Although it is relatively common to find recent cars supporting Android Auto, if one wishes to use it wirelessly the list is considerably reduced. Because yes, wireless Android Auto is a rare quality, so the solution is to buy an adapter or, if you like technology and DIY, this DIY Project to Install Wireless Android Auto in Any Car which already has Google’s infotainment system.
Let’s go ahead and say that if what we are looking for is simplicity and spending as little as possible, the most practical thing is to use a wireless adapter and forget about it, but if you have a Raspberry Pi at home you are kicking up dust in a drawer, you know a little about IT and want to experiment, we will show you how to do it step by step.
How to turn your wired Android Auto into wireless with Raspberry Pi
An essential condition to start is that your car is already equipped with Android Auto (yes, it is also possible to have Android Auto from scratch with a Raspberry Pi) with a cable, a Raspberry Pi and an SD card, which will be the one on which we will record what is necessary to have a wireless Android Auto dongle . Likewise, we will need a USB cable for data transmission.
As the GitHub project explains, this project should work on devices that support USB OTG mode, have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and are powered by energy provided by the vehicle.
The next thing will be download and save image (be careful, copy and paste is not enough, you will have to use a program like Etcher to write the image to the SD) from here, where you will find different versions depending on whether or not you are going to use a Raspberry Pi 4, 3A+ , Zero 2 W. (If you are considering buying one, this one is better for its low price and compact design)
*Some prices may have changed since the last review
Raspberry Pi Zero 2W
When you have saved the SD and inserted into the Raspberry Pi, we proceed to the first connection. The first thing will be to connect the phone to the car unit with a USB cable that supports data transmission so that Android Auto will start. At this time, disconnect the phone and place the Raspberry in its place.
Next, open your phone’s Bluetooth settings and pair the new device, the name of which will look like “AndroidAuto-Dongle“o”AA wireless key“. And that’s it, from this moment your Android phone will connect via Wi-Fi to the Raspberry Pi and it will be connected with a USB cable to the car unit, thus starting Android Auto on the vehicle’s screen.
From then on, every time you return to the car with your cell phone with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled, the wireless connection will be done automatically. It’s important that the cable is just the right length to allow us to store the Raspberry Pi in a safe place in the car so that it doesn’t get in the way while driving. A case for the Raspberry is also a good idea, to prevent shocks or dust from penetrating over time.
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In Xataka Android | Android Auto, detailed guide: what it is, how it works, how to connect your mobile and the best thing you can do
