A third-party application called Dynamic Lyrics is bridging a long-standing functional gap in Apple CarPlay by allowing users to display real-time, time-synced song lyrics directly on their vehicle’s dashboard. While Apple Music natively supports lyrics on the iPhone and Mac, the CarPlay interface has historically restricted this feature on the primary dashboard to minimize driver distraction.
The app leverages specific capabilities introduced with the release of iOS 26 in late 2025. This software update, which debuted the “Liquid Glass” design language, was the first to permit third-party widgets to appear within the CarPlay dashboard stack. By utilizing this widget support, Dynamic Lyrics can place scrolling text alongside navigation maps and media controls, a layout previously reserved for first-party Apple applications.
Compatibility and Cost
Dynamic Lyrics is compatible with both Apple Music and Spotify.
How to Set Up the Lyrics Widget
To enable the feature, users must ensure their iPhone is updated to at least iOS 26. Once the Dynamic Lyrics app is installed and the music service is authorized, the widget must be manually added to the car’s interface via the iPhone’s settings menu.
According to technical guides for the updated CarPlay interface, the setup follows this specific path: Settings > General > CarPlay > [Your Car’s Name] > Customize > Widgets. From this menu, users can drag the Dynamic Lyrics widget into the active dashboard view.
The app effectively creates a “karaoke” experience for passengers.
