The app supports Apple CarPlay for hands-free mesh messaging while driving. The CarPlay interface integrates with the iOS messaging system and Siri so that users can send and receive Meshtastic messages without looking at their phone.
The CarPlay screen presents a two-tab interface:
| Tab | Description |
|---|---|
| Channels | Lists all active mesh channels |
| Direct Messages | Lists recent and favorite contacts |
When no Meshtastic device is connected, both tabs show a "Not Connected" status item with a prompt to open the Meshtastic app.
Each channel row shows:
Tapping a channel row starts a Siri compose session for that channel.
The Direct Messages tab is divided into two sections:
Each contact row shows:
Use these Siri voice commands in CarPlay to interact with Meshtastic:
| Voice Command | Example Phrase | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Send Message | "Send a message on Meshtastic" | Composes and sends a text message to a contact or channel |
| Search Messages | "Search Meshtastic messages" | Searches message history |
| Mark as Read | "Mark Meshtastic message as read" | Marks a conversation as read |
When CarPlay is connected and Announce Notifications is enabled in iOS Settings → Siri, Siri reads incoming Meshtastic messages aloud. Only non-emoji, non-admin text messages trigger announcements.
Up to 50 unread messages that arrived before the CarPlay session started are donated to Siri at connection time so they can be read back on demand.
After Siri reads messages aloud, they are automatically marked as read so they no longer appear as unread in the app or in future CarPlay sessions.
When a Meshtastic device connects during a CarPlay session and no Live Activity is running, a mesh status Live Activity starts automatically (iOS only, not available on macOS). It shows the connection, nodes online, unread messages and the radio's battery. On iOS 26 it appears on the CarPlay Dashboard as well as the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island.
When CarPlay disconnects, the Live Activity it started ends. A Live Activity you started yourself — mesh status or tracking a node — keeps running. See Live Activity.