How to configure Android Auto to connect the phone to the car radio and use the app, navigator and music even with voice commands
Android Auto is the main integrated system in the car radio “In-car accessories“, the modern ones that are mounted now in almost all new cars, which have a touchscreen as big as a tablet and allows you to connect to the Internet independently or via smartphone.
Android Auto is the most widespread system on machines all over the world especially because, compared to Apple Car Play that works only with iPhone, it is compatible with all Android phones, so Samsung, Huawei, Motorola etc..
On the official website of Android Auto you can discover all the brands of the machines that support this system In-car entertainment, among which there are Alfa Romeo, Opel, Volkswagen, Smart, Seat, Skoda, Renault, Peugeot, Mercedes, Kia, Fiat, Ford, Citroen and many others. The car radios with Android Auto require, to work, that any Android smartphone is connected to the machine via USB cable so as to project on the car screen a reduced and simplified interface of Android.
From this simplified interface you can make phone calls, read and reply to messages, start streaming music playback and then use the satnav, which is the most important app in the car. Perhaps by attaching the smartphone to the air inlets on the machine with a magnetic stand.
But those who have a car radio system compatible with a touchscreen can instead take advantage of all its functions, to make hands-free calls, respond to messages and set the navigator using only voice commands.
Before configuring the Android car stereo in the car and connecting the smartphone with the USB cable to the socket located under the dashboard, make sure to install the Android Auto app on your phone that you can download for free on Google Play Store (mobile only with Android 5 and above).
The Android Auto app is configured automatically and requires only a few steps to get started right away. From the settings menu it is still possible to decide how the application should work, both when used with the car radio, or if it is used alone without a connection.
To access the settings, touch the button with three lines at the top left.
In the settings it is important to have the option to use voice commands with OK Google (which becomes the command to recall the system), the configuration of the automatic answer and then the automatic start of the app when the phone’s bluetooth connects to the bluetooth of the machine.
In the settings there is also the possibility to manage the cars connected with the option to start the automatic configuration when the phone is connected to the car. Once you have installed the Android Auto app on your phone, it is important that your smartphone is connected to the internet.
If you own a car with Android system, just plug the smartphone with the charging cable to the USB port of the machine to see the Android system appear on the car radio screen.
You do not need to start the app on your phone because the system should automatically recognize the connection with the car.
If this connection does not work and nothing happens when the phone is connected to the USB port of the car you can try again using another cable or trying to get a wifi connection of the phone.
In case of problems, try setting up another Android phone and then, if it works, try again with the one that did not work.
In addition to the cable connection, one must also pair the bluetooth of the machine with that of the phone, which allows you to listen to calls and music from the speakers of the car radio.
The configuration of the Bluetooth connection is started when you connect the phone to the machine via USB cable, or you can do it manually.
To make this pairing you have to open the bluetooth settings on your phone and pair the car system that should be recognizable and appear in the bluetooth scan.
If it does not work, try pairing from the car radio settings (to be searched using the touchscreen controls on the screen).
If all went well, the Android radio screen will show a clean interface with date and time, with four buttons at the bottom and the microphone icon at the top.
The round button is used to exit the application and return to the radio system of the machine.
The arrow key opens the navigator (which can be Google Maps), the phone key is used to call, the headset button to start the music app (which can be Spotify or Google Music or others).
he functions of Android Auto can still be activated by voice, saying first “Ok Google” and then the command that can be: go to the course to open the browser, call Marco or Send message to.
When connecting to the radio, you can still use the smartphone in all its other functions without necessarily detaching and closing Android Auto (this is a recent feature of 2018).