How to add any app to Android Auto

Eliza Faith
The Tech Space
Published in
7 min readJul 18, 2023

Android Auto, the technique of using phone apps through a car’s infotainment system, has allowed only a limited number of apps to sit on the Android Auto Screen. Basically, it allows communication, navigation and entertainment apps and when it comes to entertainment apps, visual based contents including videos, games etc are not allowed by default.

But there is a possibility of using these types of apps without any harm. These are 100% working hacks to get those appson your Android Auto.

Contents:

How to check whether a certain app is compatible with Android Auto

How to add apps to Android Auto

YouTube

Netflix

VLC Media Player

Videos

How to add any app to Android Auto (using mirroring app)

WheelPal App

Conclusion

How to check whether a certain app is compatible with Android Auto

If you want to enjoy a particular app on Android Auto, first you have to install it on your Android phone. Once you check the Android Auto app menu, it will be automatically added there if the app is compatible with Android Auto.

You can find Android Auto compatible app list on Google Play. Then what if an app is not compatible with Android Auto? It will not be listed in the Android Auto menu and we need the assistance of third party apps which can enable apps for Android Auto. Let’s talk about them a bit more comprehensively.

How to add custom apps to Android Auto

In order to add non-default apps for Android Auto, you need to get the support of some third party apps which makes other apps available for Android Auto.

Watch YouTube on Android Auto

Enjoying YouTube on Android Auto is not a dream anymore with the awesome app ‘CarStream’. You need to follow a few steps to set up CarStream to play videos on your Android Auto without rooting your device.

You can download the CarStream app and find the CarStream installation process with our Android Auto YouTube Hack. Also remember, you must follow the given guide to download and install the app successfully.

Title: CarStream 2.0.1 for Android

CarsStream works with following Android versions:

  • Android 4.1
  • Android 4.1.1
  • Android 4.1.2
  • Android 4.2.1
  • Android 4.2.2
  • Android 4.3
  • Android 4.4
  • Android 5.0
  • Android 6.0
  • Android 7.0
  • Android 9.0

Watch Netflix on Android Auto

Currently, Netflix has become a day today app and most of the Android Auto users love to use it in the car. Just to recall the movies you watched, to pass time on parkings and traffic, you can use your Netflix app on CarPlay. But Netflix is also not supported by Android Auto by default and you need to do some modifications for your phone to make it possible.

The smartest hack to enjoy Netflix on Android Auto is, just playing it on phone and mirroring it to the wide Android Auto screen. This can be done with a third party app called ‘Android Auto Mirror’.

Note: You need to get the Root Access on your phone to get the maximum functionality out of this app.

VLC Media Player for Android Auto

In order to watch the videos on your Android Phone via Android Auto screen, you need the support of a mirroring app. I would like to recommend the app ‘Android Auto Mirror’. Once you set up the app successfully you can watch any of the videos you recorded or downloaded already.

In order to do this you need the root access on your Android device. And in the next section I will give you the steps to add Android Auto Mirror App.

Play videos on Android Auto

In order to play videos on Android Auto, you can use another third party app called “Fermata Auto”. It is actually an open source app for both audios and videos.

This app is available on Google Play Store for easy downloads.

Download Fermata Auto

Methods to add any app for Android Auto

With the above mentioned third-party apps, you can successfully add the specific apps for Android Auto. Then what about other apps?

Have you ever wanted to play games on Android Auto?

Or have you ever worried about the absence of an Image viewer for Android Auto?

If so, I have a couple of solutions for you. If the app you want is already installed on your phone, or it is installable on your phone, you can simply run it on the phone and mirror it to the Android Auto screen with the following apps. Here, you do not have to touch your phone, the apps will be automatically mirrored on the car’s screen.

Widely used mirroring app for Android Auto

WheelPal App

CarPlay Hacks proudly present WheelPal — the ultimate Android Auto app. Designed to connect your car’s infotainment system with your smartphone. WheelPal brings a new level of convenience and functionality to your driving experience. It enables customizing Android Auto to allow Netflix, YouTube, and many more apps. Also, WheelPal is compatible for all the Android versions and requires root access.

Download WheelPal App

Installation Guide

Android Auto Mirror

Android Auto Mirror is the most famous Mirroring App for Android Auto. It needs root access on your device to give the maximum out of it. Yet, you can enjoy mirroring functionality with limited functions without root access. Android Auto Mirror can mirror your phone screen on a large sized Android Auto screen on your car.

AA Mirror features — No Root Access Needed

  • Full screen mirror
  • Brightness Control
  • Orientation Control for Portrait to Landscape
  • Sliding Left to Right — drawer bar for back, menu and favorites will open
  • Sliding Right to Left — launcher drawer will open to launch application

AA Mirror features — Require Root Access

  • Multi Touch
  • Hardware key support
  • Phone screen resize to for Android Auto Screen of your car

Requirements to install AA Mirror

  • Screen Capture permission
  • Write System Settings
  • Draw over other apps
  • Root Access (for particular functionality)
  • Whitelist app in Power Manager
  • Whitelist app in Auto-start Manager

Steps to mirror an app from phone to Android Auto

  1. First get the Root Access to your Android Device. (Several apps are available to get it done and this is not mandatory as you can use AA Mirror with limited functions in a no-root phone).
  2. Install Android Auto on your Android device if you haven’t already downloaded it.
  3. Open Android Auto
  4. Select About from Menu
  5. Go to ‘About Android Auto’ and tap on the header a few times till the developer mode is turned on.
  6. Click on the 3 dots icon to open the menu and open “Developer Settings.”
  7. Set Application Mode to Developer.
  8. Scroll down and enable “Unknown Sources”.
  9. Then you need to download two APK files.Download AA Phenotype Patcher and AA Mirror via WheelPal App
  10. Change the Screen Settings of AA Mirror. For that Open AA Mirror → Settings → Screen Settings. If you are expecting to watch movies and other media, better to set the Screen Settings as follows:Overwrite screen brightness — OnScreen brightness value — 255Screen rotation — ForceRotation degree — 90 degreesImmersive mode — Full immersive
  11. Open AA Phenotype Patcher. Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
  12. Click on “App Lists” and check “AA Mirror”.
  13. Go back, and tap “Patch.” When complete, exit the app.
  14. Then connect your Android Auto. Tap the icon in the bottom right corner.
  15. Among the applications that appear, AA Mirror should be available. By tapping it, you can access all Android apps on your device, including YouTube, Netflix, VLC to watch videos.

Android Auto Stream

Android Auto Stream or AA Stream is also a mirroring app which can be used to mirror your Android phone screen on the car’s screen. This app also requires root access for it’s functionality.

Also, the developers of AA Stream suggest you to ulcer versions of Android Auto if you are planning to mirror your phone with non default Android Auto apps running on screen.

Steps to install AA Stream

First, get the Root Access to your Android Device. (Several apps are available to get it done and this is not mandatory as you can use AA Mirror with limited functions in a no-root phone).

  1. Install Android Auto on your Android device if you haven’t already downloaded it.
  2. Enable the Developer Settings on your Android Auto by tapping a few times in the About Android Auto section you find in the Main Menu.
  3. Enable “Unknown Sources” which you find at the bottom of the menu.
  4. Then you need to download AA Stream.So you can Download AA Stream APK with WheelPal
  5. Now you can do the necessary modification and adjust the settings by following the guide provided by the AA Stream developers.

Screen2Auto

Screen2Auto is one of the latest mirroring apps which can be introduced as a combination of Android Auto Mirror and Android Auto Stream.

Features of Screen2Auto

  • Available for free download
  • No registration or sign up process
  • Gives access to non default Android Auto Apps
  • Require Root Access
  • Video playing facility

Steps to download Screen2Auto

  1. Enable third party apps to be downloaded on your phone as the apk is not downloaded from Google Play. (Android Auto Menu → Settings → Security → Check Unknown Sources)
  2. Download Screen2Auto APK via Android WheelPal app or via Screen2Auto Official Website
  3. Install it and use it as a normal application.

Conclusion

Google has restricted some apps for Android Auto due to safety reasons. Also enjoying non-default apps on Android Auto is not allowed in some countries. However, if you think you can manage with the apps which are not available for Android Auto, you can use the hacks described in this article. Some of them require root access, while some of them don’t require rooting.

To sum up, you can watch YouTube on Android Auto with CarStream. Also, to watch other videos you can use the Fermata Auto app Further, you can mirror any app from your phone to Android Auto with the WheelPal app.

Also be bear with us for more Android Auto hacks and tips to enhance your in-car life. Learn everything about Android Auto for a Safe driving!!!

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Eliza Faith
The Tech Space

Content Marketing Specialist | Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialist | Blogger | Freelance Writer | Digital Marketing Enthusiast | Entrepreneur