Android Auto: Drive with Maps

Android Auto is a driving companion app by Google LLC that brings a simplified, voice-first interface to your phone so you can use maps, media and messaging while you are on the road. The problem it addresses is familiar to anyone who has ever glanced at a phone in traffic: small icons, tiny text and constant notifications pull your attention away from the road. Android Auto solves this by replacing the usual phone interface with large buttons, a reduced set of actions and powerful voice commands, so the same apps you already use become easier to operate at a glance or without looking at all. You say "Ok Google" to ask for directions, hear about traffic, check your calendar, set a reminder, make a call or send a message, and the app handles the rest through the Google Assistant. It works with navigation services such as Google Maps and Waze for real-time GPS guidance and hazard alerts, and it supports a long and growing list of messaging and media apps, from SMS and WhatsApp to Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Deezer and many podcast and audiobook players. The app is free, shows no ads and has no in-app purchases, and it is rated for everyone.

Key features

• Voice-first control through the Google Assistant: say "Ok Google" to get directions, set reminders, hear the news or check a score without touching the screen.
• Real-time GPS navigation with Google Maps or Waze, including traffic alerts and updates on your route, ETA and hazards.
• Hands-free calling: place calls with the Assistant and answer incoming calls with a single tap.
• Messaging support across SMS, WhatsApp, Skype, Telegram, WeChat, Kik and other apps, so you can send and receive messages by voice.
• Media playback from apps such as Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Deezer and many podcast, radio and audiobook apps.
• A custom do-not-disturb message you can set while driving to limit distractions.
• Calendar checks through the Assistant, so you know where you need to be and when.
• A simplified interface with large buttons and a clean layout designed for quick glances rather than long looks.

How to install

1. Tap the download button on this page to get the Android Auto APK file.
2. When Android asks, allow your browser or file manager to install apps; this is the "Install unknown apps" permission.
3. Open the downloaded APK file from your notifications or your file manager.
4. Tap Install and wait for the process to finish; the file is about 35 MB, and the app requires Android 9 or higher.
5. Open the app once installation is complete and follow the on-screen prompts to connect it to your car and grant the permissions it requests.

What's new

This update focuses on bug fixes and other improvements to enhance the overall driving experience. The developer has not published detailed notes beyond these general refinements.

This app is aimed at drivers who want to keep using the phone apps they already rely on without handling the phone itself. If you navigate often, take calls on the road, listen to music, podcasts or radio, or want to keep up with messages while your hands stay on the wheel, the voice-first design is likely to feel natural. It also suits people whose car display supports it and who prefer a simpler, larger interface over the standard phone layout. Beginners should find the setup straightforward, though they should expect to review the permission requests carefully before granting them.

Before you start, make sure your phone is running Android 9 or higher and that you have a good USB cable and an active data connection. Take a few minutes at home, while parked, to grant permissions and try a couple of voice commands so you are comfortable with them before you drive. You can also set a custom do-not-disturb message in advance and decide which messaging and media apps you actually want to use in the car, which keeps the interface cleaner and less distracting.

Android Auto brings a simplified, voice-led interface to the apps you already use in the car, and it is free with no ads or in-app purchases. If your vehicle supports it and you are willing to review the permissions it requests, it is a practical way to stay connected while keeping your attention on the road.