CarPlay Lyrics Widget: How to Add Live Lyrics to Your Dashboard
With CarPlay widgets in iOS 26, you no longer have to open an app to see your lyrics — the current line of your song can sit right on the CarPlay dashboard, updating as you drive. If you've been looking for a CarPlay lyrics widget, here's what it is, how to add one, and how to make it easy to read at a glance.
A CarPlay lyrics widget is a small panel on your CarPlay dashboard that shows the current line of the song you're playing and updates in real time. To add one, install a lyrics app such as Lyricast, enable Live Activities, connect to CarPlay on iOS 26, and place the app's widget on your dashboard. Lyrics then appear without opening the app.
What is a CarPlay lyrics widget?
iOS 26 introduced widgets to CarPlay for the first time — compact, live panels that sit on the dashboard alongside your maps and music controls. A lyrics widget uses that space to show the line playing right now, refreshing word by word as the track moves. Unlike opening a lyrics app on the car screen, a widget is always visible, so you get a quick, glanceable read without tapping anything. It's the most seamless way lyrics have reached CarPlay so far.
How to add a lyrics widget to CarPlay
You'll need an iPhone on iOS 26 and a lyrics app that supports CarPlay widgets, such as Lyricast. Then:
Step 1: Install the app
Install Lyricast and open it once on your iPhone so iOS registers its widget and Live Activity.
Step 2: Turn on Live Activities
Go to Settings → Apps → Lyricast → Live Activities and switch it on.
Step 3: Connect to CarPlay
Connect your iPhone to CarPlay, wired or wireless, and go to the CarPlay dashboard.
Step 4: Add the Lyricast widget
Edit the dashboard widgets and place the Lyricast widget in an open slot.
Step 5: Play a song
Play a track in Apple Music or Spotify — the widget fills with the live lyric line and follows the music.
Lyrics widgets on your Home Screen too
The same app also offers lyrics widgets for your iPhone Home Screen, in small, medium, and large sizes. They show the now-playing track title, artist, and live lyric line, and are designed to sit cleanly on any wallpaper — handy for glancing at your phone when you're not in the car. Add one the usual way: long-press the Home Screen, tap the plus button, search for Lyricast, and pick a size.
Make the widget easy to read at a glance
In the app's settings you can adjust the lyric text size and colour so the widget stays legible from arm's length. Bump the size up for a car dashboard, pick a high-contrast colour, and set it once — the widget keeps those preferences everywhere it appears. If you drive through low-signal areas, pre-download lyrics on Wi-Fi so the widget doesn't go blank mid-song.
Widget vs full-screen lyrics: which to use?
The widget is best for a quick, always-on glance while your maps stay front and centre. If you'd rather see more of the song at once, open the lyrics app full-screen on CarPlay for a larger view. Most people leave the widget on the dashboard for daily driving and switch to full-screen only when they really want to sing along.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CarPlay have a lyrics widget?
Apple doesn't include a built-in lyrics widget, but since iOS 26 added CarPlay widgets, apps like Lyricast can place a live lyrics widget on your CarPlay dashboard. It shows the current line and updates as the song plays.
How do I add a lyrics widget to CarPlay?
Install a lyrics app, enable Live Activities in Settings → Apps, connect to CarPlay, then edit your dashboard widgets and add the app's lyrics widget. Play a song and it fills with the synced lyric line.
Do I need iOS 26 for a CarPlay lyrics widget?
CarPlay dashboard widgets arrived with iOS 26, so that version gives the smoothest experience. On earlier versions (iOS 17 and 18) you can still get lyrics on CarPlay through a lyrics app and Live Activities — you just open the app rather than pinning a dashboard widget.
Does the lyrics widget work with Apple Music and Spotify?
Yes. The widget reads whatever is playing, so it shows synced lyrics for both Apple Music and Spotify without changing your music app.
Ready to put lyrics on your dashboard? Get Lyricast free and add the CarPlay lyrics widget in a couple of minutes.
For the full setup beyond the widget, read how to get lyrics on CarPlay.