we tell you what to do.
What are FullScreen and Video in Motion?
FullScreen stretches CarPlay across the whole display on compatible units instead of a window. Video in Motion lets passengers watch video while the car is moving. Both are optional add-ons at £10 each with our activation.
Can I activate CarPlay on an older BMW with CIC or NBT?
Not with a USB file. Cars with CIC or earlier NBT units do not have CarPlay in the head unit software, so they need a hardware retrofit module instead. The VIN check tells you which unit your car has.
Will a BMW software update remove CarPlay?
It can. A dealer software update may reset the activation. If that happens it can be activated again in the same way, without paying again.