Google is ending Android Auto on phone screens, to switch to Assistant Driving Mode
When Google launched the Android Auto for smartphones back in 2014, it was such a relief for car owners who didn’t have in-dash entertainment screens. The smartphone then acts as an interface with car stereos.
When your smartphone is connected to a compatible car stereo, it then displays a car-optimized launcher –– complete with access to select multimedia and navigation apps suited for driving.
But here’s the news:
Google is killing off the Android Auto for phone screens in favor of Assistant Driving Mode.
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It might be the end for Android Auto for phone screens
There is no denying that Android Auto has been such a helpful tool for many. It not only helps you navigate your way around, but it also provides for a high-quality experience –– while making sure that the driver’s focus stays on the road.
Two years after its launch in 2014, Google then launched Android Auto on phone screens. The app on phones features big icons, quick access to the voice assistant, large cards for notifications, as well as integration with Google Maps, select media apps, and the dialer.
However, it has been replaced by a new experience that is still part of Google Assistant. Now, it looks like the tech giant is killing off Android Auto for phone screens.
Back in 2019, Google also announced a new driving mode that is already built into Google Assistant. Around the same time, the company said that it will end Android Auto for phone screens.
However, Google retraced its steps and even launched a dedicated app –– a shortcut to the old experience within the app. This is now the preinstalled app on all devices that are running Android 10 and above.
The app is now named “Android Auto for phones screens” on Google Play Store. Some users discovered that the phone screen experience is skipped entirely. In fact, a notice is displayed saying that Android Auto is now only available for car screens.
Currently, there have only been reports of the warning showing up on Pixel phones that are running on Android 12. This tells us that this might be OS-specific.
However, there are also users who found their Pixel phones to be “incompatible” with the “Android Auto for phone screens” on Google Play. They were only able to launch the app by sideloading it or already having the app installed.
It could be that the warning is now slowly rolling out to users. It is only a matter of time before we see reports of it online. Additionally, the Google support page on Android Auto for phone screens app has not been updated yet to give clarification on the issue.
Lastly, Google Assistant driving mode seems like this feature’s replacement. It was first rolled out to users in October of last year. And just this April, the feature was rolled out to users outside the US.
Users will have access to this new feature when they start to navigate in Google Maps. So, it should come as no surprise to see Google ending its support for the Android Auto for phone screens.
If you haven’t done so yet, you can download the “Android Auto for phone screens” app on Google Play Store–just click on the button below.
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