Practically a 12 months in the past, the tech large reduce the plug on the Android Auto for telephone screens for customers of Android 12, redirecting them to Google’s Assistant driving mode. Now, Google is shutting down the app altogether.
If customers of Android 11 and older variations open the app, they’ll see the next, terse message: “Android Auto for telephone screens will cease working quickly”
Right here’s a screenshot of my Xiaomi Redmi 11 (operating on Android 11), once I open it:
The app remains to be usable, however the message reappears each time it’s activated. And there are not any additional particulars as to how quickly “quickly” really is.
In an announcement to 9to5google, Google confirmed that the app is being completed away with, however didn’t share any data about when it’s going to cease working:
For the individuals who use Android Auto in supported automobiles, that have isn’t going away — and in reality we introduced an upcoming main UI enchancment not too long ago at Google I/O. For many who use the on telephone expertise (Android Auto cellular app), they are going to be transitioned to Google Assistant driving mode which is our subsequent evolution of the cellular driving expertise. Now we have no additional particulars to share at the moment.
This mainly implies that both you’ll purchase a automobile with Android Auto as a built-in function, otherwise you’ll have to modify to the Google Assistant driving mode.
The Assistant driving mode has certainly come a good distance since its preliminary launch. It combines Google Maps and Assistant, each of which combine varied media apps. It appears extra fashionable and might roughly deal with the identical issues.
Nonetheless, it’s not fairly as polished as Android Auto but, and to activate it you’ll have to enter a vacation spot into Google Maps — one thing that isn’t all the time crucial and isn’t required in Android Auto.
Presumably, you’ll be capable of proceed utilizing Android Auto in areas the place Google’s Assistant driving mode isn’t obtainable but. So take pleasure in it whilst you can, and in case you’d like to modify from Google, it’s time to start out searching for a substitute.
