What Is Android Auto and How Does It Work? Check Out Our User Guide
Android Auto brings the convenience of your phone to your car. Here’s what you should know.
How did we ever live without navigation and rear-view cameras in our cars? For Android users, the same can be said about Android Auto. It’s become an essential feature that allows drivers to stay connected on the road. Most new vehicles offer the functionality, and many even get wireless Android Auto capability.
So what is Android Auto, and how can it come in handy? Let's dive in.
Not an Android user? Learn about Apple CarPlay here.
What Is Android Auto?
No, this isn't the Google car. Android Auto is a tool that connects your smartphone to a car's central display screen.
When Android Auto is running on your car’s touchscreen, the main menu will look a lot like your phone. Many of the apps on your smartphone will show up on the car's screen in the form of large icons. Touch these icons to play music or podcasts, or navigate your way back home. You can control which apps show up on your car's touchscreen, and in which order, by accessing Android Auto settings on your phone. A whole host of smartphone apps are compatible with Android Auto, from Google Maps and Spotify to WhatsApp, Audible, and Waze. Check out the full list here.
How Does Android Auto Work?
You'll need a few things to begin with Android Auto: your phone running Android 8.0 and up, a vehicle compatible with Android Auto, and a USB cable. This last one isn't necessary if your car is equipped with wireless Android Auto capability.
For phones running on Android 10.0 or above, you won't need to download the app to get started—it's already built in. Simply plug your phone into the USB cable in your car. The first time, you may be prompted to confirm that a code on your phone matches the one on your car's screen. The next time you get in the car, you won't have to do this.
In fact, you won't have to do anything for Android Auto to launch. If you enable "start Android Auto automatically" on your phone's Android Auto app settings, it will launch Android Auto as soon as the phone is plugged into the USB cable.
Some cars have wireless Android Auto capability, which means you won't need a USB cable to connect to Android Auto. Keep in mind that this will drain your battery compared to using wired Android Auto, which charges your phone. If you want to charge your phone without a USB cable, you need a car equipped with a wireless phone charger. Wireless connectivity works on compatible phones with Android 11.0, a Google or Samsung phone with Android 10.0, and certain phones with Android 9.0.
Android Auto Updates
In a January 2023 update, Google rolled out a new split-screen layout. This functionality allows users to see navigation, media, and communication apps simultaneously on the screen. Now you can change your music without having to give up your view of Google Maps. If you receive an incoming text, that will also appear on the screen.
While promised by July, as of September 2024 Google Maps now allows users to report accidents and hazards much like its sister app, Waze. Both wired and wireless connections of Android Auto allow the use of the hazard reporting, but it requires enough vertical space to allow for the hazard icon to appear, which is a triangle shape below the compass button. Once you hit that button, you're able to report the same incidents as you can on Waze like crashes, traffic jams, construction, lane closures, and speed traps. Also, like Waze, you may receive prompts to confirm those hazards are still there, meaning incident reporting will depend on user accuracy (like Waze).
How Do I Use Google Assistant?
Google Assistant is Android Auto's version of Siri—you can issue voice commands while you're driving. To access Google Assistant, say "Hey, Google," give the steering wheel voice button a sustained press, or tap the microphone icon in the bottom right corner on the car's screen. Then you can ask Google to play music from your playlist, navigate to your favorite restaurant, tell you what's on your calendar, or announce the weather.
Can I Text Using Android Auto?
You can use voice commands to send text messages with Android Auto. Tell Google Assistant to send a message to someone from your contact list, and you'll be prompted to say your message. If you receive a message while you're driving, it'll show up on your touchscreen. Google can read it to you, and you can reply via voice.
There’s another option, too, thanks to Google’s new on-screen shortcut replies. When a friend texts you, Google Assistant will now suggest simple replies, and you can tap one of the options on the screen and send it off. With Google Assistant, you can also share your estimated time of arrival with just the tap of the screen.
What Are the Benefits of Android Auto?
Essentially, the goal of Android Auto is to prevent people from looking at their phones while driving. Thanks to Google Assistant, drivers can stay connected and find where they're going while keeping their eyes on the road. That said, Android Auto doesn't eliminate distracted driving; it's still important to keep your attention on the road rather than on the touchscreen.
Android Auto is a handy substitute for your car's built-in infotainment interface. Many cars have their own native navigation systems, but the experience on your phone is usually more up to date. Plus, we'd much rather listen to our own playlists and podcasts via apps accessed through Android Auto than use our car's media settings.
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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