Google has finally heard the plight of many Android Auto users and is bringing support for playing YouTube videos.
Earlier, there was no way to watch YouTube videos in Android Auto unless you sideloaded third-party apps. But the problem with a sideloaded app that played YouTube was that it was never really reliable.
Thankfully, Google’s native support for YouTube video playback solves that problem and will make waiting in my car slightly more bearable.
Quiz
Android Auto trivia
The ultimate challenge
From launch day to the latest features — how well do you really know Google’s in-car platform?
HistoryFeaturesCompatibilityNavigationApps
In what year was Android Auto first announced by Google?
Correct! Android Auto was announced at Google I/O in 2014 alongside Android TV and Android Wear. It was part of Google’s push to extend the Android ecosystem beyond smartphones into cars, wearables, and living rooms.
Not quite. Android Auto was unveiled at Google I/O in 2014, the same event that introduced Android Wear and Android TV. Google was making a big play to put Android into every screen in your life.
Which car manufacturer was the first to ship a production vehicle with built-in Android Auto support?
Correct! Hyundai was the first automaker to ship a production car with Android Auto support, arriving in 2015 with the Sonata. It gave Google a crucial foothold in the automotive market right at launch.
Not quite. Hyundai holds the honour of being the first to ship Android Auto in a production vehicle — the 2015 Sonata. This early partnership helped establish Android Auto as a serious contender in the in-car infotainment space.
What is the name of the feature that allows Android Auto to work without a physical cable connection to the car?
Correct! The feature is simply called Android Auto Wireless. It uses Wi-Fi to mirror your phone’s Android Auto interface to the car’s screen, eliminating the need for a USB cable while still requiring Bluetooth to initiate the connection.
Not quite. The feature is officially called Android Auto Wireless. It pairs over Bluetooth first and then switches to a Wi-Fi connection for the actual data stream, giving you a cable-free experience in supported vehicles.
Which of the following navigation apps was NOT officially supported on Android Auto at launch in 2015?
Correct! Waze was not available on Android Auto at launch. Despite both being Google-owned products, Waze only gained official Android Auto support in 2019, several years after the platform debuted. Google Maps was a day-one feature.
Not quite. Waze is the odd one out here. Even though Google acquired Waze back in 2013, it took until 2019 for Waze to become officially available on Android Auto. Google Maps, however, was a core feature from day one.
What is the minimum Android version required to run Android Auto on a phone as of its standalone app era?
Correct! Android 6.0 Marshmallow is the minimum version required to run the Android Auto app. This requirement tied into the permission and notification access features that Marshmallow introduced, which Android Auto depends on heavily.
Not quite. Android 6.0 Marshmallow is the minimum required version. Google needed the more granular permissions and notification listener improvements that Marshmallow brought in order to make Android Auto function reliably and safely.
Which messaging app was among the first third-party apps to be supported on Android Auto at launch?
Correct! WhatsApp was one of the earliest third-party messaging apps supported on Android Auto. Its massive global user base made it a priority integration, allowing drivers to send and receive messages hands-free using voice commands.
Not quite. WhatsApp was among the first third-party messaging apps to land on Android Auto. Given its enormous global popularity, it was a natural early partner, letting users interact with messages safely through voice while driving.
What major redesign did Android Auto receive in 2022 that changed its visual layout significantly?
Correct! The Coolwalk update introduced a split-screen layout to Android Auto, allowing multiple apps to appear on screen simultaneously. It was a major departure from the previous single-app full-screen approach and made better use of wider car displays.
Not quite. The answer is the Coolwalk update, which Google rolled out in 2022. It brought a split-screen interface so drivers could see navigation and media controls at the same time, a much-requested improvement for wider infotainment screens.
Google discontinued the phone-screen version of Android Auto in 2023, replacing it with what product for direct phone use?
Correct! Google replaced the phone-screen Android Auto experience with Google Assistant Driving Mode. This simplified interface was built directly into Google Maps and used Google Assistant for voice interactions, though it too was later quietly wound down.
Not quite. Google Assistant Driving Mode was the replacement for the phone-screen version of Android Auto. It integrated into Google Maps and leaned heavily on voice commands via Google Assistant, though it never quite matched the original’s popularity with users.
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I will no longer get bored waiting in my car
Android Auto is stepping up its game
Android Auto is getting one of its most significant updates, and I am really excited.
The new update will bring Material You Expressive design. You can now customize your interface with smoother animations, custom fonts, wallpapers, and customizable at-a-glance widgets.
But the feature that I am most excited about is playing YouTube videos on the infotainment screen.
In the past, I’ve sideloaded Android Auto apps like Fermata to play YouTube videos on the infotainment system but deemed it unsafe and not worth the hassle.
While Fermata was a great solution for playing YouTube videos earlier, I would forget to close the app when I started driving, with the video still occupying part of my car’s screen.
Don’t get me wrong, Fermata is still an incredible app to use, but it’s not as reliable and often breaks after an update.
There were times when I would only see the playback buttons and no video playback, making me go back to my phone to entertain myself.
Needless to say, this became annoying after a point, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the upcoming Android Auto update.
Now that Android Auto will support YouTube video playback natively, I don’t have to worry about any of that.
With the new update, I’ll be able to watch YouTube videos when parked with video quality up to 60 fps full HD (FHD).
This will be a game changer for me while I’m waiting to pick up my partner from her workplace or when I’m stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic for hours.
What’s neat is that I don’t have to worry about the video turning off the moment I put my car into drive.
Android Auto will automatically transition the video to audio-only mode and play it in the background while I drive.
The automatic switch from video to audio-only feature will only work for YouTube Premium users.
This feature isn’t exclusive to YouTube. It could work with other apps that support background audio, and with time, we might see more apps pop up with this feature.
I can already see myself catching up on my favorite podcasts, movies, sports highlights, and Warhammer: 40K lore videos on a screen that was previously unused.
It’s also handy for users with kids. Instead of handing them a phone or tablet, parents can use the screen to display cartoons or other educational content while waiting in cars.
The future looks rocky but bright
Unlocking true potential
There’s no doubt that YouTube’s latest video playback feature for Android Auto has a bright future.
We can expect other apps to start taking advantage of the same feature and roll it out in the near future.
The first app that comes to mind is Spotify, especially for users who watch video podcasts on the platform.
Currently, Spotify limits video podcasts to audio-only on Android Auto, but we could see Spotify borrow YouTube’s idea in the near future.
Likewise, I can see streaming apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime rolling out this feature.
I can already see myself catching up on my favorite Netflix shows while waiting in a parking lot or catching up on video podcasts that are exclusive to Spotify.
While the future looks bright, the rollout of this upcoming feature isn’t as universal as I thought. Depending on your phone and car, you may not receive this update promptly.
The latest Android Auto update and its latest YouTube video playback feature depend on OEM updates.
Currently, only a handful of car manufacturers are confirmed to roll out this update, and there’s no specific timeline.
While it isn’t confirmed, you might also need a phone running Android 16 or later; something that users with older phones might not appreciate.
If you would like to know whether Android Auto is updated on your device, here’s how to find out:
- Open the Play Store on your phone.
- Search for Android Auto.
- Tap Update if you see the option.
If the update fails, you may have to go through a few extra steps to update Android Auto. To get started, open Settings > Apps > Android Auto. Select Storage & Cache and tap Clear Cache.
When the cache is cleared, restart your phone and check for the update on Android Auto’s page on the Play Store again.
There are other concerns I’m worried about when using YouTube video playback in my car wirelessly.
Streaming video content on the car’s screen will still use the phone’s data and power.
When using Android Auto wirelessly, streaming content over 5G will cause your phone’s battery to drain rapidly.
There’s also a chance the video quality over a wireless connection may not be ideal if you plan to watch movies or TV shows.
So it’s advised to use a wired connection for better video quality or have a charged power bank if you plan to stream videos via a 5G connection for a long duration.
The infotainment screen finally gets more practical
I am really excited about Android Auto’s parked YouTube support. It will make my car’s screen more useful than ever.
What I’m most grateful for, though, is that a car’s infotainment screen can be used more practically by families with kids.
If you’re one of the many people who don’t meet the requirements for Android Auto’s latest update, there are other ways to watch videos on Android Auto and take advantage of a screen that doesn’t live up to its full potential.
