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Android Auto is already available in approximately 200 million vehicles on the road, and adoption is increasing as new models with built-in support are launched.
Google is also working harder to improve Android Auto, mainly because it’s an important part of the company’s automotive strategy.
Google (unlike its longtime rival Apple) has never planned to make cars, so its automotive ambitions center around software and services such as Android Auto, Android Automotive, and Google Automotive services. .
If you’re new to Android Auto, here’s what you need to know about Android Auto.
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
No need to download Android Auto.
Like CarPlay, Android Auto is integrated into your phone, so you don’t need to download it. However, unlike its Apple sibling, Android Auto is serviced through the Google Play Store.
This approach has significant benefits, as Google can provide new features and improvements independently of operating system updates.
Apple can only update CarPlay with iOS updates, which are usually once a month or more rarely. New Android Auto versions will be published on the Google Play Store and automatically downloaded to your device if you enable automatic updates.
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
wired and wireless.
Android Auto can run wirelessly or with a cable. However, connectivity options vary depending on the support built into your vehicle.
Most cars with wireless connectivity also support wired connectivity (the connection between your phone and the vehicle using a proprietary cable), but all cars with wired Android Auto support a cord-free experience. Not that there are.
However, if your vehicle only supports Android Auto wired, you can always update to wireless mode using a dedicated adapter. This device must be connected to the vehicle’s USB port and connected to the mobile phone via Bluetooth. It acts as an intermediary for the connection between the phone and the car.
The main advantage of Android Auto Wireless is that there is no need for a cable to power the connection. The Android Auto cable frequently caused connectivity issues and sometimes prevented apps from running because the head unit wouldn’t detect the mobile device. However, if you run Android Auto wirelessly, you should also expect a drop in battery, as wireless connections require more power than wired connections (because your phone is connected, your battery will also drop slightly). increase).
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
Requires at least Android Oreo.
Android Auto has basic requirements and can run on devices running older versions of Google’s mobile operating system.
The wired connection requires at least Android 8.0 (also known as Oreo), while the wireless version requires at least Android 11 (some phones, such as Google Pixel and Samsung models, run Android Auto on older Android versions). (also supports wireless).
Otherwise, all you need to launch Android Auto in your car is a compatible Android version. Android Auto wired connections also require a compatible cable, while wireless connections allow you to pair your device and media receiver with no additional requirements. Android Go, an operating system for devices with low-end hardware specifications, is not supported.
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
Works with any Android smartphone.
Although some older versions of Android are not supported, any device running Google’s mobile operating system is compatible with Android Auto as long as it’s running a supported OS.
Many users believe that Android Auto only supports Google Pixel smartphones, but this is incorrect. Android Auto comes preloaded on all phones running Android, so you can run your app on Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, and other brands of phones with this operating system.
The Android Auto experience is generally independent of your phone’s hardware specifications, but older and slower phones may have difficulty running multiple apps at the same time.
Most Android Auto users run navigation apps (Google Maps, Waze, etc.), music streaming like YouTube Music or Spotify, and make phone calls and send text messages. If your phone can handle all these tasks at the same time, you should be able to run Android Auto without any problems. Your phone may get hot when running multiple apps, especially when connected to Android Auto wired for charging.
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
voice commands.
Support for voice commands is essential to the Android Auto experience because it allows users to interact with apps without taking their eyes off the road.
Android Auto’s voice commands are powered by Google apps. If you’ve already set up the Google app on your mobile device, you should also be able to use voice commands with Android Auto.
The Google app is updated regularly, and when you update it on your mobile device, the latest improvements for Android Auto are available in your car. If something goes wrong (which happens often), you should try resetting the Google app by clearing cache and data, removing the latest updates.
Google Assistant integration is available in Android Auto and supported apps (if developers add voice command support), so you can use it to make calls, send messages, and control navigation. or listen to music.
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