I sideloaded companion apps to run alongside Android Auto and finally got the multitasking Google refuses to allow

The author sought to enhance their car's screen usage, particularly when parked. Android Auto, while connecting the phone, restricts the apps displayed on the dashboard and offers a limited selection of supported applications. To overcome this limitation, the author sideloaded certain applications without rooting their phone. These apps provided features like Android widgets, screen mirroring, additional phone apps, and a browser to the car's display.

Widgets for Android Auto displayed Android widgets on the car's screen, allowing quick access to useful information such as weather summaries and calendar agendas. The author found that a weather widget and a calendar agenda widget were particularly useful, providing a concise overview of the upcoming weather and appointments without opening the corresponding apps.

For installation, the author utilized KingInstaller and version 0.2.3 or newer, as Google had blacklisted the older application ID. Widgets with large text and minimal information were preferred to avoid clutter and ensure easy readability on the dashboard.

Some applications that the author wanted on the car's display were already available on their phone but lacked Android Auto versions. Fermata Mirror served as a solution by projecting the phone's screen onto the dashboard and provided a launcher for opening apps from the mirrored interface. This enabled the author to view a webpage with booking details, examine destination photos, and access information from apps not supported by Android Auto.

Screen mirroring, however, had limitations when it came to mirroring portrait apps onto a wide dashboard. It did not automatically adjust the interface to fit the screen, and not all controls may function correctly. The author had to consider the orientation and layout of the apps when mirroring them.

Installation could be a bit tricky for non-rooted setups. The developer recommended using wireless adapters, like AAWireless with developer mode enabled, for Android 14 and newer. After installation, AA Anything patched selected Android apps so they could be launched through Android Auto without requiring root access or bootloader unlocking.

VLC, a media player, was of interest to the author as it allowed access to videos stored on their phone during parked breaks on the dashboard. The developer also listed browsers and utilities as potential candidates for patching. However, apps with signature verification, Play Integrity checks, or certain DRM protections would not work through AA Anything. The author recommended re-patching apps if an Android update broke a patched application.

AA Browser provided Android Auto with a browser built around the car's display, offering tabs, bookmarks, and shortcuts to favorite websites. This browser required Android 15 or newer and could be installed directly from the developer's GitHub releases page. The browser supported multiple tabs, up to six website shortcuts on the start page, and the ability to adjust the interface scale and switch between mobile and desktop views to optimize website display on the screen. However, ad blocking was not yet available in AA Browser.

The author expressed hope for official support for widgets in Android Auto, as it would simplify the process and eliminate the need for separate installers and compatibility workarounds. Until that update was available, the companion apps provided a convenient way to utilize the dashboard without rooting their phone.