How to add an intro to Apple CarPlay using Shortcuts

image via Engadget

August 28, 2026, 12:00 PM

• •The article explains how to make Apple CarPlay play a custom greeting or short audio clip when an iPhone connects.
• •It instructs readers to save an audio file locally in the iPhone Files app rather than in iCloud Drive before building the automation.
• •Users are told to create a CarPlay automation in the Shortcuts app, set it to run immediately on connection and select the saved file.
• •The piece notes that performance may vary between wired and wireless CarPlay and that a two- to five-second clip works best.
• •It also suggests extending the automation with actions such as opening navigation, starting a playlist or showing reminders.

The article explains how to use Apple's Shortcuts app to trigger a custom audio greeting when an iPhone connects to CarPlay. Readers are instructed to store a short sound file locally in the Files app and build a CarPlay automation that runs immediately on connection. It warns that results can differ depending on wired or wireless connections and recommends keeping the clip between two and five seconds. The piece also notes that the automation can be edited later and expanded to launch navigation, play music or show reminders.

Read original article