what is it, how does it work, how to connect your mobile and the best thing you can do

If you own a relatively modern car or are considering purchasing one, you’ll find a screen on the dashboard and it’s relatively common for it to have Android Auto built-in. If you are not very clear on what it is and what it has to do with your phone, whether you will be able to use it or not or whether it is better or worse than other platforms like Android Automotive or Apple Carplay, in this article that we have compiled the most important thing about Android Auto so that whether you are starting from scratch or already using it, its usefulness and convenience will be clear to you.

What is Android Auto and how does it work

Android Auto is one of Google’s proposals for bringing the Android experience to vehicles. More precisely, it is a Google application for bringing information and certain applications from your Android phone to the vehicle’s infotainment system.

From this whole definition, there are two key points: the first is that you must have the phone connected to the console since Android Auto is not an independent system and the second concerns applications, because not all of them are compatible.

But not just any mobile phone will do. Although we list compatible ones and their requirements below, we have already told you To use Android Auto it is essential that your phone is Android.

In short, the essential requirements are that your car’s infotainment system has Android Auto, an Android phone, a connection between the two and that the mobile phone also has data throughput, because you will need internet.

How to connect your mobile to Android Auto

In two ways: with and without cable. So, while all cars equipped with Android Auto support wired connection, only some will also be compatible with wireless mode.

While for a wired connection Any compatible mobile phone and most USB cables will do. However, Google lists some recommendations to pay attention to, such as having the USB icon, keeping the cable short, and avoiding hubs, extenders, and similar accessories.

For a wireless connection, it is necessary that the car has an Android Auto compatible with this modeas this may require updates, hardware or simply an external device in the form of an adapter.

Both wired and wireless connections have their advantages and disadvantages. There is no better way than another, but it will depend on our needs.

Which cars and cell phones are compatible with Android Auto

Compatibility is a key factor in explaining Android Auto’s popularity in terms of vehicles and people who can potentially use it. On the Android site, Google explains that there are more than 500 compatible models (although this is not new data, it has been appearing for years), allowing us to access a list of compatible vehicles and stereo equipment.

If you take a look at this section of the Android site you will find a long list of brands, although I already told you that it is not updated and ultimately refers to the manufacturer’s website: Audi, BMW, BYD, Dacia, Fiat. Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Renault, SEAT, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo… as you see, since 2016 the main brands have compatible models. However, some manufacturers are now starting to move away from more personalized systems. So the best advice to dispel doubts about the compatibility of your car with Android Auto is to take a look at the technical sheet of the model in question.

As for which Android phones are compatible: The minimum Android version required is Android Oreo or later, which in practice means more than 90% of devices with this operating system. You can see which version of Android you have in the settings. But it must also have Google services and it must not be Android Go, the OS of certain inexpensive entry-level mobile phones.

What if I want to use Android Auto wirelessly? Here the requirements increase, since your mobile will have to have Android 11 or later (unless it is a Google Pixel or a Samsung mobile), support 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection and, as We said above, whether your car or stereo supports it (generally, for vehicles from 2020).

Best apps available for Android Auto

In general, the categories in which you will find applications compatible with Android Auto are navigation, messaging and multimedia. Come on, what you might need most while driving, although there are also utilities like weather and even productivity apps, like Zoom and its video calls. But in essence, you can reach your destination by choosing the best route, detect speed cameras, receive WhatsApp or Telegram messages, listen to your favorite music or podcasts…

The procedure for install an app with Android Auto It’s practically identical to what you would follow to have any application on your mobile: go to the Google application store, search for the application that interests you and press install. When you finish the process and connect the phone to the car, you will see how it appears in the Android Auto menu, which means it is ready to use. This is the operation for compatible applications, which are those that you will find in the Google Play Store, but you can also install compatible applications that are not in the Google Store, in this case using alternatives such as Android Auto Apps Downloader.