Google launched the Android Auto app in March 2015 to provide users with a hassle-free experience of maps, navigation and music on Android smartphones. A few years ago, Google stopped providing a car-optimized UI in the Android Auto app, but kept a similar UI through a separate Android Auto for phone screens.

In 2021, Android 12 devices were made incompatible with Android Auto support, but worked for its earlier versions such as Android 11 and earlier until a few days ago when users started to receive a pop-up indicating that Android Auto for phone screens would stop working. soon.

At Google I/O 2019, Google replaced the Android Auto app with a new Google Assistant driving mode for Android versions 12 and above. Google Play Store updated the Android Auto app for phones in May 2022, after which smartphones running Android 11 and earlier also stopped working currently.

Google Assistant driving mode takes over from Android Auto app

In 2021, Google sent the “driving mode” update to the Google Assistant to improve its user experience and provide an app similar to Android Auto. Driving mode on Google Assistant can be activated by voice command, “Hey Google, start driving mode”. In another way, the assistant driving mode is automatically activated when the device detects that a person is driving.

Even though Google has made a replacement for Android Auto, Driving Mode seems to be missing some major experiences. Driving mode does not provide a landscape view, which is a big drawback, nor does it support most music apps.

Published on

June 23, 2022