Android Auto is the main system integrated in the " In-car entertainment " car radios, the modern ones that are now installed in almost all new cars, which have a touchscreen as big as that of a tablet and allow you to connect to the internet independently or via smartphone.
Android Auto is the most popular system on machines around the world, above all because, compared to Apple Car Play that only works with iPhones, it is compatible with all Android phones, therefore Samsung, Huawei, Motorola etc. .
On the official Android Auto website you can find out all the brands of machines that support this In-car entertainment system, including Alfa Romeo, Opel, VolksWagen, Smart, Seat, Skoda, Renault, Peugeot, Mercedes, Kia, Fiat, Ford, Citroen and many others.
In order to function, car radios with Android Auto require that any Android smartphone is connected to the car via a USB cable so as to project a reduced and simplified Android interface on the car screen.
From this simplified interface you can make phone calls, read and answer messages, start streaming music playback and then use the satellite navigator, which is the most important app in the car.
As seen, Android Auto can also be used as an app without a compatible car radio, perhaps by attaching the smartphone to the car's vents with a magnetic holder. Those who have a touchscreen compatible car radio system can instead take advantage of all its functions, to make hands-free calls, answer messages and set the navigator using only voice commands.
Before configuring the Android car radio in the car and connecting the smartphone with the USB cable to the socket located under the dashboard, you must make sure to install the Android Auto app on the phone that can be downloaded for free on the Google Play Store (only on mobile phones with Android 5 and above).
The Android Auto app is automatically configured and requires only a few steps to start working immediately.
From the settings menu it is however possible to decide how the application should work, both in the case of use with the radio, and in the case it is used alone without connection. To access the settings, touch the key with three lines in the upper left. In the settings it is important that the option to use voice commands with OK Google (which becomes the command to call the system), the configuration of the automatic response and then the automatic start of the app when the phone's bluetooth connects to the bluetooth of the machine. In the settings there is also the possibility to manage the cars connected with the option to start the automatic configuration when the phone is connected to the car.
Once the Android Auto app is installed on the phone, it is important that the smartphone is connected to the internet .
If you own a car with an Android system, simply connect the smartphone with the charging cable to the USB socket of the car to see the Android system appear on the car radio screen. There is no need to start the app on the phone because the system should automatically recognize the connection with the car.
READ ALSO: Connect the smartphone in the car: support, music, speakerphone and charger
If this connection does not work and nothing happens when the phone is connected to the USB socket of the car you can try again using another cable or trying to get a wifi connection on the phone. In case of problems, try to set up another Android phone and then, if it works, try again with what was not working.
In addition to the connection via cable, you must also pair the bluetooth of the car with that of the phone, which allows you to listen to calls and music from the speakers of the car radio. The configuration of the Bluetooth connection is started when you connect the phone to the machine via USB cable, or you can do it manually.
To do this pairing you need to open the bluetooth settings on the phone and pair the car system which should be recognizable and appear in the bluetooth scan (for example Opel IntelliLink ).
If it doesn't work, try to pair from the car radio settings (to be searched using the touchscreen controls on the screen).
If all went well, the Android car radio screen will show a clean interface with date and time, with four buttons at the bottom and the microphone icon at the top. The round button is used to exit the application and return to the radio system of the machine. The arrow button opens the navigator (which can be Google Maps), the handset button is used to make calls, the headset button to start the music app (which can be Spotify or Google Music or others).
The functions of Android Auto can still be activated with the voice, saying first " Ok Google " and then the command that can be: go to via del corso to open the browser, call Marco or Send message to . In another article, the guide to activate and configure Ok Google on your phone.
While connecting to the car radio, you can still use the smartphone in all its other functions without necessarily detaching and closing Android Auto.
READ ALSO: Best Apps for Android Auto for music, messages, maps and more
Android Auto is the most popular system on machines around the world, above all because, compared to Apple Car Play that only works with iPhones, it is compatible with all Android phones, therefore Samsung, Huawei, Motorola etc. .
On the official Android Auto website you can find out all the brands of machines that support this In-car entertainment system, including Alfa Romeo, Opel, VolksWagen, Smart, Seat, Skoda, Renault, Peugeot, Mercedes, Kia, Fiat, Ford, Citroen and many others.
In order to function, car radios with Android Auto require that any Android smartphone is connected to the car via a USB cable so as to project a reduced and simplified Android interface on the car screen.
From this simplified interface you can make phone calls, read and answer messages, start streaming music playback and then use the satellite navigator, which is the most important app in the car.
As seen, Android Auto can also be used as an app without a compatible car radio, perhaps by attaching the smartphone to the car's vents with a magnetic holder. Those who have a touchscreen compatible car radio system can instead take advantage of all its functions, to make hands-free calls, answer messages and set the navigator using only voice commands.
Before configuring the Android car radio in the car and connecting the smartphone with the USB cable to the socket located under the dashboard, you must make sure to install the Android Auto app on the phone that can be downloaded for free on the Google Play Store (only on mobile phones with Android 5 and above).
The Android Auto app is automatically configured and requires only a few steps to start working immediately.
From the settings menu it is however possible to decide how the application should work, both in the case of use with the radio, and in the case it is used alone without connection. To access the settings, touch the key with three lines in the upper left. In the settings it is important that the option to use voice commands with OK Google (which becomes the command to call the system), the configuration of the automatic response and then the automatic start of the app when the phone's bluetooth connects to the bluetooth of the machine. In the settings there is also the possibility to manage the cars connected with the option to start the automatic configuration when the phone is connected to the car.
Once the Android Auto app is installed on the phone, it is important that the smartphone is connected to the internet .
If you own a car with an Android system, simply connect the smartphone with the charging cable to the USB socket of the car to see the Android system appear on the car radio screen. There is no need to start the app on the phone because the system should automatically recognize the connection with the car.
READ ALSO: Connect the smartphone in the car: support, music, speakerphone and charger
If this connection does not work and nothing happens when the phone is connected to the USB socket of the car you can try again using another cable or trying to get a wifi connection on the phone. In case of problems, try to set up another Android phone and then, if it works, try again with what was not working.
In addition to the connection via cable, you must also pair the bluetooth of the car with that of the phone, which allows you to listen to calls and music from the speakers of the car radio. The configuration of the Bluetooth connection is started when you connect the phone to the machine via USB cable, or you can do it manually.
To do this pairing you need to open the bluetooth settings on the phone and pair the car system which should be recognizable and appear in the bluetooth scan (for example Opel IntelliLink ).
If it doesn't work, try to pair from the car radio settings (to be searched using the touchscreen controls on the screen).
If all went well, the Android car radio screen will show a clean interface with date and time, with four buttons at the bottom and the microphone icon at the top. The round button is used to exit the application and return to the radio system of the machine. The arrow button opens the navigator (which can be Google Maps), the handset button is used to make calls, the headset button to start the music app (which can be Spotify or Google Music or others).
The functions of Android Auto can still be activated with the voice, saying first " Ok Google " and then the command that can be: go to via del corso to open the browser, call Marco or Send message to . In another article, the guide to activate and configure Ok Google on your phone.
While connecting to the car radio, you can still use the smartphone in all its other functions without necessarily detaching and closing Android Auto.
READ ALSO: Best Apps for Android Auto for music, messages, maps and more
