How to watch YouTube video on CarPlay

As of early 2026, Apple CarPlay does not offer a native YouTube app, and standard CarPlay is designed mainly for navigation, calls, and audio. The head unit is intentionally limited so drivers cannot normally watch videos on the car’s computer screen while driving.

In this article, we’ll walk through one unofficial workaround: installing the CarTube app via TrollStore so you can start YouTube playback on your iPhone and mirror it to a CarPlay‑compatible screen. In our tests on an iPhone 12 and iPhone XR together with factory CarPlay systems in a VW Golf and a Toyota RAV4, CarTube successfully launched on the CarPlay display once everything was configured. Compatibility can still vary depending on your exact iOS, TrollStore/CarTube versions, and vehicle.

Important safety and risk notice

• Use video playback only when the vehicle is safely parked. Watching videos while driving is dangerous, and many regions explicitly prohibit displaying video content within the driver’s view.
• This is an unofficial solution and is not endorsed or supported by Apple, YouTube/Google, or car manufacturers.
• Installing unsigned apps with tools such as TrollStore may affect security, stability, and potentially warranty; proceed only if you understand and accept these risks.

In our setup we did not jailbreak the iPhone; instead we used TrollStore, which still involves installing unofficial software from outside the App Store.

In our testing, this method worked on a non‑jailbroken iPhone using TrollStore. Results can vary depending on your exact iOS and CarPlay versions. For example, once during setup CarTube crashed the first time we opened it in CarPlay and required a reconnect before working normally.

What you need (quick checklist)

• An iPhone compatible with CarPlay (we tested with iPhone 12 and iPhone XR).
• An iOS version supported by TrollStore and CarTube (check their official GitHub pages for up‑to‑date info).
• A car or head unit with wired or wireless Apple CarPlay support.
• A stable internet connection on the iPhone (Wi‑Fi or mobile data) for streaming videos.
• Willingness to install unofficial apps (TrollStore and CarTube) and accept related security and support risks.

Quick start: steps overview

1. Check the iOS version on your iPhone and confirm it is supported on the TrollStore and CarTube GitHub pages.
2. Open Safari and install TrollStore from its official GitHub release.
3. Run TrollHelper OTA, open TrollStore, and use Install ldid to complete setup.
4. Download the official CarTube.ipa file from the CarTube GitHub repository.
5. Open the .ipa in TrollStore and install CarTube on your iPhone.
6. Connect your iPhone to your CarPlay‑enabled car (USB or wireless).
7. While parked, launch CarTube from the CarPlay interface and test YouTube playback.

Native CarPlay vs CarTube workaround

Install TrollStore

What is TrollStore? As of early 2026, TrollStore is a community‑developed tool that allows you to install certain unsigned iOS apps permanently on your iPhone. This means you can load apps that are not available in the App Store or are not signed by Apple.

You need to use it carefully, as installing uncertified apps can cause iOS errors, unexpected crashes, or instability. Also, unverified iOS apps may contain malware or other unsafe software, and Apple could block or limit these methods in future iOS updates.

On our test iPhone, the first TrollStore install attempt did not complete correctly, and we had to repeat the download and launch TrollHelper OTA again before it registered. Be prepared for occasional retries.

Tutorial

Open the Safari browser.

You will need to install the TrollStore app from the link.

You can find it on Github. The link to the app is available below.

https://github.com/opa334/TrollStore

On the release table on the TrollStore page, search for the desired iOS version.

A link to the version of TrollStore compatible with your iOS version will be available in the column on the right.

Check the TrollStore GitHub page for the latest list of supported iOS versions. At the time we first tested this method, it worked on devices in the iOS 13–15 range, but support may change with new releases. Always verify compatibility directly on the official GitHub repository before proceeding. On our test iPhone, the compatible build was listed in the right‑hand column under the appropriate release name.

How do I find out the iOS version on my iPhone? It's very easy. On your iOS,

1. Go to Settings - General

2. Under the Software version, you will find a number that tells you the iOS version on your iPhone.

We recommend checking this before you download TrollStore so you can pick the exact build that matches your iOS version on GitHub.

Updating iOS can affect compatibility with TrollStore and CarTube. Before you update, check the latest compatibility information on the developers’ GitHub pages.

So, from the table on the TrollStore page, select the desired version and install TrollHelper OTA.

After that, the GTA Car Tracker app will be installed on your iPhone.

On some versions, TrollHelper OTA appears on the Home Screen under a temporary app name such as GTA Car Tracker. This is expected behavior for this installation method, even though the name looks unrelated.

Launch this TrollStore app.

Go to Settings.

Click on the Install idid button;

This installs a required helper component (ldid), which TrollStore uses to correctly sign and register the apps you load through it.

Before proceeding, double‑check that you downloaded TrollStore only from the official GitHub repository and that the file names match the releases listed there, to avoid third‑party reuploads.

Install Cartube

Next you need to install another app - Cartube itself. It is needed to run the Youtube app on the iPhone and then project it to Carplay on the car.

More precisely, CarTube is a third‑party YouTube client adapted to work with CarPlay; it is not an official Google/YouTube app. When we tested this method in early 2026, the CarTube build we used was hosted on GitHub, and the interface may change over time as the developer updates the app.

In our tests, Cartube app features included:

• full screen video viewing (we were able to play up to 1080p when the connection allowed)
• touch interface support on the CarPlay screen for basic controls (play/pause, seek, next/previous)
• premium features support: ad-free viewing when logging into an existing YouTube Premium account (it does not grant Premium for free)
• user account login
• channel subscription
• youtube video search
• full support for playback functions via youtube player

Available features can change with new releases; always check the latest documentation or release notes on the GitHub page.

Here's a link to the Cartube app:

https://github.com/Avangelista/CarTube

Check the CarTube GitHub page for the latest list of supported iOS versions. When we first used this method, the app supported devices in the iOS 14–15 range, but ongoing support can change with new iOS updates or app releases.

Tap on Cartube.ipa and the Download button to install the app on your iPhone.

If Safari shows a warning about downloading this file, confirm only if you are sure you are on the official GitHub URL.

In Safari browser, go to Downloads and tap on the app icon.

Tap the button to select the app you want to open the installer with.

From the list, select the TrollStore option.

If the file does not open in TrollStore automatically from the Downloads list, long‑press the file icon and choose Share → Open in TrollStore.

The Cartube information window will appear. Read the information and then tap the Install button. On our devices, the installation took a short moment; once it finished, the CarTube icon appeared on the Home Screen. In one case we needed to close and reopen TrollStore before the icon showed up.

Launch Youtube via Carplay

Now the Cartube app is installed. You will find the icon on the iOS home screen or under Apps.

To launch Youtube via Carplay, you need to connect your iPhone to your car's head unit and launch the Carplay shell.

In our tests, we connected an iPhone 12 and iPhone XR running a recent iOS 15 build to factory CarPlay systems in a VW Golf and a Toyota RAV4. After connecting USB (and in a separate test, wireless CarPlay), the CarTube icon appeared on one of the CarPlay home screens.

It doesn't matter if you connect Carplay via USB cable or WiFi. If your car is compatible with Carplay, and the apps are installed correctly, Cartube should appear on the head unit and allow you to start playback. On some systems you may need to swipe to additional CarPlay pages or restart the CarPlay session once to see the icon.

Be aware of some typical limitations we observed:

• occasional audio delay or short stutters when network quality drops
• rare app freezes that required disconnecting and reconnecting CarPlay
• full functionality depends on having a stable mobile data or Wi‑Fi connection for streaming

Safety reminder:
Use CarTube only when the vehicle is safely parked and in accordance with local laws. Many jurisdictions prohibit watching video content while driving, and distracted driving dramatically increases the risk of accidents. Do not attempt to troubleshoot or interact with the app while the car is in motion.

If something goes wrong

• CarTube not appearing in CarPlay:
  Check that CarTube launches normally on the iPhone itself. Then disconnect and reconnect CarPlay, or restart the car’s head unit and the iPhone. Also confirm that CarPlay is enabled for that iPhone in iOS settings.

• CarTube crashes on launch:
  Try force‑closing the app on the iPhone and reopening it. If the issue persists, check the CarTube GitHub issues page for known bugs with your iOS version.

• CarPlay disconnects during playback:
  Inspect your USB cable (if wired) or try a different one, and test with the car parked. Wireless CarPlay can be more sensitive to interference, so moving to a less congested area or switching to wired may help.

• After an iOS update, apps stop working:
  TrollStore and CarTube compatibility can break after system updates. Check both GitHub pages for updated installation notes. In some cases, you may need to remove and reinstall the apps or wait for a compatible release.

If you decide this workaround is not for you, you can uninstall CarTube (and TrollStore if desired) from the iPhone just like other apps. As always, avoid making configuration changes while driving.

We've covered one community‑developed method that can enable YouTube playback on CarPlay using TrollStore and CarTube. It’s an unofficial workaround that may not be stable or supported on all devices, and it can stop working if Apple or the app developers change something in future updates.

Key points to keep in mind:

• Download TrollStore and CarTube only from their official GitHub repositories.
• Installing unsigned apps can increase security risks and may have warranty or support implications.
• Always respect local laws and use video playback only when the vehicle is parked and it is safe to do so.
• Check the latest documentation and compatibility notes on GitHub before you follow these steps, as iOS and CarPlay change frequently.

If you have any comments, suggestions or questions about the topic of this article, please contact us via the contact form.

About the author

This guide was prepared by a contributor who regularly tests aftermarket CarPlay solutions and iOS tools across multiple iPhone models and factory head units to evaluate real‑world compatibility and risks.