Apple Carplay - new widgets capability

Q&A and troubleshooting
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1

With the upcoming release of apple iOS26, Apple has introduced widgets to Carplay. Previous requests for carplay support seemingly haven’t been able to progress due to apple’s tight restrictions around the use cases for carplay, however the widgets seem to allow some more freedom.

If possible, it would be great to see support from victron for a widget (in the absence of an ability to have a full app). I would love to know my battery charge level and ideally what my charger is inputing whilst driving.

As a side question i’d also love to be able to monitor a fridge temperature via the victron app but not sure if there is a product to do this, if so that would also be great via the widget

[my use case is a 4wd for touring with a lithium battery, victron bmv-712 battery monitor and victron orion XS 12/12-50A dcdc charger]

2

IOS26 allows phone widgets to be displayed on carplay, this already works once upgrading to the new OS.

3

Thanks Nick

I am on iOS26 already but I’m using the Victron Connect app

Do I need to use VRM?

Cheers

4

Yes, the widgets are based on VRM and the VRM mobile app that enables the current phone integrations.
I don’t believe there are plans to widgetarise Victron connect.

5

Thanks Nick

I’ve downloaded the VRM app and it’s demo widgets look perfect

However it doesn’t look like that app is suitable for my level of equipment (bmv-712 and Orion xs 50) unless I’m missing something but I’ll take another look

If not then I go back to my original suggestion for customers with use cases like mine

6

Check the full range of the widgets. If you feel one is missing, it may be easier for them to add a more “off-roady” widget to VRM.
Try the status widget.
The BMV should appear as battery and the Orion, possibly, as DC (haven’t tried it myself).
I am happy to make the suggestion to the team, if current ones don’t fit.

7

The widgets in VRM look fine but the VRM app doesnt seem to support this grade of equipment

8

VRM is typically built around a multi/quattro, but BMV’s should render, not so sure about Orions etc.
Are you using a globallink or a mobile hotspot to connect to VRM?

9

Hi Nick

I couldn’t see any way to add my BMV/Orion XS in the VRM app. I think theres some confusion - that’s the only devices I have; bluetoothing to my phone and the VictronConnect app.

It would be brilliant to add similar widgets available in the VRM app, to the VictronConnect app for those of us with this level of equipment fit out.

Cheers

11

Hi @nathanc

I’ve passed on the suggestion to the VictronConnect team.

I agree this is a good new opportunity to get Victron on the car dash, and then it should be working with just the equipment you already have.

There is so much cool stuff coming for VictronConnect already, and this fits in very nicely with it.

12

Check out Ruuvi temperature sensors. I have one in my fridge, and it connects to a Cerbo just fine. Haven’t tried to see if it is available in a widget yet tho…

13

Thanks Guy - appreciate it. Apple permitting widgets in carplay has opened a lot of opportunities up. Hopefully the codebase for widgets in the VRM app can be transferred to the VictronConnect app to make it easier and more likely for them. Cheers

14

Thanks Vocoder I had been looking at those - I don’t have a cerbo though and doesn’t align with my installation type / needs… however I do love tech and data

You did make me think that I could still have something like the ruuvi, and use their own app & widget in carplay - which they do have, but it requires a gateway device.

15

Ruuvi tempsensor works greit!