Can all Android phones use Android Auto?

Android Auto lets you use your phone’s essential apps through your car’s dashboard. Much like Apple’s CarPlay, you can use Android Auto to send messages, take calls, listen to music, and help you get from point A to point B. It has quickly replaced the patchwork approach taken by automakers in the past, supplanting built-in automotive infotainment systems that often quickly become outdated and unsupported.

Android Auto is essentially a mirroring app for your phone, and most modern Android smartphones built in the last decade support it. A group of 28 different automakers have also committed to supporting it in their cars. Compatibility is not guaranteed, however, and there are a few exceptions you should be aware of, as well as some common issues that may prevent it from working.

Almost all Android smartphones sold since 2018 running an original or manufacturer-released version of Android will support Android Auto, provided they are running Android 9 or later. Google says “most wired connections” will work with version 9 or higher. Version 10 is the first version of Android to come pre-installed with Auto, meaning you don’t need to install it from the Play Store to start using it.

If your phone is running Android 9, you won’t have it preinstalled, but you can install it from the Google Play Store. This will allow you to use Android Auto with your car via a wired USB connection. According to Google, more than 500 vehicles are now compatible with Android Auto, but this may depend on the age of the car. So you’ll need to double-check your car’s specifications to make sure your phone is compatible.

These specs should allow you to use Android Auto by connecting your phone to your car using a USB cable, but support for wireless use of Android Auto means you’ll need a slightly newer phone. Wireless Android Auto is only available for phones running Android 11 or later, so models released within the last five to six years are more likely to support it. You’ll also need a phone that supports Wi-Fi connections using the 5GHz band, which means support for Wi-Fi 5 or later. This is entirely likely for any modern phone from this era, but be sure to double check.

Google and the Open Automotive Alliance, the industry alliance of automakers and technology companies working to promote the use of Android in cars, have tried to make Android Auto as universal as possible.

In reality, the situation is more complex. Unlike iPhones, which only receive software updates from Apple, the Android ecosystem is more fragmented. The freedom to install your own version of Android means that instant plug-and-play support for Android Auto is not guaranteed. The phones that work best with Android Auto will be those that have native versions of Android installed, meaning you don’t have a custom ROM installed on the device.

Android Auto support will depend on the device you are using and the version of Android installed. For example, GrapheneOS, the privacy-focused alternative based on Android Open Source Project code, does not include Android Auto by default, according to its detailed user guide. If you want to install it yourself, you’ll need to grant it a series of permissions before it will work, including allowing it to access sandboxed Google Play Services.

CalyxOS, another third-party operating system based on Android, also supports Android Auto with version 6.4.2 and later, but requires it to be enabled first. Other de-Google phones running custom ROMs or lacking Google Play Services are also likely to not support Android Auto by default.

Android Auto isn’t a perfect system in a perfect world. If you use Android Auto often enough, pressure points or issues that force it to stop working will occur from time to time, even if your car or phone fully supports it.

A stable connection, or lack thereof, is the most common problem Android Auto users face. Wired connections between your smartphone and your car, for example, won’t work properly without the right cable. In a Google Help guide on the subject, tips for good wired Android Auto connectivity included using a cable shorter than six feet; If the cable doesn’t work, simply replace it. It’s also a good tip if you’re using a cheap USB cable designed for charging only, as you’ll need a cable that can support data connections over USB for wired Android Auto to work.

However, wireless users can’t simply replace a cable to solve their connection problems. Instead, you can remove the car from your phone’s list of connected devices and connect it as a new device. This is not a guaranteed solution, but it will reset the connection from scratch.

Virtual Private Network connections will also prevent Android Auto from connecting properly. To resolve this issue, you can either disable the VPN while using it in the car, or configure it to use split tunneling (if your VPN provider supports it). Split tunneling means your Android phone will route some app data through the VPN while excluding Android Auto to allow it to successfully connect to your car’s systems.

Modern Android smartphones released since 2018 should support Android Auto natively, and even phones running third-party alternatives like GrapheneOS can use it with the proper permissions. If your phone is not compatible, the only way to get around this is to update your phone. This may mean a software update, including to Android 11 or later for automatic wireless support if your device supports it. If this is not possible, you will need to upgrade to a newer handset to ensure compatibility.

However, you may find that your phone is not the problem. A more likely source of problem may be with the car itself, so verify that it supports Android Auto by checking online or through your car’s manual. If it doesn’t support Android Auto wireless, you’ll need to purchase a wireless adapter for Android Auto to cut the cord. These plug into the same USB port and connect to your phone wirelessly, usually via Bluetooth, to give you the same wireless experience as a quick in-car upgrade.