If you're using Android Auto for the first time, here are some steps to get started: Step 1. Prepare your phone & car Step 2. Connect your phoneBefore you connect your phone for the first time, turn on your car. Make sure your car is in park (P) and allow time to set up Android Auto before you start your drive.
Your phone’s Bluetooth is turned on automatically when Android Auto is connected to the car via USB. Step 3. Start Android AutoOn your car display, select Android Auto  Drive safely. Pay attention to the road and driving conditions, and always obey applicable laws. Android Auto on your car display (wireless)Step 1. Prepare your phone & car
Step 2. Connect your phoneImportant: The first time you connect your phone to the car, you’re required to pair your phone and car via Bluetooth. For best results, keep Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Location Services turned on during setup. Make sure your car is in park (P) and allow time to set up Android Auto before you start your drive.
Step 3. Start Android AutoYour wireless connection might take a few seconds to start. You might need to tap Android Auto on your car display. If your vehicle is not compatible with Android Auto on your car displayDrive safely. Pay attention to the road and driving conditions, and always obey applicable laws. For more information, check out the Android Auto Community. Was this helpful? How can we improve it?
Our compatibility list for cars with untethered infotainment. Source: Google Android Auto, Google’s smart driving companion app, is an invaluable tool for drivers; it allows you to pair your phone to your car's infotainment screen and stay connected while on the road. While most cars require a conventional tethered USB connection to connect to Android Auto, some newer models offer a wireless alternative to access the app. Initially limited to luxury vehicles and top trim models, wireless Android Auto is beginning to show up as a standard feature with many carmakers. What is wireless Android Auto, and how does it work?Wireless Android Auto connects your handset directly to your car’s head unit via Wi-Fi. Once you complete the initial setup, Android Auto automatically connects your phone to your vehicle’s infotainment screen each time you get into your vehicle. Like standard Android Auto, wireless AA essentially overrides your car’s native infotainment system, and lets your phone do the heavy lifting. It requires a compatible head unit and in-vehicle Wi-Fi; Bluetooth is incapable of transmitting enough data to support wireless AA. Your vehicle’s touchscreen display will look a lot like your phone when Android Auto is connected. Compatible apps from your smartphone show up as large icons on your car’s screen. From here you can play music or podcasts, use Google Assistant and see turn-by-turn directions. Many apps are compatible with Android Auto, including Audible, Spotify, Waze, and WhatsApp. Which cars are compatible with wireless Android Auto?Despite the massive benefits of wireless AA, Google hasn’t made too much of a song and dance about the feature and the cars that support it. Google’s compatibility list doesn’t appear to have been updated for some time, as it only shows that 2019 BMW models support the feature. To that end we’ve put together our own wireless Android Auto compatibility list, which you can find at the bottom of the page. It is not a comprehensive list but includes models we’ve come across where the manufacturer has confirmed support.
Again, our wireless Android Auto list is a work in progress, and we will update it as we find more compatible vehicles. If you know of a confirmed device that is not on this list, we’d love to hear from you in the comments. What if my car isn’t compatible?Even if your car wasn’t originally kitted out with wireless AA, there are still options available to go untethered. If your car is a post-2018 with built-in WI-FI but only runs regular Android Auto via USB, all might not be lost. Several manufacturers, most notably BMW, have given wireless AA functionality to older vehicles via over-the-air updates. If that’s not an option, and you want to retrofit the feature to your ride, we have good news. There are relatively cheap dongles on the market that allow you to connect wirelessly.
The A Wireless has been a big success on Indiegogo, while established brands are now getting in on the act, such as Motorola with its well-reviewed MA1 USB adapter. Finally, for those brave souls that fancy going down the MacGyver route, a hack method using an Android TV stick exists, allowing older Android Auto heads to go wireless. Just be aware that Google, somewhat unsurprisingly, doesn't support this option. Android Police’s unofficial wireless Android Auto compatibility list(Updated March 2022)
Can you connect Android Auto without USB?While you can definitely use Android Auto without a USB, you will still need a USB for the initial setup. After you've connected your phone to your vehicle, you can then wirelessly use your Android to connect to your favorite apps.
Why can't I connect wirelessly to Android Auto?Android Auto requires that your phone runs at least Android 8.0, and that's for a wired connection. Those wanting to use Android Auto wirelessly will need an active data plan, 5GHz Wi-Fi support, and at least Android 11.
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