Limitations of Android Auto YouTube: Is it worth using it in the car?

YouTube has always been a curious middle child on Android Auto. The streaming app isn’t as feature-rich in a car as it is on a desktop or smartphone, and if you wanted to watch a baseball game while parked, you were out of luck. Some of this is about to change.

At the Android Show: I/O Edition event in May, Google promised major upgrades to Android Auto’s YouTube video playback later this year. From HD videos at 60 frames per second while parked to transitioning to an audio-only mode when you start driving, the platform expands beyond traditional driving needs as media consumption seeps into every facet of our lives. The update brings more features, like a reworked interface with widgets and deeper Gemini integration with brands like BMW, Chevrolet, Ford and Hyundai.

The short answer is sort of: if you consider audio from a video be “playing a video”.

Choosing a YouTube video on your phone will only allow you to play its audio through Android Auto while driving. This means podcasts and video essays can be listened to from the comfort of your car, even if it’s in motion. 9to5Google notes that some manufacturers like GM have already unlocked full compatibility with YouTube and streaming services like Disney+ for their stationary vehicles.

Google introduced some YouTube media controls to Android Auto in March, a welcome addition for podcast fans. However, Reddit users noted that they could only play, pause, or entirely skip videos with a YouTube Premium or Premium Lite subscription, as confirmed 9to5Google. And that’s just the audio stream. Android Auto users also can’t move forward in a video, likely due to security concerns on Google’s part.

An update planned for this year will finally add native YouTube support to Android Auto, allowing users to watch YouTube HD videos on a car’s screen while parked. While on the go, the app will seamlessly switch to audio playback. This can come in handy when you’re waiting for your EV to charge or if that “two more minutes” friend isn’t quite telling the truth.

Google’s announcement video states that listening to YouTube videos while driving is exclusive to YouTube Premium users. It does not specify whether Premium Lite subscriptions benefit from this. No date accompanies the announcement either. Until then, most Android Auto users will have to make do with a stripped-down YouTube implementation that simply streams audio through the car’s infotainment system.

Unofficial methods of unlocking YouTube, like the Fermata Auto app or AA Browser, promise true video playback while parked, with mixed results. This is a temporary solution to get a feature that Google has already promised Android Auto users, although it could potentially be cheaper by now
thus avoiding the need for a paid YouTube subscription.