With Android Auto, you can keep your focus on the road while still accessing maps, music, podcasts, messages, phone calls, and more from your Android smartphone. Designed to work with Android Marshmallow 6.0 and up, your favorite apps can appear on your dashboard while driving, providing you with a more connected digital experience.
With Google Assistant built-in, you can issue voice commands hands-free to remain safe on the road. If you have an Android device and want to get started, follow our guide on how to set up Android Auto.
Do you own an Apple iPhone? Be sure to check out our guide on how to set up Apple CarPlay to access what’s important to you while you’re on the road.
Before we can get started with Android Auto, you’ll need to make sure that you have everything required for the experience. As a starter, you will need an Android smartphone running Android Marshmallow 6.0 or greater. Wireless Android Auto, available on some vehicle stereos, requires Android 10 or higher. Some Samsung Galaxy devices, including the S8, S8+, and Note 8, will work running Android 9.0 or greater.
Additionally, you will need a car or stereo compatible with Android Auto. To check if your vehicle or stereo is compatible, visit Google’s website, where they list all brands currently supported and which models support wireless Android Auto. If your car or stereo does not support a wireless connection (most will require a wire), you will need a USB cable to connect your smartphone.
The most common type of Android Auto connection is wired, which uses a USB cable to connect your smartphone to your car stereo. Ensure that you select a cord with the proper connectors; for example, a car with a USB-A port and a smartphone with a USB-C port will need a USB-A to USB-C cable for the connection process. When ready, follow these steps to connect your Android smartphone:
Step 1: Ensure that you are in a safe location and put your vehicle into Park.
Step 2: Turn on, and unlock, your Android smartphone.
Step 3: On your smartphone, if not already present, download the Android Auto app from the Google Play store.
Step 4: Using the USB cable, plug your smartphone into your vehicle.
Step 5: Your smartphone will display a Welcome to Android Auto screen; if it does not, check your car’s stereo display for any confirmation prompts.
Step 6: Accept Google’s notices and permissions by clicking OK or Next.
Step 7: From your vehicle’s touchscreen, select Android Auto if it has not automatically launched. For more information on your vehicle, contact your automotive manufacturer or reference your vehicle’s instruction manual.
You can now begin using Android Auto in your vehicle. For more assistance using Android Auto, reference our How to use Android Auto guide.
Some new stereo units and vehicles offer Android Auto Wireless connectivity. If you choose, you can use the wireless option to use Android Auto without needing to plug your smartphone in with a USB cable. Remember to check Google’s website for compatibility to see if your smartphone and stereo both support the wireless feature.
Step 1: Ensure that you are in a safe location and put your vehicle into Park.
Step 2: Turn on, and unlock, your Android smartphone.
Step 3: On your smartphone, if not already present, download the Android Auto app from the Google Play store.
Step 4: On your vehicle’s stereo, navigate into settings, then locate the Bluetooth option. For more information on your using your car, contact your automotive manufacturer or reference your vehicle’s instruction manual.
Step 5: On your smartphone, open the Settings app, then select Bluetooth.
Step 6: Within the Bluetooth menu on your smartphone, select your car to begin the pairing process; you may need to confirm a PIN.
Step 7: Once connected, your smartphone will display a Welcome to Android Auto screen; if it does not, check your car’s stereo display for any confirmation prompts.
Step 8: Accept Google’s notices and permissions by clicking OK or Next.
Step 9: From your vehicle’s touchscreen, select Android Auto if it has not automatically launched. For more information on your using your car, contact your automotive manufacturer or reference your vehicle’s instruction manual.
You can now begin using Android Auto in your vehicle. For more assistance using Android Auto, reference our How to use Android Auto guide.
Two new highly requested iCloud plugins just got added to ChatGPT, giving people who rely on Apple’s Mail and Calendar services a way to search emails, check appointments, and manage their schedules directly through the chatbot.
The integration is rolling out to all ChatGPT plans, including the free tier. You can access it on the web, desktop, and iOS.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.
Samsung’s scandal over its Game Optimizing Service, or GOS, has returned with a bill attached. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has tentatively fined the company 20.1 billion won, or about $15.1 million, over gaming claims made for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, and Tab S8.
The regulator says Samsung promoted the devices as gaming powerhouses without disclosing that GOS placed preset CPU and GPU limits on certain demanding games. Samsung disputes that conclusion, calling GOS a legitimate way to manage heat.