With the arrival of the Google Assistant driving mode, it seemed clear that Google had planned to end Android Auto for phone screens, something that had already been suspected since 2019. The chronicle of this announced death ends now, when Google has confirmed that to Android Auto for phones will not be compatible with Android 12 or higher.
Android Auto for phones is a small application that enables Android Auto to “cast” on the phone itself, rather than on the car screen. The good news is that in principle will continue to work in older versions. As of Android 12, it will be replaced by the Google Assistant driving mode present in Google Maps.
Android Auto, in the car
At some point a couple of years ago Google decided that it was not worth continuing to support Android Auto for two types of screen as different as the infotainment system of a car and the mobile screen. Instead, Android Auto would be optimized for the car and on the mobile a driving mode with similar functions was created.
The Google Assistant driving mode, available on Google Maps, took significantly longer than expected to activate globally. Now that the rollout is quite extensive, Google is already determined to replace Android Auto for phones with said driving mode.
Google has confirmed to 9to5Google that starting with Android 12, Google Assistant’s Confuction Mode will be the built-in driving experience. It’s a somewhat convoluted way of saying that Android Auto for phones will stop working as of Android 12.
Although Android Auto for phones can continue to be installed on some mobiles with Android 12 from Google Play (and in the rest from its APK) soon will start to show a warning message, which indicates that “Android Auto is now available only for in-car displays. On your phone, try the Google Assistant driving mode,” according to XDA.
The good news is that in principle should still work on older versions of Android, At least for the moment. It is clear that Android Auto on the phone has its days numbered, so it is best to get used to the idea that you will have to use the driving mode instead.
Via | 9to5Google