CarPlay & Android Auto
Blue Light Maps runs on both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The head unit shows the map, route panel, and turn instructions; the phone keeps the full UI (settings, profile editor, advanced search) available alongside.
What works on the head unit
Section titled “What works on the head unit”- Map, route, and turn-by-turn navigation
- Searching by postcode, address, place name, or what3words
- Switching between emergency and non-emergency routing modes
- Selecting a favourite destination
What stays on the phone
Section titled “What stays on the phone”- Editing your vehicle profile
- App settings (dark mode, voice prompts, units)
- Junction search results browser
Known quirks
Section titled “Known quirks”App swapping (CarPlay): if another navigation app launches in the background (Apple Maps, Waze), CarPlay can sometimes show that app’s UI instead of Blue Light Maps. Tap the Blue Light Maps icon on the CarPlay home screen to bring it back to the foreground.
Search while driving (Android Auto): Android Auto blocks free-text typing while the vehicle is moving. Use voice search (long-press the steering wheel voice button) or pick from your favourites.
Light/dark theme on CarPlay: the map follows the iPhone’s appearance setting (Settings → Display & Brightness → Light/Dark). If the head unit looks dark while the phone is light, check the phone setting. A standalone CarPlay theme toggle is on the roadmap.
Reporting a problem
Section titled “Reporting a problem”If the app behaves oddly on the head unit, please email [email protected] with:
- Phone make/model and iOS/Android version
- Vehicle make/model (CarPlay/AA implementations vary between manufacturers)
- A short description of what happened and when