2019 Prius Hybrid 11.6 in Screen Apply Carplay or Android Auto

the base model has your typical toyota audio system wiring but the 11.6" screen is quite different. The 2020 version Prius I believe got carplay, not sure about android auto. but wondering if you can swap your system with that system.

 

I've posted on here before about this, and even recently (July 2020) asked the dealer yet again about this for our 2018 Prius 4.

As for "OEM", as of now, it seems the only way to get OEM Apple Carplay/A. Audio functionality for this screen would be to replace the entire unit for one from a 2020 model, as it's all about newer vs. older entune (the older entune on 2019 and older Prius cannot be flashed to the newer version). And when you consider that the newer 2020 head unit costs over SIX GRAND, it would be expensive. When I asked the Toyo service manager about doing the swap and if there were any compatibility issues, he looked at my like I was crazy... and then said he was unsure, b/c there's been no one insane enough to drop that kind of money to do the swap.

As for aftermarket, there are a couple of companies that make modules you can wire in (requires removing parts of the dash) that produce a screen overlay on the OEM screen. But frankly those don't interest me because I like to keep everything with a "factory" look - I don't care to have external wires I have to hide, or after market buttons taped to the footwells/dash, etc.

 

I'm assuming the '18 prius 4 is similar to your non-jbl base model head unit. The 2020 Carplay head unit has different wiring than your previous models. You are going to have to figure out what the new colors of the wiring. Even Crutchfield does not have this info available yet of switching out 2020 headunits with aftermarket. If you are knowledgable with car audio, it may be doable. Usually once Crutchfield and the aftermarket world figures out the new wiring, then you have people selling their old unit for aftermarket stuff. Until then, you probably won't find a reasonable price 2020 headunit.

 

THIS is what I've been wondering about for a long time ("The 2020 Carplay head unit has different wiring than your previous models"). Thanks for the info.

 

https://gromaudio.com/grom_application_guide.htm

 

Just wondering if anyone has managed to get Carplay or Android Auto working on a 2019 Prius (Limited)?
I went down that rabbit hole so far, calling Toyota tech support & more, finally gave up and traded for a '23 Prius XLE (no regrets).
Android Auto is a game changer.
But had my 2019 USB port actually supported Carplay or Android Auto, I would have kept the car and used a magic box on the USB port or something to at least make use of the screen. Last I saw, there were several firmware updates to the 2019 Prius large screen infotainment system, but NONE of them added Carplay support. If they had done that with one simple update, I might still have that car.
That said, the '23 Prius is much better in almost every way: sporty and modern, less storage.
Is there any 2019 Prius in existence that has Carplay or Android Auto (via firmware update)?

2023 Toyota Prius XLE, Guardian Gray
2019 Toyota Prius Limited, Premium JBL Package, Electric Storm Blue (traded)
2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Smoked Quartz Metallic (traded)
2010 Toyota Prius IV, Solar Roof Package, Blue Ribbon Metallic (traded)
2006 Toyota Prius, Package #8, Classic Silver Metallic (sold)
2000 Toyota Celica GT-S, Liquid Silver Metallic (traded)
1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24, Black (traded)