Those apps include the basics like phone functionality, weather, a calendar app, news and a podcast app. The main difference is that the screen scrolls vertically, rather than horizontally, but other than that, the two systems look very similar.ĭepending on your car, you’ll be able to touch icons to open them, or use a jog wheel or buttons to access apps. Once everything is hooked up and working, you’re presented with an entirely different looking home screen for Android Auto – and one that looks a look like Apple CarPlay, thanks to its black background and gridded app icons.Ī menu bar along the bottom of the screen offers easy access to voice activation, the most recently used app and a reminder bell, as well as a small home button. Unlike wireless Apple CarPlay, which has been installed in several brands of car including Audi and BMW, wireless Android Auto is only compatible with a handful of aftermarket head units at present.

Want to use wireless Android Auto? The app allows many phones – including our test Galaxy – to connect wirelessly, but the catch is that you need to have a suitable Android Auto wireless head unit to connect with. The Hyundai’s multimedia system asked us to unplug, then re-plug, the phone to access the new system before we could access the new interface, as well. Once you’ve done that, you can then open the Android Auto app. Setting up Android Auto in your car is as easy as plugging your phone into its USB micro cable or USB-C cable and plugging the other end into your Android Auto-compatible head unit or multimedia system in your car. The app only took a few moments to update once the new firmware was updated. It’s been a systematic roll-out across various devices and countries we tested Android Auto on a Samsung Galaxy S9 and a Hyundai Ioniq. Google has recently added the Android Auto app to the store for people who want to use it outside a compatible car. This means you no longer have to install a separate app from the Google Play Store to use Android Auto with your car display.

Starting with Android 10, Android Auto is now built into the phone as a separate technology that enables your phone to connect directly to your car display.

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