Google is notifying users of the Android Auto for Phone Screens app that it’ll no longer function soon via an in-app pop-up message.
Instead, the app allows a simplified in-car interface of Android that is securer to use while scaling the phone on a car dashboard, an excellent component for those who don’t own newer cars with the rendition of Android Auto that runs on the infotainment screen.
It is not Google’s first warning that it was putting Android Auto for Phone Screens in exile. Last year, it was already deprecated when the company disabled Android Auto for Phone Screens on more recent Android 12 devices.
People with more senior devices could still access the app, but Google didn’t provide a timeline on how long it would last, commenting it has “no further details to share.” This week, Google regurgitated a comparable message, again omitting a timeline on when the app will cease to work.
This debacle is occurring because of Google’s confusing plans in 2019; it desired users to transition from an on-phone Android Auto background to the then-upcoming Google Assistant driving mode. But the feature got stalled, and we wouldn’t see a getaway until 2020. During that uncertainty, the Android Auto for Phone Screens app became the stop-gap solution for utilizing your Android while moving if you didn’t have a more contemporary supported car.
The Android Auto having Phone Screens app is an accessible explanation that anyone can employ in any car and get all of the advantages of Android Auto. However, users will have to either acquire an expensive new head unit installed that sustains Android Auto or purchase a more recent car if they desire the Android Auto adventure.
Google Assistant driving method is not a one-to-one replacement key; it’s a linear solution with prompts that could get distracting approximated to the Android Auto interface. If Google Assistant brings a voice request wrong, it could also lead users to feel with a hand-held phone while driving.
Google has ambitious goals for the automotive industry, though, and Android Auto for Phone Screens probably weakens it. It has a full car operating system called Android Automotive that’s in cars like the Polestar 2, and it will drive its way into Ford vehicles as well. This year, Google also upgraded the connected Android Auto experience, focusing on responsiveness and better using different car infotainment screen sizes.
Android’s Driving Mode
Google Assistant driving mode is a characteristic that makes your phone safer and more comfortable to use when you’re driving. The dashboard utilizes a card-based interface that’s easy to see at a glance and employs voice commands with the help of Google Assistant.
Since it’s made into Google Assistant, you don’t require to download and install a separate app like Android Auto. You can also utilize it in connection with your vehicle through Bluetooth or directly on your phone with no link to your car.
Google Assistant driving method is Android’s car mode beginning with Android 12. It supersedes the Android interface with a card-based interface that’s more straightforward to see and use without carrying too much attention away from the task of driving.
Before introducing the driving mode, there was no committed Android driving mode. However, the Android Auto app furnished an interface designed for driving. Android phones and the Android Auto app can automatically link to Android Auto-compatible vehicles.
When you trigger Google Assistant driving mode, a couple of things happen. The most noticeable change is the driving mode user interface designed for comfortable use when you’re driving. It utilizes large cards—configurable squares and rectangles that display information from different apps and access functions like calling and text messaging. If you choose to keep your eyes on the road at all times, the driving mode also bears voice commands and can read text out loud with the support of Google Assistant.
The card-based driving mode interface reduces driver distraction by presenting information front and center and reducing the need to tap through menus or scroll through lists. Instead, you can click any card in the interface to access the complimentary app or function.
The driving mode also bears voice commands, so you don’t require tapping cards in the user interface. Instead, you can establish driving mode by saying, “Hey Google, let’s drive,” Once it’s active, you can use voice commands to make and send text messages, answer calls, listen to music, and more. For example, Google Assistant will read incoming SMS messages if you employ the voice command, “Hey Google, read my messages.”
Android Auto and Google Assistant driving mode are both Android driving modes, but Android Auto is also the name of the technology Google employs to connect phones to dashboard screens in cars.
Android Auto: Android Auto is Google’s technology to connect Android phones to cars. It allows you to replace the standard interface on your vehicle’s in-dash display with a custom Android interface provided by your connected phone. It enables you to make and receive calls and texts, project apps from your phone, etc. But, of course, it’s only available if your vehicle supports it.
Android Auto app: This is a phone-based driving mode that you can use even if your vehicle doesn’t support Android Auto or doesn’t have a screen. It replaces the standard Android interface on your phone with a custom interface that’s easier to see and use when you’re driving.
Google Assistant driving mode: This is also a phone-based driving mode. It replaces the Android Auto app starting with Android 12. It features a redesigned interface, more reliance on voice controls, and reduces the need to look at the display because Google Assistant reads important information aloud and provides voice-based prompts.
Why Does Phone Go Into Drive Mode?
Android phones will go into drive mode under some specific circumstances. For example, an Android phone will enter drive mode when it connects to your vehicle regardless of whether it uses Android Auto or Google Assistant. Android phones also enter drive mode when users launch Android Auto or Google Assistant drive mode.
If your vehicle uses Android Auto and your phone is compatible with Android Auto, it will automatically enter drive mode when connecting to the car via Bluetooth. It will also enter drive mode if you launch the Android Auto app, even if it isn’t connected to a vehicle.
You may have the driving detection feature enabled if your phone goes into drive mode when you don’t want it to. To disable this feature, say, “Hey Google, open Assistant settings.” Then navigate to Transportation > Driving mode > When driving is detected, and tap Do nothing.
You may also want to locate the When connected to the car’s Bluetooth section and tap Do nothing there if you like connecting your phone to your vehicle via Bluetooth but don’t want it to enter driving mode.
Can You Use Android Auto While Driving?
Since the introduction of driving mode, Android Auto can only be used while driving if you have a vehicle that has a display that can use Android Auto. If you have a car that supports Android Auto, you can use it by connecting your phone to the vehicle with Bluetooth or a USB cable or using the method described by the vehicle’s manufacturer.
You can also use Android Auto on your phone while driving if you have Android 11 or older. Android 12 only supports driving mode, so you can’t use the standalone Android Auto app on an Android 12 phone. If you upgrade to Android 12 and try to use the Android Auto app, it’ll direct you to use driving mode instead.