How to Connect Android Auto to Your Car Stereo

Back in the day, if you wanted to connect your phone to your car stereo, you needed a WiFi adapter, a cord with a jack plug, or Bluetooth. You had to manually navigate your phone to select and play music. But now, with Android Auto, everything has changed. It’s easier than ever to use your phone to play tunes during your road trip or daily commute. Let me show you how to connect Android Auto to your car stereo.

Just like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto is designed to connect your phone to your car. Newer cars can connect directly to Android Auto. If you have an older car without built-in Android Auto, you can use a Bluetooth dongle to connect. Some very new cars even have infotainment systems that are compatible with Android Auto and can display it directly on the touchscreen.

If your car has a 3.5mm jack socket, you can buy a Bluetooth dongle for less than $20 on eBay or Amazon. It’s a quick and easy solution. And if your car has a USB connection, you can use that too.

1. An Android phone or tablet with a recent version of the operating system installed. You’ll need at least Android Lollipop.
2. The Android Auto app.
3. A Bluetooth-enabled car, Bluetooth dongle, or USB cable.
4. A phone holder to keep your phone accessible while driving.
5. An hour of your time.

If you need to buy a Bluetooth dongle, there are two types available. Some run on batteries, while others use the car’s lighter socket to power them. I recommend getting the one that uses the car’s power, so you don’t have to worry about the batteries running out during your road trip.

If your car doesn’t have a 3.5mm audio jack, you’ll need an FM transmitter instead. It connects to your phone’s audio jack and turns the signal into FM. Then, you can tune your car radio to the specific channel to receive the signal. If you have a USB port in your car, you can also use your phone’s micro USB to USB cable to connect the two.

In my car, I have Bluetooth, so I used that to connect everything for this tutorial. However, my car doesn’t have an Android Auto-compatible head unit, so I keep the app on my phone. That’s what I’ll be describing here. If you need a dongle, just adapt that part of the tutorial to fit your situation.

How to Connect Android Auto to Your Car Stereo

The first thing you need to do is pair your phone and your car. Usually, this involves turning on Bluetooth on both devices and setting them up to discover each other. In Android Oreo, all you have to do is go to Settings and turn on Bluetooth. It will automatically discover any nearby devices. If Bluetooth is also turned on in your car, the two should find each other and connect. Just be patient, as it might take a little while.

I always do this first because my car can be a bit temperamental when it comes to connecting and pairing Bluetooth devices.

1. Open the Android Auto app on your phone.
2. Select Settings and Autolaunch.
3. Turn on the Autolaunch feature.
4. Select your car’s Bluetooth device and connect the two devices.

Now, whenever your phone’s Bluetooth is turned on and it detects your car, Android Auto will automatically start. It will appear on your phone screen and allow you to select it to take over your phone.

Using Android Auto

Android Auto transforms your phone into an infotainment system, enabling you to play music, access Google Maps, and use many other apps. The Android user interface is simplified, and most of your phone apps will be sent to the background to minimize distractions and make using Android Auto easier.

One cool feature of Android Auto is the ability to use voice commands. While you might not use them much on your phone, they really shine in the car. You can tap the microphone icon on your phone or just say “Hello Google.” Then, you can play music, call someone, compose a text message, use maps, or use an app.

Google Assistant is integrated into every aspect of Android Auto and can help you perform various functions. For example, you can ask for nearby gas stations, and Google Maps will search for them. You can ask it to play music from your default player, and it will do so. You can even connect it to your smart home and have it turn on the oven for you while you’re on your way home from work.

If you prefer to use your phone’s touchscreen, you can do that too. When you’re in Android Auto, you’ll see a gray box with three icons on the right or at the bottom of the screen. The headphone icon controls music and activates your default music player. The phone icon allows you to make hands-free calls or answer them. The arrow icon lets you access Google Maps for directions.

If you add third-party Android Auto apps, you can access them using the white circle icon below the gray box. Each app offers different features, and there are already hundreds of apps available, with many more on the way.

If you add third-party Android Auto apps, you can access them using the white circle icon below the gray box. Each app offers different features, and there are already hundreds of apps available, with many more on the way.