This App Allows You to Use Android Auto in Any Car.
It’s fair to say that the driving experience on Android devices has been quite fluid over the years, with features and modes appearing and disappearing, and Android Auto has also undergone several changes since its launch in 2014. Initially, Android Auto was available on both phone screens and car dashboards before being replaced by Google Assistant’s Driving Mode on mobile devices. With the introduction of Gemini, Driving Mode also disappeared, meaning there’s no longer a customizable driving interface on Android devices themselves—everything is relegated to Android Auto.
However, using the Headunit Reloaded emulator (an app I found thanks to How-To Geek ), you can bypass Google’s solution and bring Android Auto back to your phone. You can also transfer the Android Auto interface to another Android phone or tablet. It costs $4.99, but it works as advertised—at least it did on the Pixel and Galaxy phones I used. If you don’t have an Android Auto-compatible dashboard in your car, you can use this app to get the same experience on your primary phone or a spare phone or tablet.
It’s worth noting that there are several negative reviews of this app in the Play Store, although it worked perfectly for me. Users complain of unstable performance and issues with certain phones—so it’s worth checking the reviews to see if your model is mentioned—though others give the app five stars and seem satisfied with its performance.
As always, be aware of the dangers of using your phone while driving. This applies to Android Auto emulation on a screen other than the built-in head unit. Other phone functions should be left unused until you’re safely parked.
Setting up the Headunit Reloaded emulator
After installing the Headunit Reloaded emulator from the Play Store , you’ll need to grant all necessary permissions for it to run, including access to Bluetooth and location. The app will display three operating modes: Phone mode (for use with your current phone) and Wi-Fi and USB (for connecting to another device).
Tap “Phone Mode” to launch Android Auto on your phone’s native screen. Due to the small screen size, this may not look great at first glance, but if you rotate your phone to landscape orientation, everything should fit comfortably. Any screen taps are registered just like in Android Auto, and you can switch apps and rearrange elements using the icons on the side.
To exit the interface, you need to return to the app itself rather than exit it entirely: on most Android smartphones, this is now done by swiping left to right along the left edge of the screen. A number of options will appear, including options to exit the mode and even launch the app in picture-in-picture mode on the screen.
Returning to the home screen, you’ll have access to a multitude of options under Settings . These cover everything from pixel density and screen borders to keystroke settings and audio routing—you can even stream audio from apps through your car’s speakers via Bluetooth, even if you have Android Auto installed on your phone.
Connecting to another device
If you have a separate phone or tablet on which you want to run Android Auto, you’ll need to install the Headunit Reloaded Emulator on that device—the one that functions as the head unit (control center) in your car. You can then connect your primary phone to it, using apps and mobile data from that phone.
The USB option is easier if you have an extra cable and are willing to keep both devices connected while driving. Connect the cables, then on the device running Headunit Reloaded Emulator, tap “USB” on the home screen and select your primary phone when it appears. On the primary phone, you may need to tap the USB notification and select the “File Transfer/Android Auto” connection mode before this will work.
There’s also a Wi-Fi option: you’ll need the Headunit Reloaded emulator running on the device displaying Android Auto, and the accompanying Wi-Fi Launcher app on the primary phone (which manages maps, apps, and information on the Android Auto screen). On the primary device, select Wi-Fi as the connection method in the Headunit Reloaded emulator, and on the secondary device, ensure it’s configured for discovery in Wi-Fi Launcher.
By default, both devices should be connected to the same Wi-Fi network (for example, your car’s built-in Wi-Fi). You can also use a direct Wi-Fi connection: select it under “Wireless ” in the “Wi-Fi Startup” menu and under “Settings” > “Connection” in the Headunit Reloaded emulator. This way, one device will run Android Auto on the other—no wires required.