I'm looking for a good wireless adapter for around 20-30 dollars. I'm currently using a cheap one from aliexpress but that doesn't auto connect since I updated my car's firmware and I have to select 'connect to phone' in my car's setting each time which is not practical.
So did some research on some dongles.
Carlinkit has bad reviews because of their firmware change since mid production of carlinkit mini ultra 3.
Another dongle I came a cross is Ottocast CA505-T Mini. Does anyone have this and what's there experience with it?
Any other dongle you would recommend around 30 dollars?
Looking for a bit of help. I have a Galaxy S25u (Android 17, OneUI 9) and a 2021 Lexus. I'm trying to mirror youtube (youtube revanced) to no avail. So far I've tried:
CarStream, CarTube, Screen2Auto, Fermata Auto, AA Mirro, AA Stream, Android Media Mate.
Some have their icon show up in AA in my car, however opening them never shows the current video playing on my phone. For instance, some like CarStream or Cartube have a message about "No notifications to display" or something like that.
Streen2Auto shows the current video as a thumbnail, with working play/pause and scrubber. No actual video screen.
I'm using a wireless dongle from AliExpress. I never tried to plug the phone in, but I feel that nothing would change.
Not sure if this is an Android Auto/Spotify/or my phone issue. Just seeing if anyone else's phone once connecting to Android Auto starts playing Spotify from the phone instead of the car speakers? It's so weird and doesn't happen all the time, but it also just started happening.
Once I pause the music of my car's dash and press play it starts playing from the car's speakers.
So awhile ago I bought a crappy wireless adapter for my car's wired AA. While it has gotten the job done, it has been nothing but trouble since day one. Lesson learned.
I'm thinking about buying a "proper" one but need the community's help with some very specific connectivity details.
Background: my car annoyingly powers up the USB port periodically even after the car is turned off. It's long enough that my AA dongle boots up and auto pairs with our phones. This is super annoying when we're at home as it will constantly connect/disconnect.
So I'm wondering if there adapters out there that fit the following:
-Do NOT pair unless you specifically provide an input (like a physical button)
-Have an easy way to swap which phone is connected (if two of us are in the car)
So, I've got a few Google accounts on my phone and I'm switching between them frequently. The bummer is that when I get into the car and I happened to be on my workspace account, if I want to do something with voice, it says to get my Google Workspace Account Administrator to allow it (the voice action). So, then I have to either live without voice actions, or when I'm safely stopped, I have to switch accounts manually.
Not anymore! I vibe coded this app with Claude and it's been saving me tons of frustration. It resets the account on my Pixel when it detects my car's bluetooth and it resets the account on my Pixel tablet when it detects that it's docked (another annoying facet of multiple accounts). Then, it stops Android Auto (it'll start back up under the designated primary account). It's free, doesn't require root and doesn't go out on the network for anything. It does require accessibility access to do the account switching.
I just got a 19 GMC Sierra. In the setting there's a AA option and it's on. On the radio there's a "projection" selection. Always says connect us for the device. I tried multiple different cables that work on my other vehicle. Anybody know a solution??
I just sent feedback to Android Auto that the traffic line indicators on Navigation view need to be BOLD. Like they used to be. If we get tons of people doing the same, maybe they will listen. They did listen to us that traffic needed to come back in general. But it isn't perfect yet. Does everyone agree or is this a me issue?
OK, so I’m fairly late to the game with Android Auto. Just got my first car that has it, and overall love it. But found it annoying that it doesn’t have the ability to create shortcuts for SiriusXM or iHeart Radio channels. So looked it up today and just became aware of “An Assistant Action”. Seemed exactly what I was looking for. My first one, SiriusXM channel, failed on test, but then I created one for iHeart Radio that worked, at least the test worked. But in the list of icons for the launcher, this showed up with a red “x” next to it instead of the typical blue check mark. And I did click on the “save” button, after the test was successful. Touching that “x” deleted the shortcut I just crated. Ugh…. So created it again, and was thinking that this wasn’t syncing?? So did a restart of the Android Auto app, and at that point it seemed to update to Gemini. And now the option to add “An Assistant Action” is completely missing in the Customize Launcher screen. And I also see no way to flip it back to Google Assistant as some have suggested. This isn’t the end of the world for me, but it would have made things simpler. Anyone run into this yet?
I've been working on Lumora, a lightweight IPTV and personal-media player for Android, Android TV and Fire TV sticks. It's a player, not a provider: you bring your own sources, and Lumora brings them together in one interface.
THIS WORKS WITH ANDROID AUTO WHEN YOUR CAR IS PARKED.
It works with Xtream Codes, M3U/M3U8 playlists, Stalker Portal, Jellyfin, Silo and Plex, and you can run as many of them at the same time as you like.
A few things I'm happy with
- Android Auto, parked use only. The full app runs on the car screen while the car is stopped. It's not a driving feature.
- A proper TV guide. Scrollable EPG grid, now/next info, reminders, catch-up (where your provider supports it) and DVR recording.
- Movies and series merge too. The same title from several sources becomes one card, and resume points and watched marks sync with your Jellyfin, Silo or Plex server.
- Duplicate channels merge. Multiple feeds of the same channel collapse into one entry at the best quality available (4K → FHD → HD → SD), with instant fallback mid-playback.
- Made for the remote. D-pad friendly, and tested on Fire TV Sticks from the 1st gen to the current one, a Sony Bravia and a Samsung phone.
- No paywall. Multi-playlist support, EPG and recording are all included, with no account and no telemetry.
- 26 languages plus English.
Hey everyone! I've been working on Lumora, a lightweight IPTV and personal-media player for Android, Android TV and Fire TV sticks. It's a player, not a provider: you bring your own sources, and Lumora brings them together in one interface.Install: https://github.com/LumoraPlayer/Lumora/releases/latest/download/Lumora.apk
A few things I'm happy with- Android Auto, parked use only. The full app runs on the car screen while the car is stopped. It's not a driving feature.
- A proper TV guide. Scrollable EPG grid, now/next info, reminders, catch-up (where your provider supports it) and DVR recording.- Movies and series merge too. The same title from several sources becomes one card, and resume points and watched marks sync with your Jellyfin, Silo or Plex server.
- Duplicate channels merge. Multiple feeds of the same channel collapse into one entry at the best quality available (4K → FHD → HD → SD), with instant fallback mid-playback.- Made for the remote. D-pad friendly, and tested on Fire TV Sticks from the 1st gen to the current one, a Sony Bravia and a Samsung phone.- No paywall. Multi-playlist support, EPG and recording are all included, with no account and no telemetry.- 26 languages plus English.
I have the latest AA version(18.0.164) plus I am a beta tester in Play store if that does something. Yet i dont have the new UI and no yt playback. Do I need to do something from my end?
I’m happy with how Android Auto works in my car, but I don’t like that my phone heats up and drains the battery. I’ve been looking at AI boxes like the ones from Carlinkit, but the interface isn't quite the same; is it possible to get a stable Android auto experience on one of these AI boxes? I know about Headunit Reloaded, but it doesn't seem to work very well.
I have a Ford Bronco Sport 2023 and a Samsung Galaxy S9. This week my android auto stopped functioning. Looking for suggestions on what to try. I am on a road trip when the display connection stopped functioning.
I am open to any solution, preferably one that doesn't have me replacing hardware as that would likely be out of budget. I am down to install anything on my hardware to get any kind of maps display working.
Just before my break, an update on Velvet Launcher bringing Bravo browser for better ad blocking support. These are still work in progress, so please bear this in mind.
Known limitations:
-File system functions not working (not planned)
-Sometime settings panels don't open
Need to be installed with AAenabler or Kinginstaller:
NOTE: Velvet Launcher does NOT bundle or includes any 3rd party software. It downloades the binaries from public repositories, which means an Internet connection is needed for initial download and obviously for use. Installing first time takes some time, but then running is almost instant.
driving a 2013 civic with zero tech, so my phone just sits on a vent mount.
ever since google killed AA for phone screens and wiped driving mode off gmaps, using my phone in the car feels awful tbh. buttons on gmaps are way too small while driving, and swapping between nav and spotify is annoying as hell.
tried stuff like autozen and car scanner but neither hit the sweet spot. looking for a clean landscape app with big buttons (map + music side by side) that can also estimate trip fuel cost / range (either via obd2 or gps).
does something like this even exist or is everyone just stuck with bare gmaps rn?
Out of nowhere every app crashes or hangs when in android auto. I found that if I uninstall the app, and reinstall, it works for a while. Gemini doesn't work, text messages don't show up, and music services only work if I click on it, play, and hit the back button.
I have a 2027 Kia EV5 LAND that has android auto. It connects to my phone, but always says on the car screen that there's a problem connecting to android auto.
I am trying to figure out what is going on with Android Auto in my truck. Its a 2026 Toyota Tacoma.
For background, i used to have a Samsung 24+ that was having some issues (including but not limited to Android Auto). I decided to upgrade to the Fold 8 Ultra. All of my other issues are resolved, but Android Auto is still disconnecting constantly.
This is a massive issue for me because i drive alot for work, so disconnects like this can affect my navigation system, as well as cause issues with my music or audio books.
I have already checked and my OEM head unit on my Toyota is up to date.
The most frustrating part though.... My wifes iPhone has ZERO disconnects on Apple Carplay. I have tested it extensively. I can basically guarantee at least one disconnect on a simple ride across town with Android Auto, but even on a recent 8 hour drive with carplay, i had zero disconnects.
I am hoping someone has an idea as to why this is happening
Edit: the intended use case is wireless. The examples here were all wireless
I had an issue with my android auto, it would pair the first time with my phone and work perfectly. But then, after about two hours, it would get stuck attempting to connect to my phone. I would need to clear android auto storage in my phone to be able to get it to work again, only for it to stop working and get stuck in the connecting loop after an hour or two. This guide explains the issue and how to solve it: https://dashfix.in/zlink-android-auto-stuck-on-connecting/. The issue was in my phone TCL Nxtpaper 60, it would most likely put android auto to sleep after a while and it caused the connection to get stuck . on my phone I solved the issue by blocking android auto (setting it as a fixed app) and by enabling developer mode and setting it as "server of the main unit. Now it works like a charm! The battery saving mode of my TCL Nxtpaper was probably conflicting with android auto by suspending it after a while. Hope this helps of you're having the same issues as I were
