CarTVVideo on your car display
CarTV plays your M3U playlists, Jellyfin / Emby libraries and local videos — and puts them, or any app on your iPhone, on the car screen. No account. Nothing leaves your phone.
For passengers only. Never watch while driving.
Everything you need, and nothing you don't
All you need is a playlist link or your own media server. CarTV parses it, sorts it, and plays it — on the phone or on the car screen.
M3U / M3U8 playlists
Paste a link or scan a QR code. Groups, logos and channel names from your playlist are recognized automatically. Add as many as you need.
Screen mirroring
Put your whole iPhone screen on the car display. Works with any app — even ones without a Cast button. One tap to start.
Cast from your apps
CarTV shows up as a cast target in 35+ video apps, from Bilibili, YouTube and Tencent Video to Plex, Emby and Infuse.
Jellyfin & Emby
Sign in to your own server. Browse libraries, seasons and episodes; episodes are sorted for you and resume where you stopped.
Plays almost anything
Hardware-accelerated decoding, with a software decoder as fallback for MKV, HEVC and DTS. Embedded and external subtitles included.
Car mode & CarPlay
A landscape layout with oversized controls and large type for the car screen, and one-tap switching between entries.
Your own videos
Import files from Files or Photos and play them offline, sorted automatically and ready to go.
Browse while you watch
A mini player keeps playing while you look through the rest of your list. Favorites, groups and search are one tap away.
Private by design
No account, no sign-in. Playlists, server addresses and credentials never leave your iPhone — there is no server of ours to send them to.
Built for the road
A fresh design with a native feel, on the phone and on the dashboard.
Cast anything to your car
Connect your iPhone to CarPlay, open CarTV on the car display, and what's on your phone is on the big screen.
- 1Apps with a Cast buttonIn another app, tap Cast and choose your car. CarTV receives DLNA / UPnP casts and plays them on the car screen.
- 2Any other appMirror your iPhone screen. Open any app and it appears on the car display exactly as on your phone.
- 3Keep watchingCasting keeps running in the background with a Live Activity on your Lock Screen, so you can switch apps freely.
Moments worth stopping for
When the car is parked and the big display lights up, an ordinary wait becomes time worth remembering.
- Park by the lake on a quiet weekend and finally watch that old movie you've been saving.
- At the campsite, stay curled up together after sunset while you wait for the stars.
- During a forty-minute charging stop, watch two cartoons with the kids — CarTV remembers where you left off.
Free to download. Pro when you want more.
Playlists, media servers and local videos work out of the box. CarTV Pro unlocks everything, on the phone and in the car.
Pay once and keep it forever, or subscribe and cancel anytime. Purchases are handled by the App Store.
- Unlimited sourcesAdd unlimited playlists and media servers
- Car modeLandscape interface optimized for in-car use
- Real-time subtitlesSync video subtitles to the big screen for easier viewing
- Unlimited castingReceive casts and mirror your screen with no time limit
Join the community
Questions, playlist tips, feature requests — pick whichever channel you already use.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Pro only on the device where I purchased it?
No. Pro is linked to the App Store account you used to make the purchase. You can restore access on multiple compatible devices using the same account, without purchasing it again for each device.
Weekly and yearly subscriptions must be active. Lifetime Pro is a one-time purchase with no renewal fees.
How are media source accounts and browser sign-in data stored?
Media source connection details and sign-in credentials, along with your browser website sign-in sessions, are stored locally on your device.
When you sign in, load content, or play media, CarTV communicates directly with the relevant media server or website.
Why do some features stop working properly after updating to iOS 27.2?
The current iOS 27.2 beta has compatibility issues with CarTV that may prevent some features from working properly.
If you have not updated yet, we recommend staying on your current working iOS version until compatibility with iOS 27.2 has been confirmed.
What is a media source? Does CarTV include channels?
CarTV is a media player and does not include any channels or movies.
A media source is a link or server information that tells the player where to get content. Common examples include:
• An M3U channel playlist link from your provider.
• An Xtream account, including the server address, username, and password.
• Your own Emby or Jellyfin media server.
Once added, you can browse and play the content in CarTV.
Where can I find media sources?
If you subscribe to an IPTV service, you can use the M3U link or the server address, username, and password supplied by your provider.
You can also connect directly to your own Emby or Jellyfin server.
Free public channel playlists are available online, but their availability and reliability vary, and some channels may no longer work.
What should I do if a pasted link shows “Download failed” or “Not a valid channel playlist”?
First check that you copied the complete link, without missing characters or extra text.
Then try opening it in Safari. If it downloads a playlist file or displays text starting with #EXTM3U, the link is usually accessible.
If the link does not open or has expired, contact your provider.
If it opens in Safari but CarTV cannot import it, contact us with the error message so we can investigate.
Which formats does CarTV support?
CarTV supports M3U / M3U8 channel playlists, HLS and standard HTTP video streams, and local video files.
Both embedded and external subtitles are supported, including subtitle tracks in MKV files.
Actual playback performance depends on factors such as the video encoding, the file itself, and your device’s capabilities.
What should I do if a channel keeps loading, shows a black screen, or has no sound?
First switch to another channel to see whether the problem affects only certain channels or all of them.
If only certain channels have problems, their media sources may be temporarily unavailable. If a channel has multiple playback sources, try switching to another one.
If all channels have problems, check your network connection first. If you use an account from a provider, also check whether you have exceeded its limit on simultaneous streams.
Your provider sets the simultaneous streaming limit for your media source account. This is separate from using CarTV Pro on multiple devices.
Join us and earn together
If you have more than 1,000 followers on TikTok or Instagram, you are welcome to apply to the CarTV Partner Program.
How it works
How to apply: Send the link to your own TikTok or Instagram profile to hi@cartv.app. We will reply within 48 hours of receiving your email.
Once you join, we will provide you with a unique redemption code. Share it on your social platforms so your followers can get 20% off Lifetime Pro when they purchase using your code.
For each eligible order completed using your code, you will earn 20% of the revenue after Apple's platform fees as your referral commission.
How to redeem: Open the CarTV Pro purchase page, tap the redemption code option in the bottom-right corner, enter the code, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the purchase.
See the steps
Post on TikTok or Instagram to get free lifetime Pro
Are you a content creator? If your TikTok or Instagram account has at least 300 followers, you're welcome to take part in this promotion.
Post an original video about your experience with CarTV, created by you, on that account. Show footage of your actual use of the app, and introduce its features, demonstrate how to use it, or share your honest experience. Reposted or stolen videos, and submissions of videos published by someone else, do not qualify.
After posting, email both the video link and the publishing account's profile link to hi@cartv.app. We will reply within 48 hours of receiving your email. Once we have verified the account information and video content, we will give you a code redeemable for lifetime Pro membership.
How to redeem: Open the CarTV Pro purchase page, tap the redemption code option in the bottom-right corner, enter the code, and follow the on-screen instructions to redeem it.
See the steps