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CarCue · iPhone + Apple Shortcuts

Your car.
Your startup sound.

Give every drive a familiar welcome. Choose an audio file, set your volume, and let CarCue play it when CarPlay connects.

View on the App Store See the setup

For iPhone with iOS 17 or later. One-time setup in Apple Shortcuts required.

CarCue showing a selected startup sound, sound preview, and volume controls
Choose the sound for your next drive.

Make it yours

A small ritual for every drive.

Bring your own audio

Import MP3, M4A, WAV, and other supported audio files from your iPhone. Keep multiple sounds in your library.

Preview, then pick

Listen before you choose. Select one active startup sound and switch it whenever you feel like something different.

Set the volume

Adjust your startup sound’s playback level. CarCue briefly lowers other audio while your sound plays.

One-time setup

Connect. Wait. Play.

First, add an audio file in CarCue and select it as your startup sound. Then connect it to your car with Apple Shortcuts.

CarCue runs on your iPhone, rather than on the CarPlay dashboard. Your car’s connection routes the sound to its speakers.

  1. Open Shortcuts, tap Automation, then tap +.
  2. Choose CarPlay → Connects and Run Immediately.
  3. Create a New Blank Automation.
  4. Add Wait and set it to 5 seconds so CarPlay has time to connect.
  5. Add CarCue’s Play Car Sound action below Wait, then save.

Inside CarCue

Your sound, ready to go.

CarCue sound library with an active sound and preview button
Select and preview a sound
CarCue startup volume controls and Shortcuts setup card
Adjust your playback
CarCue Connect your car card with CarPlay automation instructions
Follow the setup steps

Common questions

Before your next drive.

What do I need to use CarCue?

CarCue runs on an iPhone with iOS 17 or later. To play a sound when CarPlay connects, create a one-time personal automation in Apple Shortcuts.

Does CarCue appear on the CarPlay dashboard?

CarCue runs on your iPhone. Apple Shortcuts triggers the selected sound when CarPlay connects; CarCue is not a dashboard CarPlay app.

Which audio files can I use?

Import MP3, M4A, WAV, and other audio formats supported by your iPhone. Preview your files in CarCue, then choose the sound you want to play.

Why add a five-second wait?

The recommended wait gives CarPlay time to finish connecting before the Play Car Sound action runs. Your iPhone must be connected to your car for audio to play through its speakers.

Need a hand getting connected?

Get help with CarCue, audio files, or Shortcuts setup.

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