CarPlay Interface for Lexus NX, RX, IS, ES, GS, RC, CT and LS (2012-2022): how to add Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

A Lexus is one of those cars that ages well. The interior trim, the materials, how quiet it is on the move and its reliability all survive the years without a wrinkle. What does not age as well is the infotainment: the dashboard screen is still sharp and the console controller still works like it did on day one, but the navigation is out of date, music depends on a USB stick and the phone only connects over Bluetooth for calls.

The good news is that you do not have to rip anything out. In a Lexus, the most sensible route is to add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to the original screen using an interface: the dashboard stays exactly as it is and the car gains the one thing it was missing.

Does the Lexus have CarPlay as standard?

It depends on the year and the trim. Lexus was slow to bring CarPlay and Android Auto to its Lexus Multimedia system, and for many years the standard infotainment was built around its own navigation and a Bluetooth connection for calls and audio. Plenty of NX, RX, IS, ES, GS, RC, CT and LS models are on the road today with a perfectly good screen but no phone integration at all.

These Lexus systems also have one particular trait: they are not operated by touching the screen, but with the controller on the centre console. Depending on the version that can be a rotary dial, a joystick or a touchpad (large or small). That controller is what decides which solution fits each car, far more than the registration year.

The solution: a CarPlay interface for the original screen

The CarPlay and Android Auto interface for Lexus is a module that sits between the screen and the original system. It keeps the factory equipment and adds a new source that you switch to and back from whenever you want. This is what it brings:

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with no need to plug the phone in every time you get into the car.
• Phone navigation on the car's screen: Google Maps, Waze and the other compatible apps, with the live traffic the factory navigation no longer has.
• Music and hands-free calls through the vehicle's audio system.
• Your phone's voice assistant, so you can dictate destinations or messages without letting go of the wheel.
• Screen mirroring via AirPlay and AutoLink, depending on your phone and the apps you use.
• Instant switching between the original system and CarPlay, keeping the factory radio, climate control and menus.
• Optional camera input, if you want to add an extra camera to the setup.

The kit includes the interface module, the power harness, the LVDS cable, the WiFi antenna, the adapter harness and the USB cable. It does not include a new screen: the display is still the car's own, with the same size and the same controls.

Lexus compatibility: models, years and controllers

The applications listed by the manufacturer cover Lexus NX, RX, IS, ES, GS, RC, CT and LS within the 2012-2022 period. That range should be read carefully: it does not mean every version of every model is compatible, because a single model can carry several different infotainment units.

What really matters is the screen and controller combination. The four usual types are covered:

• Rotary dial (first-generation Remote Touch).
• Joystick, typical of the NX, IS and RX from the middle of the last decade.
• Large touchpad, fitted to many later RX and ES models.
• Small touchpad, common on the most recent NX and UX.

That is why we always ask for the same thing before shipping anything: a photo of the screen, one of the console and one of the original controller. With those three photos we confirm the exact version you need, and we both avoid a return because the connector was wrong.

What is the installation like?

It is a strip-and-plug job, with no cutting of the car's wiring:

1. Remove the console trim and free the screen module, using plastic tools so the dashboard is not marked.
2. Insert the LVDS cable: the original video cable is unplugged from the screen and the interface sits in the middle, taking the signal from the system and passing it on to the display.
3. Connect the power harness and the adapter to the connectors provided, with no splices and no cuts.
4. Place the WiFi antenna somewhere clear behind the dashboard, so the wireless link with the phone stays stable.
5. Test before closing up: pair the phone, check that the controller navigates CarPlay and that switching between the original system and the interface works both ways.
6. Refit everything and secure the module properly so it does not rattle behind the console.

It is reversible: unplug the interface and the car goes back to how it was. If you have never removed a trim panel before, our guide on how to remove the factory radio without breaking anything will help.

Interface or Android screen: which suits a Lexus

Both routes exist in our catalogue, and they do not compete: they solve different cars.

The interface is the natural choice when you like the factory system, the screen is built into the dashboard and you would rather not touch the interior. You keep the original looks, controls and functions, and add CarPlay and Android Auto on top.

A full Android screen makes sense when the original unit has fallen too far behind or you want a bigger, touch-operated display. For that we have specific articles on the Lexus NX, the Lexus RX and the Lexus IS 250, plus an overview of the whole brand in the Lexus compatibility guide.

If you are still torn between the two, we compare them in depth in full Android screen versus CarPlay interface.

Frequently asked questions

Do I lose the Lexus navigation and original menus?
No. The interface is added to the system: one input on the controller takes you to CarPlay and another brings you back to the factory menu, with its radio, its settings and its navigation.

Does the console controller work inside CarPlay?
Yes, the interface is designed to be used with the original controller (dial, joystick or touchpad) and with the compatible steering wheel buttons, since the screen on these Lexus models is not a touchscreen.

Do I need a cable for the phone?
Not for everyday use: CarPlay and Android Auto run wirelessly over WiFi and Bluetooth. The USB cable supplied is there for the module's connection and for occasional use.

Is the factory reversing camera kept?
The original system still shows what it showed before. If you also want to add an extra camera there is an input for it; the adapter needed should be confirmed for each version.

How do I know whether my Lexus is compatible?
Send us three photos — screen, console and controller — plus the year of the car. We confirm the version before you buy anything; it is far more reliable than going by the year alone.

See the CarPlay interface for Lexus

You can see the full listing for the CarPlay and Android Auto interface for Lexus NX, RX, IS, ES, GS, RC, CT and LS, and browse the rest of our Lexus solutions in the shop. Write to us with the model, the year and photos of the screen and controller: we will tell you the same day which version you need.