Android Auto 11.7 is now available, but this change should not be a feature

Android Auto 11.7 skipped the beta stage and went straight to the stable channel. This means that it is now being gradually rolled out to production devices through the Google Play Store.

Fortunately, the APK installer allows anyone to manually download and install this update, bypassing the Play Store’s automatic rollout that typically takes several weeks to complete. Download the APK file, browse to its location, and tap the installer to start the update. Follow the on-screen wizard to complete the installation.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for changes in Android Auto 11.7, reader Jim has discovered a controversial change that could eventually enforce Google Maps in Android Auto (this is the intended behavior) If so, you can hear the bells of antitrust law).

When you send navigation commands to Google Assistant in Android Auto 11.7, voice requests are handled correctly, but applications running on the screen are ignored. This means Google Assistant will send commands to her Google Maps even if you’re running another navigation app on Android Auto, such as Sygic’s Her GPS Navigation. Close the focused app and launch Google Assistant to perform the request.

This behavior prevents users from continuing to use another navigation app and forces Google Maps as the only navigation solution supported by Google Assistant in Android Auto. I strongly believe this is just a bug and probably due to a change in Google Assistant, but it’s odd to see it in a production channel. However, considering that Android Auto 11.7 skipped the beta stage, it’s not too surprising that bugs like this would make it to the stable channel.

This bug occurred on Samsung Galaxy S22+ and RoadTop aftermarket units that had already been updated to Android 14. I installed Android Auto 11.7 on my Galaxy S22 Ultra, but Google Assistant provides the old behavior when receiving navigation commands. This makes us think that while this strange navigation change could just be a bug affecting certain devices, it could also be a new feature that will be gradually rolled out to users around the world. You can

Google did not announce any changes for Android Auto 11.7. The company typically doesn’t comment on new app updates unless they include major new features (in which case it publishes a blog post without updating the release notes).

We’ll learn more about this mysterious change when Google releases the next Android Auto beta in the coming weeks. According to Google’s calendar, new preview builds will move into the beta program within the next two weeks, with stable builds expected to be released by the end of the month.