If you have an Android phone and drive a car, you should take advantage of Android Auto. This handy feature makes it easy to safely access music, navigation and other apps while driving.
Here are some Android Auto tips and tricks to get the most out of the experience.
A note on Android Auto and the Google Assistant driving mode
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While Android Auto is intended for use with a supported infotainment unit in your car, Google also used to offer a version of Android Auto on your phone display. However, Android Auto is no longer supported for phone screens. Instead, you have to use the Google Assistant Driving mode, which is similar but has a few differences.
Check out our comparison of Android Auto and Google Assistant driving modes to learn more. We’ll focus on Android Auto here, but some of the tips apply to driving modes as well.
1. Take advantage of Google Assistant
Android Auto’s voice commands powered by the Google Assistant are key to mastering this feature. Not only does the Google Assistant let you quickly access information, it’s also the safest way to do so while driving. You don’t even need to reach for your phone to skip a song, ask a question or make a call.
If your car has Android Auto integration, you can press the voice command button on your steering wheel to trigger it. In Driving mode, either tap the microphone icon or use the “Ok Google” voice command.
To make sure you have voice commands enabled, open the Android Auto app and tap on “Hey Google” detection. In this menu, make sure you have On while driving turned on. Then as long as you’re navigating through driving mode, the Google Assistant will respond, even when your screen is off.
2. Download Android Auto-compatible apps
Android Auto doesn’t support a lot of apps, as it’s designed to reduce distractions while driving. However, it still has a decent selection so you should check out what’s on offer.
To see apps that are compatible with Android Auto, visit the Apps for Android Auto page on Google Play. We have covered the best Android Auto apps before; Generally, you will find that they fall into one of three categories.
For navigation, Google Maps is built into Android and works with Android Auto. If you like Waze, you can use it for navigation in Android Auto. Audiobooks are also supported in apps like Audible.
Any music or radio apps you have installed will appear in the list of apps in Android Auto or Driving mode; Tap them to find out what they offer while you drive.
For navigation, Google Maps is built into Android and works with Android Auto. If you like Waze, you can use it for navigation in Android Auto. Audiobooks are also supported in apps like Audible.
Any music or radio apps you have installed will appear in the list of apps in Android Auto or Driving mode; Tap them to find out what they offer while you drive.
Messaging apps work a little differently. If you have a compatible messaging app installed, you’ll see a notification when you have a new message. You can tap Reply to speak your response, or use an automated response command to tell the chat that you’re driving.
For some apps, you can also mute the conversation to prevent further notifications.
3. Organize your Android Auto app list
The Android Auto home screen lists compatible apps on your device. This can become unwieldy if you have a number of apps installed that you don’t want to be distracted by while you drive.
Thankfully, the app lets you organize and trim the list of apps in the launcher. In the Android Auto app menu, choose Customize Launcher to take a look.
The default is A-Z with suggested apps at the top, but you can choose a custom order to rearrange them as you see fit. Uncheck a box to remove that app from your launcher’s display. You can’t disable important apps like Maps or Phone.
4. Specify a Default Music Provider
When you have multiple music streaming apps installed on your phone, it can get confusing when you ask Google Assistant to play a specific song.
Let’s say you are a Spotify Premium user. Without linking your account to the Google Assistant, you won’t be able to play your playlists from Spotify. And if you don’t tell the app you prefer Spotify, you have to say “on Spotify” at the end of each music request. Otherwise, the Assistant will tell you that you’re not subscribed to YouTube Music.
It’s annoying when you’re driving, so be sure to fix it ahead of time. Inside the Android Auto menu, tap Google Assistant to open the relevant options for your account.
On this page, scroll down and tap Music.