Google has confirmed it’s shutting down the standalone “Android Auto for Phone Screens” app with Android 12. Instead, anyone who wants a driving-friendly interface for their Android phone should use the Google Assistant driving mode, which is available within Google Maps, or the native Android Auto interface available in select cars.
Update: In speaking with Google, we are able to confirm that Android Auto for Phone Screens is, indeed, shutting down with the release of Android 12. The experience will not be available for users on Android 12, but still on older versions of the OS.
What happened to Android Auto?
The saga started in 2019, when Google decided to build most of Android Auto’s features into Android 10 as a system level feature, and discontinue the previously downloadable app.
Google’s confirmation came after XDA Developers reported that some users were seeing a message in the Android Auto for Phone Screens app that said the service is “now only available for car screens” and pointed phone users towards Google Assistant driving mode as a replacement.
The other way to use Android Auto is to connect a compatible phone to a compatible car radio or infotainment system. This is accomplished by running Android Auto on the phone and then connecting it to a compatible vehicle via USB or Bluetooth. Doing so mirrors the display of the phone, in a slightly modified fashion, on the radio display.
What is android auto radio?
Android Auto is a skin for your phone that’s designed for easy use in the car, but it can also interface with car radios. Android Auto can do pretty much anything that an Android phone can do on its own; it’s just tweaked and fine-tuned for an automotive setting.
There are two different ways to use Android Auto: as a standalone experience on your phone, or in concert with a compatible car radio or infotainment system. Both methods provide similar utility, but integrating Android Auto with a compatible touchscreen car radio is the superior experience.
How do you know if your phone supports the Android car stereo?
Any phone running on Android Lollipop (version 5.0) is likely to support the car stereo. Having Android Marshmallow (version 6.0) will deliver a smoother operation. Q: Does an Android car stereo support Apple devices?
The Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX is our pick for best overall Android car stereo above, but it’s also our pick for the best wireless Android Auto DVD head unit because it brings the right combination of expected features to the mix along with surprises like the aforementioned ability to display engine performance read-outs.