Nowadays, life is all about having all the information you need at your fingertips, and modern driving is no different. That’s why so many drivers use smartphone mirroring such as Android Auto. 

An alternative to Apple CarPlay for those with a Google-based phone from makers such as Samsung, Sony, OnePlus or even the American tech giant itself, Android Auto gives quick and easy access to a host of applications.

As car manufacturers grapple with the relentless development of smartphones, many drivers prefer mirroring services like Android Auto over the standard operating system (OS) fitted to their cars. It's no surprise that around 150 million cars worldwide have Android Auto installed.

But what is Android Auto and how do you use it? Read on as we answer this and more right here.

What is Android Auto?

Android Auto is a car-based driving companion created by Google to bring all the convenience of your phone directly to your car’s dashboard.

It was initially introduced to improve safety while driving, but there’s a lot you can do with it. It’s a service that lets you connect your Android phone to the car's infotainment system to display sat-nav apps, legally take phone calls, reply to messages and play audio. 

These functions are accessed via large icons on your infotainment screen and through voice commands. Google, the company behind Android Auto, says the software aims to reduce your levels of distraction as much as possible, so the icons should be easy to reach when you're driving. 

Android Auto is accessible, too. It’s free of charge for one, but it also streamlines your car’s interface with hands-free voice commands, large, easy-to-read icons, and integration with some of the mobile world’s most popular apps including Google Maps, Waze and Spotify. 

How to connect to Android Auto

If you have an Android phone - that’s a phone developed by companies such as Samsung, OnePlus, Huawei, Nokia, Sony or Google itself - Android Auto will come pre-installed on your phone if it's operating on Android 10 or above. It’s also free to install on the Google Play Store. 

There are two ways of doing this: via USB connection or wirelessly. Firstly, ensure your car is compatible with Android Auto. You can consult Android's guide to every car compatible with the system here. 

Using USB

If you're using a USB connection, make sure your phone is in range of your mobile data network and plug the USB into your car's port and your phone. The port can be either a USB-A (rectangular) or a USB-C (oval) connector.

Instructions will then appear on your car's infotainment screen; follow those steps to continue. You don’t need a Bluetooth connection if you’re using this method.

Wireless

Some newer cars offer a wireless Android Auto connection too, through Bluetooth or a wi-fi connection. Here, you should go into your car’s infotainment system to set up your phone via Bluetooth.

Once you’re all paired up, both your car and your phone will ask if you want to allow permission to use Android Auto. Select yes, and away you go!

If you're unsure of your car’s method of connection, have a quick look at the car's manual.

Is my phone compatible?

There are a few caveats to this one but stick with us. To connect your phone to Android Auto using a USB cable, it has to be running on Android 8.0 (Oreo) or higher and have an active data plan.

If you want to connect it wirelessly to the infotainment system and you have an Android phone that isn't made by Samsung or Google, make sure it’s running on Android 11.0 or later. 

Samsung or Google phones can use Android 10.0 or later, while Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, or Note 8 models work with Android 9.0 or later.

Remember: all phones require an active data plan and 5GHz wi-fi support. Most phones have the latter, but if you're experiencing connection issues, it may be down to this. To resolve it, contact your phone manufacturer.

What apps can I use?

From navigation to music, there are several apps compatible with Android Auto. See our list of our favourite Android Auto apps below: 

Amazon Music - an alternative to Spotify for your favourite tunes

Audible - Amazon’s app for audiobook playback

Facebook Messenger - Reply to messages sent to your Facebook account through voice-to-text

Google Maps - Google’s own navigation app

ZapMap - Locate an electric vehicle charging station quickly using this app which lists chargers by maximum charging speed. It also tells you if they’re in use or out of order. 

Spotify - a popular music and podcast app

WhatsApp - you obviously can’t text people here, but you’re able to hear messages you’ve been sent, plus send back messages via voice control

Waze - a third-party navigation app with several useful features such as incident reporting, police car warnings and more

How much does Android Auto cost?

Android Auto is free to use and the app is free to download to your phone. However, you may be subject to some data charges if they’re not already included on your mobile phone plan. 

However, some manufacturers include Android Auto on higher trim levels only, or as an optional extra on entry-level models - but it’s becoming increasingly common for brands to include it as standard, along with Apple CarPlay. 

Pros of Android Auto

There are several benefits to using Android Auto - and it’s often down to the software that comes with your car. 

In fact, many drivers believe Android Auto’s Google Maps integration is more intuitive, accurate and useful than pre-installed satellite navigation systems. Google often updates Android Auto, with the latest round adding AI which can summarise messages, read them out to you and reply on your behalf.

It’s very handy to have all of your favourite apps at your fingertips when you’re on the move, and voice integration in apps like WhatsApp are useful for staying in contact with your friends and family during long journeys. 

Android Auto’s wide selection of apps is also a plus, meaning you can stick to your preferred music or podcast app of choice. 

And, if we’re honest, it often looks better than many of the infotainment offerings from some car brands today.

Cons of Android Auto

While Android Auto might seem like the ideal solution for most phone users, it’s not for everybody. 

The ultimate negative of the system is that it can only be used with an Android phone, so it’s not accessible to every driver. 

You also need to keep an eye on your data usage with Android Auto, as apps such as Spotify, Amazon Music or Audible can sap your data if you’re not set to a specific offline mode. 

Plus, if you don’t have the right cable, and your car can’t offer wireless connectivity, you might not be able to connect to Android Auto at all.

If you’re not a fan of touchscreens, you might want to avoid Android Auto too, as most functions are controlled via your car’s infotainment system, which, as we know, are all moving to this form of interior entertainment.