The 6 Best Android Auto Features

Using your smartphone while driving can be dangerous since it forces you to take your eyes off the road. But if you use Google's Android Auto smartphone mirroring in your car, it's easier for you to answer texts, make calls, check the map, and more without getting as easily distracted.

You can access Android Auto on your car's built-in head unit. Or, if it doesn't come with one, you can install an aftermarket solution that will provide the same functionality as the factory unit.

These are the best Android Auto features that will improve your driving experience.

1. Google Assistant for Hands-Free Control

Android Auto can be controlled using Google Assistant. This means that you can keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road as you ask Google Assistant to initiate an action using voice commands (you activate it by saying "Hey Google"). Another way to activate Google Assistant is to tap the microphone button on the head unit. Some vehicles even have a dedicated Google Assistant button on the steering wheel that you can also press for activation.

Google Assistant can complete almost any action on your Android smartphone through Android Auto. You can, for instance, ask it to call someone from your contacts or tell you the weather forecast (among hundreds of other possible actions), just like it would on your phone.

2. Monitor Your Smart Home Gadgets

Brown home with garage door and green grass

Android Auto can integrate with your smart home gadgets that help automate and monitor your home. In other words, you could use Google Assistant within Android Auto to check on and control your smart home devices like speakers, bulbs, thermostats, cookers, and electrical outlets while you’re driving.

However, you need to install smart home devices that are compatible with Google Assistant for this to work.

You could even install a smart garage door controller that is compatible with Google Assistant, so you could open your garage door remotely from your car.

Car dashboard with infotainment showing Android Auto — Image Credit: Zaskoda/Flickr

Android Auto is compatible with most navigation apps, such as Google Maps, Samsung Maps, TomTom Go, and Waze. If you have an electric vehicle, you could also install one of the many charging station finder apps like PlugShare, ChargeHub, Electrify America, and EVgo.

You can then begin the navigation using Android Auto, even if your smartphone is locked. To do that, you need to activate Start Android Auto under General Settings.

4. On-Screen Weather Updates

Android Auto on car infotainment system — Image Credit: Gabriel Nica/Shutterstock

Android Auto can show you the latest weather updates on the screen. If you want to unlock this feature, you need to turn on the Weather option, which is one of the many Android Auto settings you can tweak. Of course, Google Assistant will also tell you what the weather is if you ask.

If you want weather updates and forecasts with in-depth information such as visibility, wind speeds, UV index, and humidity, you should consider installing the best weather apps for Android.

5. Automatically Resume Media

A close-up look of Android Auto in use — Image Credit: Google Play Store

One of Android Auto's coolest features is that you can automatically resume listening to a song, podcast, or audiobook when you get back into the vehicle. If you want this, enable the Automatically Resume Media option within General Settings.

Beyond that, you can choose your default music provider in the Music section of the Google Assistant settings, so you don’t need to specify to Google Assistant which music streaming service you want.

6. Answer Phone Calls and Messages

Android Auto on car display — Image Credit: Maurizio Pesce/Wikimedia Commons

Along with calling someone from your contacts, you can ask Android Auto to reply to messages. In fact, you can have it read and send text messages on WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, Signal, and Facebook by simply talking to Google Assistant.

If you’re easily distracted by notifications while driving, you can enable Do Not Disturb mode on your smartphone. Another option is to set Android Auto up to only show a preview of the conversations when you’re not driving, in order to limit the distraction.

Android Auto Can't Control Everything in Your Car

Even though you can use Android Auto to access your apps through your car’s dashboard display, the functionality is limited. For instance, you cannot control your vehicle’s climate, light, or door locks using Android Auto, but you could do it with the more advanced Android Automotive.