Our phones have the ability to make a commute or drive better with free navigation and access to music and more, and systems like Android Auto make all of this more secure and less distracting. Although Android Auto is practical in any form, it is best when wireless. How to use Android Android Wireless.
Will my phone support Android Android wireless?
The first and most important factor in using Android Auto wireless is to see if your Android smartphone supports the functionality. Fortunately, getting a device with support is not difficult.
To use Android Auto Wireless, your phone must meet the following software requirements:
- Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy device with Android 10 or later
- Select Samsung Galaxy devices running Android 9.0 or later (Galaxy S8, Note 8)
- Any Android smartphone running Android 11 or later
- All devices need 5GHz Wi-Fi support
For the most part, any Android smartphone released within the last two or three years should meet these requirements without any hassle.
How to use Android Auto Wireless built into your car
Most cars that support Android Auto generally support the wired version of the platform, but it is becoming increasingly common for car manufacturers to support wireless Android Auto built into their vehicles. Some car manufacturers that support Android Android wireless include:
- Acura
- Audi
- BMW
- Buick
- Cadillac
- Chevrolet
- Chrysler
- Dodge
- Ford
- GMC
- Honda
- Hyundai
- Infiniti
- Jeep
- Kia
- Lincoln
- Maserati
- Porsche
- Ram
- Toyota
- Volkswagen
Of course, do not remember all Vehicles from these car manufacturers support Android Auto in its wireless form, and support may also vary based on the specific configuration of the model you purchase. Cars.com has a list of vehicles sold in the United States that support Android Android wireless.
Other car manufacturers also regularly add support for wireless Android Auto. During the week of April 11, 2022, Subaru announced that it would debut support for wireless Android Auto in its 2023 model year, starting at Outback.
If your car has wireless Android Auto support, pairing is pretty simple. IN most cases, simply pair with your car’s Bluetooth through the infotainment system settings menu. Each car manufacturer’s system will work differently, but in most cases where Android Auto Wireless is built into the vehicle, the setting will either start automatically or display an Android Auto icon on the screen. After initial mating, the process to start Android Auto should mostly be automatic.
This process may vary depending on the infotainment system of your vehicle. In some cases, look for a “Connect the phoneOption under an Android Auto app or turn on Android Auto in the car settings.
What if Android Auto does not connect?
No wireless system is perfectly stable, so while using Android Auto in this form, you are sure to encounter issues at some point. Recently, we had the chance to run the system in a Kia K5, which had wireless support built-in.
In that car, things worked perfectly about 80% of the time, where the primary problem was an error in getting the phone to connect to the car after startup. Of course, this can be quite frustrating, especially if you are already on the go when the error message appears. Fortunately, the correction is quite simple.
If you notice that Android Auto is not connecting to your car, even though your phone is already paired, simply turn off Bluetooth and then back again. In general, the phone and car will quickly reconnect and things will be back to normal. Of course, your results may vary. Other troubleshooting steps may include:
- Restart your phone
- Turn off Bluetooth and turn it on again
- Change flight mode for a few seconds
- Forget your car’s Bluetooth pairing and pair your phone again
And of course, there is always the option of just sticking to a wired connection. In the vast majority of vehicles with support for wireless Android Auto, there is also support for the wired taste.
How to Add Wireless Android Auto to Your Car
If your car does not already have Android Auto Wireless support, adding support through aftermarket products is becoming quite easy.
The easiest way to add wireless Android Auto to a car that already supports the wired version is with a USB dongle. Currently, there are three devices that are good at delivering this feature. The first is Motorola MA1, which costs $ 90 and is available from Amazon or Target. Although this dongle is hard to find in stock, it is the only device certified by Google to add wireless support to the company’s infotainment experience. It works great.
Additionally, there are two dongles that have emerged from crowdfunding campaigns. AAW Wireless was the very first product to perform this task, and as we said in a previous review, it is a wonderful little device. You can still order it on Indiegogo for $ 85, with shipping usually two to four weeks from the time of your order. Finally there is Carsifi, which you can also order from Indiegogo for $ 99, although it is often on sale for $ 89. The fame claim of this product is that it has a button to switch from one phone connection to another.
With the Motorola MA1, pairing is incredibly quick and easy. Simply connect the Motorola MA1 to your car’s USB port (note: the dongle only supports USB-A connections) and let it turn on. Once turned on, visit your phone Bluetooth settings and look for MA1. Couple with the dongle and let it activate a Wi-Fi connection. You will be automatically asked from that time on configure Android Auto.
For AAWireless and Carsifi, the process is very similar, except for one setup step. Before proceeding with the above steps, you must enable Android Auto Developer Settings by opening Android Auto settings and pressing the version number repeatedly. When done, open the Android Auto overflow menu with three dots and look Developer settings. High up on the list you will see an opportunity to add wireless projection to the settings, which you can then turn on from the previous page. This step may or may not be necessary depending on your device, so look for one switch to enable Android Android Auto before activating developer settings.
What if my car does not have Android Auto at all?
Alternatively, if your car does not already have the wired form of Android Auto, there are still options.
Going the easy way, there are GPS devices that you can mount in your car that support Android Auto. We tested an IYING device that costs $ 260 on Amazon and supports Android Auto wireless. Road Top offers a similar device with a wider screen for $ 299.
Although installation is convenient on devices like these, the money should ideally go to a new main unit. These devices, which can be installed on your own, but which are best handled by a professional, completely replace your car’s existing infotainment system. It’s a great way to breathe life into older cars or just add a new feature.
Popular brands like Pioneer and JVC Kenwood support wireless Android Auto on some of their advanced systems, and Crutchfield has several other smaller brands that offer more affordable systems that support the feature.
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