Hello all, I recently started using Apple Music on my iPhone via the Apple Car Play interface in my 2025 ES350. I downloaded songs to my phone so as to be able to listen when not connected to any online entities such 5G or WiFi. I thought my iPhone connected to my Lexus via Bluetooth, at least for Apple Car Play. It seems that my iPhone is using my cellular data when I am listening to Apple Music from my iPhone in the car even though the music data lives on my phone. Am I missing something? Thanks…

 

There's a setting on the iPhone to tell it not to use cell data to play music. I don't remember exactly where because it was a long time ago. Probably somewhere in Apple Music. If not, then look in Settings.

 

For wireless CarPlay Bluetooth is only used in the initial setting up of a private Wi-Fi network between the iPhone and the ES. Once the private Wi-Fi network is set up Bluetooth is no longer used since all wireless CarPlay data communication is over that private Wi-Fi network. (In case it isn't obvious, data transmitted over that private Wi-Fi network is not cellular data and won't be counted as such on your cellular phone plan.)

The setting DavidZ is referring to is located under Settings -> Cellular Data. You'll need to scroll down to the CELLULAR DATA section where there's an APPS BY USAGE subheading. There you'll find a list of all installed apps with an on/off toggle that controls whether or not the app can use cellular data. The Apple Music app is listed so you can set it to not use cellular data.

If you have "Enable Cellular Usage Statistics" (scroll all the way to the bottom to find it) set to on, the listing for Music (as well as all the other apps listed) will have listed the amount of cellular data the app has used since the last time the usage statistics was reset with the "Reset Statistics" entry located just below the "Enable Cellular Usage Statistics" control.

If your cellular phone plan has data limits (hard maximum, speed tiered by accumulated month's usage, etc.) on it consider using cellular statistics and resetting the usage statistics when your plan renews each month. Doing so will give you a better handle on how much of your cellular data allowance you've used and how much data each app has used so far in the current month's cycle.

 

Thank you 😁

 

Dayum! That was a superb reply.