How to set up Android Auto in your car step by step

If this is your first time using Android Auto, its operation and configuration can be a bit confusing. To help you, we have prepared this step by step guide to set up android auto so you can start using it in your car.

We will see the connection process, the initial configuration using the mobile and the settings available on Android Autoso you can start enjoying Android in-car integration as soon as possible.

First, the connection

The first thing you will need is connect mobile to car. Normally this is done with a USB cable, if possible of good quality. Some cars need you to use a certain USB port to connect the mobile via Android Auto (this does not work with everyone), so this is something important to keep in mind. You will know if you have found the correct port because the Android Auto configuration on the mobile will jump.

Now well, current mobiles support wireless connection, although for now there are still few cars that support it. To use Android Auto wirelessly, you will need both your car and your mobile to support wireless connection. Checking it on mobile is easy, open Android Auto settings and tap connect a car. If the parameter appears Connect to Android Auto wirelessly, your mobile supports it. Otherwise, no.

The process may vary a bit depending on the car, but in essence you’ll need to head into Android Auto’s settings, tap Connect car, then tap Connect to Android Auto Wireless. You’re then prompted to put the car into pairing mode, usually by long-pressing the voice command button (although it could be otherwise).

When the car is ready, press Connect via Bluetooth then you will need to press pair a carwhich opens the Bluetooth connectivity settings of the mobile, where you will have to find the Bluetooth that belongs to your car.

First, the permissions

With or without a cable, the first thing you will need to do when connecting your mobile to the car for the first time is grant certain permissions. The number of permissions you’ll need to grant depends on whether you’ve used Android Auto before (and therefore the app already has the permissions granted), whether they already come from the factory, or whether Android removed the permissions because you had not used for a long time.

The home screen starts by telling you that Android Auto needs to turn on Bluetooth, pair device and sync contacts with caras well as access to phone notifications, even if as soon as you press Next It will redirect you to the car screen to complete the setup.

Ironically, what you will see on the car screen is an Android Auto splash windowwhere you are reminded again that the app needs permission to access car data, calendar, call logs, contacts, location, microphone, phone and SMS, even if the phone is locked.

As soon as you press Manage, you will be redirect to your phone so that you grant the appropriate permissions. Later, Android Auto will also ask you for permission to access phone notifications, if it doesn’t already have it.

On mobile, the window for setting Android Auto permissions explains what each permission is forgiving you the possibility to modify directly from here certain parameters directly related to the authorizations themselves.

For example, if you mark Displays weather information on car screen, obtained through phone locationthe setting to show the current weather in the status bar, then you need to give the app location access permission. Otherwise, it’s not necessary, because it’s the navigation apps themselves (Maps, Waze, etc.) that use the permission to show you directions.

Impulse Accept and Android Auto will receive all the permissions it needs to function. You are always free to change them later manually from the system settings, although some functions may then not work or Android Auto will ask you again directly.

Then the terms of use

Then comes the time for formalities. Before using Android Auto, you must accept their terms of usewhich reminds you that you are responsible for any charges related to app data usage, as well as data sent from car to phone and from phone to car.

You can expand each of these sections to read a more detailed explanation about it, although on this occasion you cannot make any changes. Either you accept everything or there is no Android Auto, it’s as simple as that. When you accept them, You can now start using Android Auto in your car.

Finally, the installation in the car

You can now deposit the mobile. The rest of the configuration can be done from the car screen, by opening the application called settings. Here you will find some options to configure the behavior of Android Auto.

The options that will appear depend on the version of Android Auto you have and whether you have Coolwalk or not, but basically you will find the setting to choose a wallpaper and notification settings to make them more or less visible (for example, you can choose not to have them accompanied by a sound or not to show them at all).

An interesting setting you will find in this screen is Automatically start Android Auto, where you can choose whether you want Android Auto to launch automatically when you connect it to the car or not, which can be useful if you only want to charge the mobile. You can also choose if you want to start playing music automatically as soon as you connect the mobile to the car.

In the second page of settings You’ll be able to force day or night mode on maps, choose whether you want the weather to show in the status bar, and, if you’re using Coolwalk on a screen with a horizontal taskbar, choose between shortcuts or the media player widget.