Should you be the owner of a compatible head unit and Android device, you can now utilize Android Auto wirelessly inside of your vehicle.
To get Android Auto Wireless working properly, you will need a head unit that features WiFi connectivity. If you need specifics, check out Kenwood or JVC’s latest offerings that were debuted at CES. Once you have that set up, you will need either a Pixel or Nexus device and the Android Auto v3.1 update. That is the update that enables this functionality.
Once you have all of the components, connect your smartphone to the head unit via a USB cable, then sync the devices. Once WiFi has been established, you can unplug the USB cable, then control your head unit using voice commands or wirelessly from your smartphone.
If you use anything besides a Nexus or Pixel phone, I wouldn’t hold my breath for Android Auto Wireless support. As noted by Android Police who has word from an Android Auto team member, “For non-Google devices, we are actively working with phone manufacturers on adding software compatibility and hope to share more updates soon.”
Enjoy, Android Auto people.
Being in the car audio industry, I have this in my own vehicle. It’s pretty much exactly as you’d expect. The same thing as wired…but wireless. I haven’t been able to get any additional information about the technologies used for the connections. The most interesting part about it, on my Kenwood Excelon DMX905S as long as WiFi and Bluetooth are on, the AA icon is lit up and pressable…at that point when I’m using it, maps, or music or whatever, the Volume stays fixed from the phone side just as if it was plugged in. And the sound quality for the music is better then standard Bluetooth audio. It appears to do everything through Wi-Fi and just the calls through Bluetooth. Seems good overall though. The battery drain isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It uses the battery more then music, but not terribly fast.
Did this work on Fords with AA? I have a 2018 F150 and a pixel 2 XL and the most recent AA. Is there something I need to do to enable it?
I really wish the weather card would return On the AA home screen Have Pixel 2 and it has disappeared. Anyone know? Some threads talk about Weather card in Google app but to no avail. Any suggestions
Mine too! Pisses me off!! If you figure it out, I’d love to know.
Kinda looking forward to the possiblity of this working http://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a4e403445f32269d2179df2b32ab14627c69c2b6ea4050ec6dcb31d08ad5ff75.png
Cool. now will they sell a dongle for those of us who’s cars won’t get that upgrade? I’d buy that. If only my pixel had QI, or my car…
That’s the big question… I have a ’17 Civic Si with Wifi connectivity. I think the HU connects to the phone via Wifi so you can access the Internet from the HU (who would want to do that, anyway?). I’m guessing this means that I’m still SOL without an aftermarket HU? Honda’s update track for their infotainment systems is awful
I have a 10 month old Chevy Volt with Android Auto. The car also supports WiFi.
Chances that there will be a software update to enable this? I’m guessing about zero.
Owner of a 2017 Impala (with both WiFi and AA) here, and my guess is that the chances are slim for us. Reason being, I believe the wifi is part of the OnStar system board rather than integrated within the headunit itself. At least, that’s the way it seems according to a few other message boards I’ve gone through. While I would imagine that Chevy will engineer this solution for their models moving forward, I’m not confident that they will put the work in for existing models. I would be glad to be proven wrong on that though.
Just got a new Kenwood installed with it. The techs called me during install and said it doesn’t work yet, waiting on updates and Kenwood says Mid May for universal release….just so happens I have a Pixel 2 XL so it does work for me but mid May doesn’t sound too long of a wait for other phones.
Which model did you buy?
DMX905S
Can someone tell me the advantages of wireless versus BT? What’s the difference and why should I care?
this
If you’ve ever used AA, you’d understand. The phone has to be PERFECTLY STILL and have a PERFECT CONNECTION with a PERFECT CABLE so you don’t get the “Cable Disconnected” error. And it always, always happens at the most inconvenient time, like when you’re navigating to an unfamiliar place and you make a turn and your next turn is in a 1/4 mile but your phone just disconnected.
I bought a cable from Google that’s “certified” and “meant for” the Pixel 2 XL, and I still get these USB errors. Very, very frustrating.
I don’t have this issue with my USB C Cables. AA has issues starting now and then and it requires a reboot, but it’s seldom my cable issues.
The real reason I want it is so I can not take my phone out of my pocket for my drive home. It’s 15 minutes and that’s minimal battery concern to me.
Lol use AA every single day and never has this happened. Think you issue is quite isolated buddy
Lol it’s a pretty common issue with Android Auto, just do a quick Google search and you’ll come across many forums and Google discussion groups dedicated to this very issue. I hardly call that isolated, buddy.
Goodness, that sounds rough. I installed the Mazda 3 Android Auto “hack” to get it on their CMU, and keep a 3 foot long USB A to USB C attached to one of the USB ports in the glove compartment. Will toss the phone to various areas in the car (sometimes cupholder, sometimes passenger seat, sometimes below the console) and have never had a disconnect notice. Hoping it stays that way.
I think everyone missed my question: The thread is wifi (wireless) v. Bluetooth. Why should I CARE what the wireless medium is? Why is wi-fi better than BT?
That’s because this isn’t wi-fi vs BT. Android Auto can’t run on BT (and likely never could since BT doesn’t have the bandwidth). Android Auto is in essence a screen projection from the phone to the head unit, so up until now it’s been limited to USB connection (same from apple carplay). Wi-fi has to capacity to project the screen. BT on the other hand barely has enough capacity to broadcast audio. You could always pair your phone with BT to your head unit, which doesn’t require Android Auto, but it also doesn’t come with all the cool feature of android auto, such as maps/waze projected on the head unit.
AHA! Got it. My mistake was “I use Android Auto in MY car, but I use my PHONE as the display” versus “He uses Android Auto in HIS car, but uses the HEAD UNIT as the Display.” Sorry to be a noob. 😉
My big question is whether or not a wireless USB dongle will become available for older units
Somebody needs to get on this ASAP! And it needs to be small!
Years later than they said, and with less functionality…Great.
I love the idea of android auto, but the execution has been poor. I can’t even use it because it drains my phones battery. I guess I’ll continue to avoid it and just use a phone mount like I have for years.
I don’t have that issue at all. In fact my phone charges.
Really!? What car do you have? Or is it an aftermarket unit?
Do you have a special “high speed” usb? Mine is the normal .5amp USB port and it cannot keep up.
Yup..ford explorer. Regular usb type c cable. Just plugged into the factory usb port.
Hmmm I wonder if it has to do with USB-C? I tried it in two different Ford cars (Fusion and EcoSport) with the same slow charging results. However I was using micro-usb. I’ll have to give it another shot when I get the S9 in a few weeks.
Thanks for the heads up. I wouldn’t have even given it a shot!
Maybe? Not really sure. But it works great! Charges and not one connection issue.
I have an aftermarket sony head unit and it charges normally (not fast or slow), and no matter how much I am using (nav, audio, etc), always get charge, but that is also with usb-c.
Well crap . . . A thousand dollars to Kenwood to get Android Auto in my truck less than a year ago and I can’t use this. Hopefully they will offer a USB dongle to add WiFi to my unit like Mark noted below.
My big question is whether or not a wireless USB dongle will become available for older units
That was my thought as well!
And if the new Audi MMI will support it .They have WiFi enabled systems.
You Can even put an unrealesed MacBook on it ???????? https://t.co/SAmpKq26mN