If you own an Android flagship and a car, you’ve likely already heard of and used Android Auto. Android Auto is a neat way to leverage the smarts of your phone and pair it to the bigger and more conveniently positioned display on your car’s head unit, to get navigation and other functionality with very little distraction. However, Android Auto isn’t perfect, and one long-time complaint of users is the absence of any climate control settings, for which users often have to switch back to their car head unit’s OS. Google has been spotted working on bringing climate control settings to Android Auto, and today, we have a demo of it, showcasing Android Auto’s upcoming layout with integrated climate control settings.

I’ve long believed that wired is superior to wireless in almost every instance, and it mostly is. You’ll get the best speeds when physically tethered to the wall while charging a phone. Ethernet is generally more reliable than Wi-Fi will ever be, while wired headphones remain the best option for those who value audio quality. However, going wireless has its benefits in some cases. This was made very clear to me when I bought a cheap wireless Android Auto dongle.

When I got my car, I knew I’d have to use a USB cable for Android Auto. This wasn’t a problem initially, but I soon encountered a few practical issues. For one, I didn’t like the idea of my device sitting on a hot dashboard while charging, slowly sucking the potential from the battery. Over time, this would probably force me to upgrade to a new device earlier than expected, and when that phone offers seven years of software support, I’d like the hardware to last at least as long.

Google’s Gemini chatbot is available on many Android phones and on the web, but the company still relies on Assistant for smartwatches, Android Auto, smart displays, and more. Now, the company has confirmed that Gemini is spreading its wings later this year.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai used the firm’s Q1 2025 earnings call to announce Gemini’s expansion:

Of all the Google products I use daily, Android Auto is perhaps my favorite. Whenever I hop into my car, it reliably boots up with all my apps and audio ready to go, alongside my Google Maps screen detailing nearby traffic. It works flawlessly as a driving assistant, but it’s more of a challenge to use as a passenger.

Android Auto isn’t passenger-friendly

Imagine stepping into your car, phone still in your pocket, and instantly seeing your favorite apps: Google Maps, Spotify, WhatsApp, light up your dashboard screen. No cables. No fumbling. Just wireless Android Auto, ready to go, the moment you start the engine.

But here’s the thing: not every car supports wireless Android Auto, and upgrading your vehicle isn’t practical or cheap. That’s where the AAWireless TWO adapter comes in. This compact, plug-and-play device unlocks the wireless Android Auto experience in almost any car with a USB port, no tech skills required.

I wholly understand why Google disallows some apps to run on Android Auto and why some developers resist including support on their apps. After all, having a built-in screen that displays videos or web pages on a car’s dashboard is just as distracting as using a phone while driving. But to say that Android Auto’s app talents aren’t fully realized isn’t an understatement.

It appears that we may soon get game support on Android Auto, and Gemini support is looming large, too. However, I’d love to see a gaggle of great apps that support Google’s smart car dashboard. This is my Android Auto apps wishlist.

Taking your eyes off the road to look at your car’s infotainment screen while driving is a recipe for disaster, yet many of us still do it daily while following directions in Google Maps. Although some cars overcome this issue by bringing the navigation prompts within your line of sight, either through a heads-up display or on the screen behind your steering wheel, that’s not the case for the vast majority of the cars on the road today. Google seems aware of this shortcoming and is working on a new Android Auto feature to bring navigation prompts within your field of view, even if your car doesn’t have a heads-up display.

Cars are a whole lot more than just a way for us to get from point A to point B, and considering how much time some of us spend in them, it shouldn’t be any surprise that in-vehicle entertainment is a major priority. These days, car dashboards are just as connected and hooked in to streaming services as our phones, but there’s long been one entertainment option they lacked: gaming. Google’s recently started a concerted effort to do something about that, and we’re now getting some new details about the arrival of gaming on Android Auto.

In addition to app support expanding on Android Automotive, late last month we started to hear about game compatibility coming to Android Auto, as well. When parked, the system would allow you to play a number of compatible games — indeed, Google labels the collection “Play while parked“.

Android Auto is one of Google’s more underrated products. It provides a quick and distraction-free portal to your Android smartphone while on the road, allowing you to play music, access pertinent information, and navigate your surroundings. Naturally, I take full advantage of it with a list of apps I rely on daily. But what about those apps that aren’t as obvious as Spotify, Google Maps, Waze, or WhatsApp? Below is my list of underrated Android Auto apps that are well worth trying.

Musicolet

Cars with Android Automotive (also known as Google Built-In) have supported games since earlier this year, but you were out of luck if you had a car with Android Auto. Fortunately, it looks like that’s changing this week.

9to5Google reports that the latest Android Auto beta (version 14.1) now lets you play some games on your car’s screen. The list of supported titles seems very short right now, with the outlet specifically mentioning Angry Birds 2, Beach Buggy Racing, Candy Crush Soda Saga, and Farm Heroes Saga. We were able to activate this feature in an Android Auto emulator to get a better idea of how it works. Check out the screenshots below.

The latest version of Android Auto has started rolling out to users, and some will be disappointed to see that there aren’t any visible changes just yet. However, a deeper dive into the app has strongly suggested that Gemini is almost ready to replace Google Assistant in your car.

According to 9to5Google, Android Auto 14.0 is now reaching users via the stable release in the Play Store. A teardown of the app’s code reveals several new strings and assets that reference Gemini and Gemini Live. One line flatly states, “Gemini is now the personal AI assistant in your car,” while others refer to user surveys and feedback prompts specifically tied to Gemini’s performance in Android Auto.

We first heard about Android Auto potentially getting climate control support a couple of weeks ago. Now, an app teardown has given us plenty more details about this feature.

I love listening to music while driving. Finding tracks that suit the mood of any given road trip sets the overarching tone for the journey. While my partner and I usually curate driving playlists for this purpose, sometimes I want to listen to the radio when I’m alone. I can do just that with my car’s built-in receiver, but what if I want to hear something beyond my country’s borders? Perhaps stations from the US? Well, I recently stumbled across Non Stop Radio, which allows me to do just that.

I should warn you, though: Non Stop Radio is very rough around the edges. It launched in November 2024, so it’s still pretty young in its development life.

It was only a few weeks ago when we reported on Android Auto users who were facing an irritating issue causing their phones to reboot when attempting to connect to their car systems wirelessly. But that wasn’t the only problem Android Auto users have been dealing with since February. A growing number of complaints claim that a different bug is preventing them from scrolling.

In February, reports started popping up about an issue with scrolling on Android Auto. Affected users found that they could not scroll past a few rows while using apps like Amazon Music, BBC Sounds, SoundCloud, and so on. On top of limiting how far these users could scroll, it’s reported that the bug also forces users back to the top of the list.

For as much as we love Android Auto, and the way it brings some of our favorite apps to our vehicles, it just really doesn’t feel as tightly integrated as Android on pretty much any other platform. From phones to TVs, Android on other devices tends to offer reasonably thorough access to the underlying hardware, but with vehicles, Android Auto exists almost on another level, largely distinct from your car itself — this is exactly why we have the split between Android Auto and Android Automotive. Google could still be making headway on better Auto integration, though, and a recent teardown sheds some light on what form that may take.

Cracking open the newly released Android Auto 13.9 beta, the crew over at 9to5Google identified a series of text strings that quite plainly reference vehicle climate controls:

It’s a sign of the times: More and more capable AI models are making their way into more and more corners of our lives. And while that’s not a shift that’s happening without controversy, it’s also one with the potential to be quite empowering. One specific place where we’ve been tracking the growing presence of AI is in our vehicles, excited at the potential they have to help with everything from navigation to keeping us entertained on the drive.

Update, March 6, 2025 (10:42 AM ET): In addition to standard Google Gemini, we’ve also been able to get an early look at Gemini Live on Android Auto.

Update, March 5, 2025 (04:10 PM ET): This post has been updated to clarify the in-development nature of this feature.

I’m faced with an annoying dilemma whenever I get into my car: Which of Google’s two navigation apps do I use? While Google Maps is my standard option, Waze often offers far better insights into real-time traffic conditions. Either way, I can only pick one.

There has been plenty of talk about Waze and Google Maps merging to create one super app in recent years, and I have little doubt that Google has thought about it. But perhaps it’s finally time for the company to consider it seriously. Hear me out, before you get the pitchforks out.

Thanks to its latest update, Waze can now mirror navigation data to the screen behind the steering wheel on select vehicles. This allows drivers quick, distraction-free navigation guidance without the need to consult the vehicle’s larger infotainment display.

More modern vehicles now feature large screens in place of physical dials and digital readouts. If such a vehicle allows it, Waze can now project some navigation data onto this display via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

Update, February 24, 2025 (06:50 AM ET): We have misidentified the solution. Even on the older version of the app, users can try turning off freeform mode and desktop mode options in Developer Settings on their devices to fix the soft reboot. Disabling these options will likely fix Android Auto-related reboots on your phone. You don’t need a newer version of Android Auto, but there’s nothing wrong with being on the latest release, too. The original article remains available below.

Original article, February 24, 2025 (04:01 AM ET): Android Auto is a great way to leverage your Android flagship phone to provide the smarts needed for in-car navigation and music. However, the caveat is that it needs to work, and Android Auto can have problems that pop up occasionally. Users recently faced an issue where their phones would reboot when attempting to connect to their car systems using Android Auto wirelessly. Thankfully, this issue now seems to be fixed.

Android Auto users are facing an irritating issue. Their phones are rebooting when attempting to wirelessly connect to car systems using the platform. This problem appears to have emerged after the release of Android Auto versions 13.4 and 13.5, which have caused a surge in complaints from users.

Last year, Google teased a major expansion of its app library for Android Automotive, aiming to bring more entertainment and utility to cars equipped with Google Built-in. Now, the tech giant has made good on that promise, announcing the rollout of dozens of new apps for vehicles running Android Automotive OS. Starting this week, drivers and passengers in supported cars will have access to a wider range of apps, but only while parked, of course.

Unlike Android Auto, which relies on a connected phone and is currently available in over 200 million vehicles, Android Automotive runs natively on the car’s infotainment system. That means apps come preloaded, and you don’t need a phone to access Google services such as Google Maps or Google Assistant.

Update: February 18, 2025 (12:05 PM ET): A spokesperson for Volvo has told Android Authority that ETA information in Google Maps has been reintroduced via a software update released last week.

Original article: February 11, 2025 (11:10 AM ET): If you’re an Android Automotive user and you’ve recently noticed a feature missing from Google Maps, you’re not alone. The estimated time of arrival (ETA) feature has disappeared for some after a recent update. While you may reflexively want to blame Google for this issue, it appears the blame falls elsewhere this time.

As an Android smartphone owner and Android Auto user, I rely on Google Maps for my daily commute. I hate driving in traffic, and as my luck would have it, my hometown is among the most congested on the continent. To keep my blood pressure low, I resort to backroads and alternative routes to skirt around any potential pain points. However, Google Maps’ missing custom route support has made this far more complicated than it should be.

Why Google Maps needs support for custom routes

A small vexing change to how Google Maps is presented on Android Auto led to a lot of annoyed users in late January. Google is now rolling out an update that fixes the problem.

During the final week of January, we reported on an issue Google Maps users were experiencing while using the app on Android Auto. Google had rolled out an update that caused the map to be centered based on the user’s vehicle display. Due to the change, the destination box ended up blocking the view of the driver’s route. This issue only appears when turn-by-turn navigation is turned off.

Google is well known for making unnecessary UI tweaks, and those changes can sometimes come at the frustration of its customers. The latest entry in this unending saga is affecting Google Maps users on Android Auto.

A few days ago, Google rolled out an update to Android Auto (version 13.6). This update didn’t come with any new features, just improvements to stability and bug fixes. It also introduced changes to make Maps fit better on an Android Auto screen and make navigation easier to read. That probably sounds all well and good, but there’s a tiny problem.

For years, CarPlay has mirrored iPhone screens to vehicles’ infotainment systems, letting users stream music and navigate with digital maps through an optimized UI. During its main WWDC22 keynote, Apple announced CarPlay 2 and promised to deliver it last year. Like Android Automotive, the next-gen CarPlay will partially work without a tethered smartphone, letting users access vehicle controls and relevant data. After missing its 2024 deadline, Apple has now acknowledged the delay without providing a clear launch date for the update.

Apple has removed references to CarPlay 2 launching in 2024 from its website, confirming the service’s delay. In a statement to 9to5Mac, the company reassured users that it’s still working with automakers to deliver it.

Android, as a whole, has been a huge success, and the versatile platform has found a home on everything from our phones to our wrists. But there are still areas where Android’s influence feels a little shaky, and probably one of the more uncertain spaces it occupies is in our vehicles. Granted, we have Android Auto, Android Automotive, and even Google Built-in, but car manufacturers can be notoriously controlling when it comes to the experiences their vehicles are compatible with. Even as companies like Hyundai signal their support, the future of Android in cars is far from certain, and now some new statistics give us further reason to be concerned.

The information we’re looking at arrives via a somewhat surprising source, as it pops up in Morgan Stanley’s latest Audio Entertainment Survey, shared by smartphone analyst Max Weinbach on X earlier this week (via 9to5Google). We’ll circle back to some of the interesting listening trends that report identifies in a moment, but from a platform perspective the big takeaway here is that CarPlay usage is slightly up among audio streamers (to the tune of about 2%), while Android Auto’s share is down a whole 7%.

Developing an amazing Android app is already quite challenging, so it’s no surprise that many developers don’t go the extra mile and design their app to work on cars running Android as well. After all, designing an app for Android Automotive requires a lot of extra care given road safety concerns. That, plus the smaller user base, has made the Google Play Store for cars with Google built-in a bit barren compared to the Play Store for handsets, but the app situation is going to get better next month.

That’s because Google has quietly announced that its car ready mobile apps program will launch next month. The company revealed this program at its I/O developer conference last year. The goal is to expand the number of apps available to download from the Google Play Store in cars that run Android Automotive OS. Google has basically been scouring the Play Store for mobile apps that are large-screen compatible and evaluating them to see if they’re safe to use in cars while they’re parked.

Google is working hard to find ways to fit Gemini into all of its products and services. Just yesterday, the company revealed during CES that Google TVs will be getting Gemini integration soon. While the tech giant has yet to officially announce anything, we discovered back in August that Android Auto is also destined to get a taste of Gemini. At the time, we only saw code hinting at the integration, but now we have managed to enable the UI.

Google could soon introduce a few interface changes for the Android Auto app to make it more inclusive for motorcycle riders. The company also seems to be working on adding support for higher-resolution displays to make the interface look crisp, even if you have a 10-inch or larger head unit in your car.

Android users who connect their smartphones to their cars have been enjoying a nice series of upgrades to round out the year, as Android Auto 13.4 delivers improvements like a refreshed media player and some colorful new screens across the UI. While Android Auto gets plenty of attention and new features like that, Android Automotive doesn’t move quite as swiftly, and the platform baked-in to cars like Polestar EVs is understandably a bit more locked-down than Auto. Luckily, Polestar owners are getting the best of both worlds, thanks to a new update that’s been heading out to drivers.

The Polestar 2 just got its version P3.3.16 update, and in addition to support for HD radio and improvements to low-speed driving, the new release delivers support for Android Auto. That means that rather than just using Android Automotive as Polestar’s configured it, drivers now have the freedom to connect their phones for a wired Android Auto connection.

Android Auto users are about to get a noticeable shake-up in their in-car listening experience. Google has begun rolling out a refreshed media player as part of Android Auto version 13.4, marking one of the bigger interface changes for the platform since its major revamp last year. First spotted by 9to5Google, many Android Auto users are starting to see this new design right now.

One of the first things you’ll spot in the updated player is the smaller album art, which has been moved to the left side. In the previous design, the media progress bar was underneath the cover art. Now, it’s parked on the right side of the album art.

For safety reasons, Google restricts the types of applications developers can distribute for Android Auto and Android Automotive, both of which are used exclusively in vehicles. Rather than individual approvals, Google created a set of categories apps must fall under to be supported. As of this month, weather apps have been added to that list, opening the door to new apps that let you see weather info relevant to your current location or route.

Android Auto apps can be one of the following categories: Media (audio), Messaging, Navigation, Point of Interest (POI), and Internet of Things (IoT). These apps can be used while driving or parked. Android Automotive supports the same categories, except there’s no Messaging, and it adds support Video, Games, and Browsers, which are only available when the vehicle is parked.

A well-executed user interface is a big component of what makes one great smartphone better than another, but for as important as it can be there, it’s all the more critical when we’re talking about screens that we’re only able to glance for a moment at a time — sort of like how we use Android Auto. A UI like that needs to be instantly understandable, and subtle cues like color can really help communicate information as fast as our eyes can see them. Right now, Google’s bringing a little more color to Android Auto as it updates its platform with a splash of Material You.

Android Auto is currently getting its version 13.4 update, and as the crew at 9to5Google spotted, this release includes a heavy does of Material You colorization across the system UI. If you’re using your phone’s wallpaper to generate a palette of matching accent colors, Android Auto will pick up on these when you connect and start employing them across its own screens.

If you’re not yet using Android Auto with your car, what in the world are you waiting for? We are big fans of Google’s solution for getting our favorite apps and services playing nicely with our vehicles, putting convenient access to Maps, our favorite music, and more, right on the dash. Of course, the flip side to liking something that much is that you’re going to feel that sting all the more acutely when Android Auto isn’t working, which is exactly the situation a bunch of users find themselves in right now.

A small but growing contingent of Android Auto users has been taking to Google’s support forum to share reports of losing audio output after installing the new December Pixel Drop on their phones (via 9t05Google). Obviously, they’re all running Pixel phones, and the issue has been spotted on models ranging from the Pixel 6 through Pixel 9 series.

What does the future look like for Android Auto? It’s no secret that we’re big fans, eager to share our favorite Android Auto features, but in order to take advantage of the platform you either need a car with built-in support, or one equipped with an after-market stereo that adds it. And while that list of supported vehicles has only been getting bigger, in recent years we’ve started to see some auto manufacturers begin to rethink their approach and back away from Android Auto. But even as companies like GM pursue alternate Google-powered dash solutions, others are standing strong with their support for the platform.

Olabisi Boyle, Hyundai’s senior vice president of product planning and mobility strategy, recent spoke with InsideEVs about the company’s intention to continue to offer compatibility with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Boyle frames Hyundai’s interest as wanting to give its customers as many options as possible, drawing comparisons to its efforts to open up new charging options by embracing Tesla’s charging network.

When Android Auto first debuted in 2015, it was just OK. It was nice being able to access your Android apps and phone controls right from your car’s display, but it was anemic in features and only worked on one car model (although many more supported models followed). There were also plenty of Android Auto bugs to deal with. Ten years later, though, Android Auto has become much more robust. Today, it’s a killer Android feature and has become essential to my driving life. I don’t think I would ever own a car without it.

While most people know about the basic things you can do with Android Auto — use Maps or Waze for navigation, listen to music, respond to messages, etc. — there are a few things that make using the system much easier and more enjoyable than it was in the past. I want to give seven of those Android Auto features a little love here!

Back in July, Google revealed it would begin incorporating reporting data from Waze into Maps. Just a few days ago, we reported that users are starting to see reports sourced from Waze in the Maps mobile app. Now the Maps app on Android Auto is also displaying information from Waze.

Google is leveraging data from Waze to boost the incident reporting feature in Maps. Reports are clearly marked under the report type with text that reads “From Waze drivers,” so you know where that report came from. This functionality was first seen in the mobile app, but Threads user Alex Mullis shared that he recently spotted the Waze integration in Android Auto.

Google Maps is getting a helpful boost from its crowdsourced sibling, Waze. As promised earlier this year, Google Maps has started to incorporate incident reports from Waze users directly into its navigation interface. This means that while you’re cruising along, Google Maps might now warn you about upcoming speed traps, accidents, or other hazards reported by Waze users. (h/t: 9to5Google)

Reddit user Truckin_18 recently spotted the new feature in action. While navigating with Google Maps, they were alerted to a “Police reported ahead” notification. A bottom sheet displayed the alert, clearly attributing it to “Waze drivers.” To keep you focused on the road, the alert includes a prominent “Are they still there?” question with big “Yes” and “No” buttons for quick feedback, and it disappears automatically after a short time.

We all know better than to be using our phones when driving, which is exactly why we have speech-to-text and text-to-speech for handling our messaging. And when that’s all easily accessible through the dash and your vehicle’s integrated controls with the help of Android Auto, so much the better! But right now, we’re learning about one really weird bug that’s getting in the way of Android Auto reading you your text messages.

A very confused group of Android Auto users have been sharing their stories over on Reddit in a thread started by user Grant_Son, and while this sounds like it involves a lot of different messaging apps, the common denominator is that people are hearing the word “oh” inserted at the end of messages (via 9to5Google). Reports identify this strange behavior with WhatsApp, Teams, Facebook, and ever regular old Google Messages.

Dash cams are fast becoming essential for every driver, recording road events in real-time for security or insurance purposes. Many firms occupy this space, but one notable absentee is Google. Dash cams intersect with several of Google’s properties, including Android Auto and Nest cameras, so it would make perfect sense for the company to join the fray.

A Google dash cam is more appealing than you’d think

Although it might not appear a suitable fit at first, Google has all the ingredients to make a compelling dash cam product. The company’s design, service backbone, and manufacturing prowess could all be put to good use in the space.

If you’re an Android Auto user with an old phone running on Android 8 or older, you may have had a rude awakening today. Android Auto users are noticing that their phones no longer support the feature.

In the past, all you needed was a phone running Android 6 or newer. However, that changed in July 2022, when the minimum requirement was raised to Android 8. The most recent change happened this July when the bar was set to Android 9 or higher.

Ford and Google are launching new Android Auto features aimed at making road trips smoother and more convenient for Ford’s Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning drivers. As part of this collaboration, Ford’s electric vehicle owners will soon have access to smarter navigation tools for managing charging stops and tracking battery levels through Google Maps on Android Auto. (h/t: 9to5Google)

While Ford and Google initially announced these updates at CES 2024, Ford’s Anthony Phillips recently confirmed that they’re finally rolling out, tailored to Ford’s Android Auto-enabled vehicles. For now, these improvements are focused on Ford’s electric truck and SUV, with the possibility of expanding to other models later.

These days, most newer cars will have wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay built in. Support for wireless connectivity prevents you from fumbling with a cable, which is always welcome. Fancy new cars will even have wireless charging pads in the center console, allowing you to simply drop your phone on it and start driving. But what do you do if you have an older car without any of these wireless features? Are you stuck using a cable forever? Thankfully, you’re not: that’s where devices like the AAWireless TWO come to the rescue.

As the name suggests, this is a follow-up to the original AAWireless, launched just over four years ago. It has a few notable upgrades and a slightly lower price, which is always nice to see. But all I care about is whether or not it works: does it work just as well as when I connect my phone to the car with a cable, and does it work as well as those cars with wireless Android Auto built in natively?

While Teslas don’t come with Android Auto or Apple Carplay, there are workarounds you can use to get either one up and running. If you absolutely must have Android Auto or Carplay in your EV, you may want to take a look at Teslogic’s latest device.

On Kickstarter, Tesla product maker Teslogic announced the launch of the Screenmate. The Screenmate is a small computer that hooks up to your Tesla’s monitor. It fully supports Android Auto and Apple Carplay, allowing you to use your Android or iPhone apps directly on the larger screen. As a result, you can do everything from displaying messages from your messaging apps to using your choice of navigation apps. You can even play Android games or connect to a gaming console via HDMI or USB.

Android Auto and Android Automotive are very popular in cars. They help users use third-party apps on the screens inside the car. This makes sense, as music streaming and navigation are some of the most common use cases for in-car displays. However, navigation is also a common use case for two-wheelers like motorbikes, and having Android Auto or Automotive would be great for bikes, too. If you have such a wish, you might want to consider KTM’s next bike, as it will come with Android Automotive.

Austrian motorcycle brand KTM has announced a new Communication Control Unit (CCU) for its new TFT Dashboard in horizontal and vertical avatars, which will be available first on its upcoming premium motorcycles. The upgraded CCU includes 32GB of internal storage, 3GB of RAM, and connectivity features like eSIM, GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. The best part about this upgrade is that the CCU allows the TFT Dashboard to run Android Automotive.

Android Auto currently supports Google’s Phone app for calls. It doesn’t give you access to third-party dialer apps, even if they’re set as the default phone app on your smartphone. As a result, there’s no way to use alternative apps like Truecaller, ACR Phone, or Drupe on your car’s screen. But that could change soon.

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An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release.

Center consoles in cars came with mechanical buttons and knobs in the analog era, but these days, most cars practically have a giant tablet housed there. This tablet-like center console is used to control car functions, but through Android Auto or Android Automotive, it can also run apps for navigation and music streaming that are optimized for distraction-less control. Since this center console is pretty much a tablet, it should also be able to run other standard apps when the car is parked. Google had the same idea, and it will soon start highlighting apps designed for tablets and compatible with your car in the Google Play Store.

An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release.[/alert]

It has been only a couple of weeks since an Android Auto user first reported having the incident reporting feature in Google Maps. Since then, the feature has started rolling out widely to Android Auto in the US. But what about Android Automotive? It looks like incident reporting is now arriving on the in-car OS as well.

The ability to report incidents — like crashes, slowdowns, lane closures, and more — has existed in Google Maps for a few years now. However, it was previously a feature that was limited to mobile. It was added to Apple’s CarPlay in-car system in July, but remained absent from Android Auto and Automotive. But as of last week, incident reporting has started to roll out widely on Android Auto.

Google Maps on Android Auto recently got its much-awaited road-incident reporting feature, bridging the gap between the phone app and the app for your car’s dashboard. But if you have held your breath for the feature to show up on your car’s dashboard, there’s a quirk here that you probably didn’t know about. As it turns out, your car’s center console screen could be too short for this button.

As 9to5Google found out, the incident reporting button on Google Maps on Android Auto doesn’t always show up. This is because the button doesn’t appear if there isn’t enough vertical space in the car’s screen. If your car’s display isn’t tall enough to display all buttons, the incident reporting button gets removed instead of the buttons getting scrunched up.

The AAWireless gadget gained a huge following over the years, allowing you to turn your wired Android Auto connection into a wireless connection. This dongle first shipped back in 2021, but the team behind it has revealed that a follow-up is coming soon.

AAWireless announced on its website that the AAWireless Two will launch on October 20 (h/t: Droid-Life). One of the most notable changes is that the new adapter is 30% smaller than the original model.

After years of requests, Google Maps on Android Auto has finally added a much-anticipated feature: the ability to report road incidents like accidents, traffic jams, and speed traps in real time. Until now, Android Auto users in the US had been left without this function despite it being available on Waze (also owned by Google). Even though you could report incidents on the Google Maps phone app, doing that while driving was obviously unsafe, which meant most drivers didn’t bother.

Incident reporting was first introduced in Google Maps for mobile devices a few years ago, but it remained exclusive to phones. Oddly, while Google Maps on Apple CarPlay received this feature earlier this year, Android Auto users were left out. This changed briefly in July when Google rolled out the feature to Android Auto as well — but only in India.

Google Maps on Android Auto is getting a small but significant change that should help you stay in the right lane. The updated lane guidance UI is larger and more spread out, making it much easier to read.

Google Maps has had lane guidance for a while, but the older Android Auto UI was a bit cramped, with lanes often overlapping or appearing too close together. Drivers had to pay close attention to identify the correct lane, which could get their attention off the road long enough to miss an exit or get in an accident.

Incident reports are one of the more handy features that Google Maps offers. However, the ability to make new reports has been sorely missing from the Android Auto version of the app. A revamped version of the incident reporting system is supposed to be coming to Android Auto at some point, but the full rollout has yet to happen. As we wait for the wide release, the feature has reportedly made it onto the app for at least one Android Auto user.

Just for context, the incident report feature is a tool that relies on crowdsourced data. The Google Maps community can report on anything that gets in the way between them and their destination such as crashes, hazards, speed checks, and so on. This is helpful as it gives other drivers a heads-up to avoid or prepare for these obstructions.

Google has started rolling out Android Auto v12.9, which is currently in beta. With the beta now available, some users are noticing a new feature in Google Maps that makes it easier to add a stop.

First spotted by Hypertextual, Google Maps on Android Auto now has a prominent “Add stop” button. The button appears right below location details when selecting a new place to navigate to.

If you own an Android phone and a car, you may already know and use Android Auto. Android Auto brings apps from your smartphone to your car’s display, letting you focus on driving without distractions while taking care of your driving needs, like navigation and media playback. While Android Auto has plenty of apps for media playback, it has had a curious oversight for years that has remained unaddressed: You can’t play any local media connected to your car. But there’s good news on the horizon, as Google could soon fix the oversight.

Android Auto lets you play music via your phone, whether local media files stored on your phone or songs you stream from online services. However, if you have files stored locally on your car’s head unit or a USB thumb drive connected to your vehicle, then Android Auto cannot access or play these files. You will have to exit Android Auto and switch back to your car manufacturer’s entertainment system to access these files, which is the case with AM and FM playback, too.

Gemini is the next generation of Google’s digital assistant, now more powerful than ever, thanks to AI. Irrespective of where you stand on the Google Assistant vs Gemini debate, Google is marching forward with Gemini integration across its apps and services, replacing Google Assistant functionality with Gemini’s AI smarts. If you ever wished to get Gemini in your car, here’s some good news: Gemini could soon be available on Android Auto.

In the latest Android Auto v12.8.143544, we’ve spotted several clues that indicate it could be next in line for Gemini support.

Google has recently given the Google Assistant experience in Android Auto a facelift. The new look, which pops up during voice chats with the Assistant, is drawing comparisons to Apple’s Siri on CarPlay. We’ll let you decide if that’s indeed the case.

First spotted by 9to5Google, Google Assistant on Android Auto seems to be getting a new circular hovering UI with a dynamic, colorful wave that animates in response to voice activity, occupying the lower portion of the screen. Notably, this new interface doesn’t replace the Google Assistant bar at the bottom of the screen, which is still your go-to for starting commands. Instead, this new design takes center stage when the Assistant is waiting for your response — like when it needs you to pick which coffee shop you actually want directions to.

For years, drivers navigating with Google Maps have relied on its real-time incident warnings to steer clear of traffic snarls, accidents, and road closures. However, a crucial piece of the puzzle has been missing for those using Android Auto — the ability to contribute to this vital information stream by reporting incidents directly from their car’s dashboard.

Today, Google announced that the long-awaited feature to report incidents directly through Google Maps is now being rolled out globally, spanning Android and iOS devices, cars equipped with Google built-in systems, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.

Even though car companies wish we didn’t, we all love Android Auto. In a 2023 poll, we found that nearly 60% of our readers use Android Auto in their cars. We also know from other polls and articles on the site that the majority of our readers would refuse to buy a car that did not come with Android Auto support. In other words, people who read AA love their AA. Sorry, car companies, but your dreams of paid subscription infotainment systems will be a very tough sell.

Myself, I am an Android Auto user. My partner and I share a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek that supports wired Android Auto connectivity, and we can’t imagine life without it. The times we have been driving a vehicle that doesn’t support Android Auto have been frustrating, to say the least, because we rely so much on Maps for navigation, easy access to my music collection via Plex, and, of course, a safe way to hear and respond to text messages.

Android Auto is a great way to use Auto-optimized apps on the move. You can use Google Maps, stream music services, listen to podcasts, and even access basic information like the weather, all from your car’s radio. Ironically, the only function it has yet to offer is the ability to play back AM, FM, and HD radio channels. This may soon be changing, as evidenced by 9to5Google’s recent code dive into the Android Auto app.

While the feature isn’t live or even officially announced yet, a series of strings were found in the Android Auto v12.3 and v12.4 apps that hint at Car Radio controls. The strings specifically mention AM, FM, HD Radio, and DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting). There’s no mention of satellite radio, so it’s possible that Sirius XM won’t be one of the options, though it’s already possible to use an app for that anyway.

Millions of people use Android in their cars every day, whether it’s via their phone projecting to their car’s head unit (Android Auto) or their headunit’s built-in operating system (Android Automotive OS). Because it’s so important for drivers to keep their eyes on the road, Google strictly limits what apps can do and how they behave when running on Android Auto or Automotive. Furthermore, Google only allows certain categories of apps to be distributed to Auto and Automotive users via Google Play. Google has slowly opened up Android Automotive to more types of apps, and soon, messaging and VoIP apps will be allowed on the platform.

Support for messaging apps would allow users to read or reply to important messages from their personal or business contacts while driving. For safety while driving, the voice assistant could utilize text-to-speech to read out any incoming messages, keeping drivers focused on driving. Similarly, the messaging app could use voice input to send replies while the user is driving. When the car is parked, though, full keyboard input could be allowed.

Google Maps is one of the best Android apps, and we don’t even need to recommend installing it since it comes preinstalled on most Android phones anyway. It’s an amazing app for navigation and exploration, and it also works very well with Android Auto (most of the time). If you’re finding that Google Maps has recently been continuously crashing Android Auto, the latest Maps beta update is likely the culprit.

As Reddit user japzone points out, the latest Google Maps beta (possibly v11.132.0100 beta, from what I can tell) doesn’t work with Android Auto. Starting Android Auto causes the Google Maps app to crash, and you get thrown back to the Android Auto app list. Selecting Google Maps here will cause you to crash back again to the app list.

Google Cast (formerly Chromecast built-in) is finally making its way to Android Automotive. With the added functionality, users will be able to cast videos from their phones and tablets onto their car screens.

Google is working on greatly expanding the app library on Android Automotive. At the ongoing I/O 2024 conference, Google announced that new streaming apps like Max and Peacock, and gaming apps like Angry Birds are headed to select cars with Google Built-in.

When it comes to in-car interfaces, you have two popular options on the Android side of the camp. There is Android Auto, which runs on your phone and displays on your car’s dashboard, and there is Android Automotive OS (AAOS), which runs straight on your car’s infotainment system. Using both is a similar experience, but it can sometimes be frustrating. Many in-car apps are usually built to be used when driving, while some apps that require more attention require you to be parked. Thankfully, the OS finally appears to let users know the difference between the two sets.

As spotted by Smartdroid (via Arstechnica), Google is working towards making Android Auto and Android Automotive OS more functional when your car is parked. This will be achieved by labeling apps that can be used only when your vehicle is parked with a “P” badge on top of the icon, making it easier to distinguish from apps that can be used while driving.

MWC 2024 is underway, and phone companies are using the event to make big announcements. Google has announced a few new features for Android and its wider ecosystem, including Android Auto, Wear OS, and even surprise appearances from Gemini. Here’s what’s new!

Google Messages gets Chat with Gemini

The most significant announcement here is that Google Messages will now let you access Gemini right within the app. Within Google Messages, Gemini can help you draft messages, brainstorm ideas, plan events, and more. The Chat with Gemini experience will be available as a beta, so be prepared to run into some oddities. The feature will also be restricted to English for now.

Taking your eyes off of the road while you’re driving, like when you text someone, can be dangerous. But Android Auto is now getting a feature that could help solve the texting while driving problem.

First announced alongside the launch of the Galaxy S24 series, Google is finally pushing out the new texting feature designed for Android Auto. It uses AI to summarize the text messages and group chats you receive while driving. Any messages that are shorter than 40 words will simply be read without summarization.

Google announced Assistant AI summaries for Android Auto alongside the launch of the Galaxy s24 series. The feature utilizes Google Assistant to automatically summarize long messages or group chats while you’re driving without having to reach for your phone.

Ford just introduced a brand new digital driving experience for both its Ford and Lincoln car brands. The long-standing American automaker is merging both the infotainment system and the instrument cluster under the same computing module, which is powered by Android and Google but also intriguingly supports Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa.

Ford says this new Android-powered experience will allow it to deliver a human-centered interface, faster updates, and access to plenty of third-party apps and games — when you’re parked, of course.

Samsung has just announced the Galaxy S24 series, but it turns out that Android Auto also got some love today. Google and Samsung confirmed a few handy additions that are coming to the automotive platform.

For starters, the two companies revealed that Android Auto will now reflect the icons and wallpaper of your connected Galaxy device. This comes a few weeks after Reddit users first reported that Android Auto can show your phone’s wallpaper.

Google is no stranger to CES, and the company is using the 2024 event to make a raft of announcements. These announcements include plenty of automotive-related news.

Android Auto is the phone mirroring solution of choice for a variety of cars around the world, and Google has recently released a new beta version of the companion app. It turns out that this update has a small but welcome feature.

9to5Google noticed that recent versions of Android Auto now reflect Samsung’s icons and squircle icon shape if you’ve got a Samsung Galaxy phone. The change in icons applies to the likes of the Messages app and Phone app, as well as signal strength and battery icons. Check out the changes in the screenshots below, with the new icons in the right image.

The outlet noted that the icon shapes apply to paired phones from other Android OEMs as well, so you’ll get square icon shapes in Android Auto if you pair an OPPO device, for example. However, the new icons only worked with Samsung phones.

It’s a small change in the grand scheme of things, but it’s a nifty touch of personalization nonetheless. So we hope Android Auto adopts app icons from other OEMs as well. This isn’t the only Android Auto addition in recent weeks, as Google Maps for the platform now lets you save your parking location too.

General Motors (GM) announced earlier this year that it would be ditching Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in its electric vehicles. Now, Ford has come out in support of Apple and Google’s phone mirroring solutions.

Update, December 13, 2023 (01:45 PM ET): A GM representative has reached out to Android Authority about the news below. Here is GM’s statement:

We wanted to reach out to clarify that comments about GM’s position on phone projection were misrepresented in previous articles and to reinforce our valued partnerships with Apple and Google and each company’s commitment to driver safety. GM’s embedded infotainment strategy is driven by the benefits of having a system that allows for greater integration with the larger GM ecosystem and vehicles.

The original article continues below.

Original article, December 13, 2023 (04:38 AM ET): General Motors (GM) announced earlier this year that it would be dropping Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality from its electric vehicles. Now, the company has revealed a purported reason for this decision.

Tim Babbitt, GM’s product lead for infotainment, told Motor Trend that the decision to drop CarPlay and Android Auto was driven (heh) by safety.

Babbitt claimed that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay have stability issues that result in drivers having to pick up their phones, therefore taking their eyes off the road. He noted that these stability issues include bad/dropped connections, slow responses, and “poor rendering.”

GM is offering its Google-powered Ultifi infotainment suite as a replacement. This solution is directly integrated into the car and offers a variety of Google apps (e.g. Maps, Assistant, Play Store) as well as third-party options like Spotify.

Does this reasoning hold water?

Babbitt did acknowledge that a USB connection from the car to a smartphone would address GM’s aforementioned issues. But he also claimed that there would still be some compatibility issues between the car and various Android phone makers. He also asserted that some older iPhones have issues with CarPlay. This would be an inconvenience but surely a list of compatible devices would go some way towards helping consumers?

Either way, I can’t help but feel cynical about car makers offering their own solutions in lieu of Apple and Google’s software. While GM’s own solution will still reportedly offer Bluetooth connectivity so you can pair your phone to your car, we’ve seen a growing movement in the industry towards subscriptions of all kinds. In fact, GM itself acknowledged subscription opportunities when announcing this infotainment switch earlier this year. So I personally wouldn’t be surprised if GM’s solution eventually puts features that previously existed as part of CarPlay and Android Auto behind a paywall.

Google Maps on Android Auto is getting a handy new feature for those who are bad at remembering where they parked their cars.

9to5Google reports that the latest version of Google Maps for Android Auto now prompts you to save your parking location when you arrive at your destination. The toggle to save parking location appears on the navigation screen as soon as you reach your destination. Tapping the “Save Parking Location” button saves the location information to your Google account. It also reportedly sends your Android phone a reminder about the parking spot the next day.

The feature also takes into account your movements in the area after you arrive. You might reach your destination and drive around for some time looking for a parking spot. Hitting the toggle to save parking location should save the exact coordinates of where you park your vehicle.

Users report that if you have Google Maps and audio in split view on Android Auto (where Google Maps is on the left and only its width), the option to save your parking spot does not come up, even if you open the app full screen after you arrive.

The new Android Auto feature is an extension of what the Google Maps app has offered on Android and iOS for ages. You can also save your car’s parking location through the Maps app by tapping the blue spot that marks your location and selecting the “Save Your Parking” option.

You can check the Play Store to see if you have the latest version of Google Maps for Android Auto to start using the feature.

Google is bringing several Android Auto apps, opening up new functionality for users who have the infotainment platform in their cars. One particularly useful addition is The Weather Channel app. It has over 100 million downloads on the Play Store, making it one of the world’s most popular online weather services. Google is now bringing it to Android Auto users so they can navigate through changing weather conditions.

The app will alert users of unexpected weather changes like rainstorms, which could interrupt their journey. Android Auto drivers will also get hourly forecasts, follow-me alerting, and a Trip View radar to help keep them aware of the weather conditions ahead.

Google is also adding Zoom and WebEx By Cisco to Android Auto so users can join scheduled meetings on the fly. Of course, these will be audio-only meetings, so drivers don’t get distracted by a video feed.

Android Auto is also expanding its list of video streaming apps and now supports Amazon Prime Video. The app is now available for select Renault, Polestar, and Volvo Cars, with other brands to follow. Users can watch Prime Video when their cars are stationary and parked.

Google is also rolling out digital car key support in the US, Canada, and Korea for select Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia models. Already available in several European countries, digital car keys allow Android Auto users to unlock, lock, and start their cars with their phones. Drivers with compatible devices like Pixel and Samsung phones can take advantage of the feature.

There are a variety of in-car infotainment systems today, with Android Auto and Apple’s CarPlay ruling the roost. But we also see proprietary systems and older entertainment systems in use.

We recently saw the news that GM would drop Android Auto and Apple’s CarPlay in its electric vehicles. And that got us wondering what you use in your car. Let us know by answering the poll below.

Android Auto and CarPlay are both popular options nowadays, as the likes of Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota, and VW all support both platforms. In saying so, we’ve also seen some brands like Tesla offer their own solutions.

Then again, many cars still offer more basic entertainment systems consisting of Bluetooth, USB, or even an aux cable at best. Me? I still use Bluetooth in my older Ford Figo.

GM just announced its latest electric vehicle (EV), the Cadillac Escalade IQ EV. The new Escalade has almost all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a $130,000 car, including a 55-inch LED display. But there’s one glaring omission that would have fit perfectly with that massive display, Android Auto.

Back in March, it was revealed that GM had plans to restrict access to both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in its future EVs. Instead, the company would work on building its own custom infotainment systems with the help of Google. A move that has garnered a lot of backlash from automotive enthusiasts since the announcement.

You’d think that being on an Android Automotive platform, the Esclade IQ EV would at least give you the option to use Android Auto. But it looks like that won’t be the case. According to The Verge, it has received confirmation that compatibility for the phone projection feature is completely absent.

If you’re wondering why GM would make such an unpopular move, it likely has something to do with the company’s plans to generate revenue from entering the software-as-a-service business. According to GM Authority, the automaker wants to generate up to $25 billion in revenue annually by as early as 2030 by offering software-as-a-service products. Having a software platform would allow it to create a revenue-sharing model for paid apps developed by third-party companies. According to the outlet, GM’s senior VP of innovation and growth has said that he thinks new vehicle owners would be willing to pay up to $135 per month for various subscription-based apps and features.

But what do you think? Would you be willing to pay $130,000 for a car missing an important feature like Android Auto? Let us know by voting in the poll below.