Using Android Auto wirelessly, that’s how it works

Android Auto can also be used wirelessly in your car for two years. Unfortunately this does not always work. Androidworld explains what you need to use Android Auto Wireless.

Android Auto

Android Auto is a special operating system from Google for the infotainment system in cars. It was announced by Google in 2014 and launched in 2015. Via Android Auto you make a connection between your smartphone and your car. This will show you the Android Auto screen on your dashboard where you can choose to use an Android Auto app.

You can navigate with Google Maps or Waze and listen to music via Spotify, for example. You can also reply to incoming messages, listen to podcasts and much more. View an overview of Android Auto apps that can be useful while driving.

Android Auto Wireless

Android Auto runs on your phone, and your car’s infotainment screen acts as an external monitor. The connection between your smartphone and the car is via a USB cable. Two years ago, Google launched a wireless variant of Android Auto, Android Auto Wireless. The big advantage of this is that you no longer have to use your phone with a cable in your car. There is also a big disadvantage: your phone will no longer be charged while using Android Auto. Using Android Auto takes a lot out of your phone’s battery, so make sure you are well prepared for your trip.

What do you need?

To use Android Auto Wireless, you must meet a number of requirements:

• An Android phone that works with Android 11
• or: a Google or Samsung phone with Android 10
• or: a Samsung Galaxy S8 (Plus), S9 (Plus), S10 (Plus), Note 8, Note 9, Note 10 with Android 9
• An Android phone that works with 5 GHz WiFi
• An infotainment system that supports Android Auto Wireless

Google designates a number of car brands as suitable here. Still, it is wise, when looking at a new car, to ask in the garage whether the infotainment system supports the wireless version of Android Auto. Many newer phones are already capable of both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi. You can see that in the specifications of your phone. The high frequency (5GHz) is necessary because bluetooth offers too little bandwidth to stream Android Auto. That is why cars have to establish a Wi-Fi connection.

Sygic app for Android Auto

Roadmap

If you meet all the above requirements, you can use Android Auto wirelessly in your car. To do this, follow the steps below,

1. Connect your phone to your infotainment system via a USB cable
2. Follow the steps in the setup
3. Remove the USB cable

From now on you can make a wireless connection to Android Auto every time you start the car. Make sure your battery is sufficiently charged!

Is there an alternative?

Do you not meet the requirements? Then there is another alternative, the AAWireless dongle. This dongle is part of an Indiegogo project and has already been put into production. You can purchase one for 53 euros. CarDongle is a comparable stick and can be purchased for 73 euros via Indiegogo.

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