My car is too old for Android Auto. Here’s how I used a spare phone to add it anyway
Turn any Android phone into a dedicated Android Auto display with a few minutes of setup.
The writer, who has a car that doesn't support Android Auto, found a way to add it without upgrading their vehicle. They used an open-source project called Open Headunit, which makes their phone's built-in Android Auto functionality work like a head unit. The app is available on the Play Store, but the writer had to pay for it. After installing the app, they adjusted the display settings to make it work better for their phone.
They chose to use the Self-Mode, which puts Android Auto directly on their phone's display. This allowed them to access navigation, music controls, Google Assistant, and other Android Auto features without needing a new head unit or modifying their car. The experience was stable and seamless, despite some minor issues with helper mode when using newer versions of Android Auto.
The writer emphasizes the convenience of this solution, as it saves them from buying expensive hardware or replacing their car. They recommend using a dashboard mount and a car charger, as the screen can drain the phone's battery quickly. However, they found that the app worked surprisingly well, turning their phone into an Android Auto head unit, giving them the convenience of real-deal Android Auto features at a fraction of the cost.
Written by urgent.news from Android Authority's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
