Bigger navigation in your Tesla — iPhone screen connection guide

ScreenToCar shows your phone screen (such as navigation) in your car's browser, on iPhone and Android. It is an independent app, not affiliated with Tesla.

Navigation only while driving; video only while parked. Finish setup and all adjustments before driving, while parked.

What you need

An iPhone with iOS 17 or later, ScreenToCar, a plan that supports Personal Hotspot, and a car with Wi‑Fi and a browser. The phone and car must share the same local network. Try free screen sharing in your own car before buying.

1. Turn on Personal Hotspot

On your iPhone, open Settings › Personal Hotspot and enable “Allow Others to Join.” Keep this screen open, select your iPhone in the car’s Wi‑Fi list and enter the hotspot password.

In ScreenToCar, tap “Start Sharing,” then select ScreenToCar › “Start Broadcast” in the iOS dialog. Allow local network access if prompted. After the countdown, open your navigation app. Anything visible on your phone, including notifications, may appear in the car.

3. Open the car browser and save a bookmark

While parked, enter the complete address shown in the app into the car browser. The address below is an example; use the actual address and access code from your app.

http://172.20.10.1/?k=<code>

Once the screen appears, bookmark the address in the car browser. Next time, connect to the hotspot, start the broadcast and open the bookmark. Update it if you reset the code or the IP address or port changes. Do not share the address containing your access code.

Troubleshooting

If the hotspot is missing or will not connect, try enabling “Maximize Compatibility” on your iPhone, if available. If the connection is already stable, leave it as it is. This option can reduce performance.
Save the iPhone hotspot in the car’s Wi‑Fi settings and enable auto-connect if offered. If “Remain Connected in Drive” is available, set it before departure. Menu names can vary with vehicle software.
Keep the iPhone in a safe mount near the car display. If disconnected, stop safely, check that both devices use the same hotspot and the broadcast is active, then run connection diagnostics in ScreenToCar Settings.

If the address will not open, check http://, the code and the port. If the app shows IP 172.20.10.1, try the sslip.io address below, then the nip.io address.

http://172-20-10-1.sslip.io/?k=<code>
http://172-20-10-1.nip.io/?k=<code>

Replace <code> with the access code shown in the app. For a different IP, replace its dots with hyphens; if the port is :8080, keep it after the domain. These alternative addresses use public DNS to resolve a local IP; screen sharing stays local. DNS or vehicle restrictions may block them. Real-car compatibility has not yet been verified.

Use car Bluetooth for sound

ScreenToCar sends the screen, not audio, to the browser. Pair your iPhone with the car over Bluetooth and select Bluetooth as the car’s audio source. If silent, check both volumes and the iPhone’s audio output. Sound may lag behind or lead the picture. Watch video only while parked.

Shortcuts: open the app when car Bluetooth connects

On your iPhone, open Shortcuts › Automation › New Automation › Bluetooth and select your car. Choose “Is Connected” and “Run Immediately” if those options appear.
Add the “Open App” action, select ScreenToCar and save. Menus vary by iOS version; unlocking or confirmation may be required. Test by disconnecting and reconnecting while parked.

This automation only opens the app. Check the hotspot connection and manually tap “Start Sharing” › “Start Broadcast” each time. It does not start a broadcast automatically.

Official help: Apple — Troubleshooting · Apple — Shortcuts: open the app when car Bluetooth connects

support@dawonlabs.com