Stream Netflix on CarPlay
How to add Netflix to Apple CarPlay
CarPlay has no Netflix app, and Apple doesn’t allow video apps on it. To stream Netflix on your car’s CarPlay screen, plug an Android device into the car’s CarPlay USB port: either a Raspberry Pi 5 running the open-source Pi2Carplay (the ATCBridge Kit) or a plug-and-play AI box like the T-Box Lite S. Watch only while parked.
Updated · Tested against Pi2Carplay v0.2.0
Why CarPlay won’t stream Netflix on its own
Apple only allows a few kinds of apps on CarPlay, such as audio, navigation, messaging, EV charging and parking apps (see Apple’s CarPlay developer guidelines). Video apps aren’t one of them, so CarPlay can’t show Netflix on the screen, whatever iPhone you have. Newer iOS versions add AirPlay video while parked, but only in cars whose maker supports it.
The workaround is to plug a small Android computer into the car’s CarPlay USB port in place of your phone. The car sees a CarPlay device and shows its screen, and that screen can stream anything Android can, including Netflix.
Two ways to stream Netflix on CarPlay
| ATCBridge Kit | T-Box Lite S | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Raspberry Pi 5 running open-source Pi2Carplay | Ready-made Android AI box |
| Setup | About an hour, with our guide | Plug in and go |
| Your car needs | Wired CarPlay | Wired or wireless CarPlay |
| Best for | Tinkerers who want hardware they control | Anyone who wants it working today |
| Price | from $49 | from $89 |
How to add Netflix to CarPlay with the ATCBridge Kit
- Make sure your car has wired (USB) CarPlay. Pi2Carplay works over the CarPlay USB port only. Details
- Download the official Pi2Carplay release from GitHub and write it to the kit’s microSD card with Raspberry Pi Imager. Details
- Boot the Pi at your desk with a monitor and mouse, connect Wi-Fi and sign in to Google. Details
- Open the Google Play Store on the Pi and install Netflix.
- Sign in with your Netflix account and choose a profile.
- Pin Netflix to the Pi2Carplay dashboard so it’s one tap away in the car.
- Connect to car Wi-Fi or your phone’s hotspot, then stream while parked.
- Connect the Pi’s USB-C port to the car’s CarPlay USB port with a data cable. Android appears on the screen in about a minute. Details
What to expect when you stream Netflix
Picture quality
Netflix protects its video with Widevine DRM. Android builds for the Raspberry Pi usually get software-level DRM, which typically means standard-definition playback. That’s still sharp on most car screens, but it isn’t HD.
Not yet confirmed by us
We haven’t confirmed Netflix on Pi2Carplay v0.2.0 in our own test car yet. On some uncertified Android builds the Play Store hides Netflix. We’ll update this page once we’ve tested it. If Netflix is the one app you need, the T-Box Lite S is the safer choice.
Data use
Netflix uses roughly 1 GB per hour in standard definition, according to Netflix’s help centre. Download over Wi-Fi where you can, or keep an eye on your hotspot allowance.
Netflix on CarPlay: questions
Can you add Netflix to Apple CarPlay?
Not as a CarPlay app: Apple doesn’t allow video streaming apps in CarPlay. You can stream Netflix on the CarPlay screen by connecting an Android device to the car’s CarPlay USB port, such as a Raspberry Pi running Pi2Carplay or an AI box like the T-Box Lite S.
Do I need to jailbreak my iPhone to watch Netflix on CarPlay?
No. Neither the ATCBridge Kit nor the T-Box touches your iPhone. They replace the phone on the CarPlay port with a small Android computer that runs Netflix itself.
Can I watch Netflix on CarPlay while driving?
You shouldn’t, and in most places it’s illegal for the driver. Stream Netflix only while parked, for example at a charging stop.
Does Netflix stream in HD on the Raspberry Pi?
Usually not. Raspberry Pi Android builds normally have software-level Widevine DRM, so Netflix typically plays in standard definition.
Add more apps to CarPlay
- Play YouTube on CarPlay
- Play TikTok on CarPlay
- Stream Twitch on CarPlay
- Stream Plex on CarPlay
- Play Kodi on CarPlay
Built on open source
The ATCBridge Kit runs Pi2Carplay, an open-source project (GPL-2.0) that brings the CarPlay bridge to a Raspberry Pi 5. We didn’t write it, and we don’t modify or resell it. We supply the hardware, guides and support, and you install the author’s official release directly from GitHub.