Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
The time has come for Android Auto to search for updates in the Google Play Store, as the parent company promoted version 12 to the production stage.
Android Auto 12 landed in the beta phase a week ago, as Google needed feedback from its testers to fix potential bugs and reliability problems before kicking off the production rollout.
It turns out that Android Auto 12 was a stable build, as Google now offered the go-ahead for build 12.0.6420 to land on production devices. This means you can head over to the Google Play Store and check for updates. If they're lucky, they could receive the new build today, but most people will have to wait up to several weeks. Google uses a release model in waves, meaning that it enables the update gradually for users worldwide.
When the general availability stage is reached, Android Auto 12 becomes available for all users through the Google Play Store.
Meanwhile, anyone can download and install the update today by sideloading the APK build on their devices. The Android Auto 12.0.6420 APK installer allows users to update manually, so download the file, navigate to its location on your mobile device, and tap it to begin the update. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process – you might have to enable special permissions to allow sideloading.
This is the first release in the Android Auto 12 branch, so many people expect it to bring significant changes from the previous iteration. However, this isn't the case, as Android Auto builds rarely come with substantial improvements, with Google focusing mainly on under-the-hood changes. The company also doesn't share updated changelogs, so most new builds come with the same old release notes, with users left to explore every update after installing them on their devices.
I've already detailed what's to come in Android Auto in my coverage of the beta release, but the bigger news this time is related to an announcement shared at I/O this week.
Google will bring video apps, games, and browsers to Android Auto, as the company is now working around the clock on opening the Google Play Store doors to the in-car experience. The most notable release concerns YouTube, as unlocking video apps on Android Auto means YouTube will finally make its way to drivers.
YouTube is currently blocked on Android Auto, albeit users have found third-party methods to enable the video app in the car. Unfortunately, some hacks also allow YouTube to run when the car is in motion. The search giant didn't detail YouTube's arrival on Android Auto, but watching videos will certainly be allowed only when the vehicle is parked. The same approach is also used on Android Automotive, where YouTube is already available.
It turns out that Android Auto 12 was a stable build, as Google now offered the go-ahead for build 12.0.6420 to land on production devices. This means you can head over to the Google Play Store and check for updates. If they're lucky, they could receive the new build today, but most people will have to wait up to several weeks. Google uses a release model in waves, meaning that it enables the update gradually for users worldwide.
When the general availability stage is reached, Android Auto 12 becomes available for all users through the Google Play Store.
Meanwhile, anyone can download and install the update today by sideloading the APK build on their devices. The Android Auto 12.0.6420 APK installer allows users to update manually, so download the file, navigate to its location on your mobile device, and tap it to begin the update. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process – you might have to enable special permissions to allow sideloading.
This is the first release in the Android Auto 12 branch, so many people expect it to bring significant changes from the previous iteration. However, this isn't the case, as Android Auto builds rarely come with substantial improvements, with Google focusing mainly on under-the-hood changes. The company also doesn't share updated changelogs, so most new builds come with the same old release notes, with users left to explore every update after installing them on their devices.
I've already detailed what's to come in Android Auto in my coverage of the beta release, but the bigger news this time is related to an announcement shared at I/O this week.
Google will bring video apps, games, and browsers to Android Auto, as the company is now working around the clock on opening the Google Play Store doors to the in-car experience. The most notable release concerns YouTube, as unlocking video apps on Android Auto means YouTube will finally make its way to drivers.
YouTube is currently blocked on Android Auto, albeit users have found third-party methods to enable the video app in the car. Unfortunately, some hacks also allow YouTube to run when the car is in motion. The search giant didn't detail YouTube's arrival on Android Auto, but watching videos will certainly be allowed only when the vehicle is parked. The same approach is also used on Android Automotive, where YouTube is already available.
Google News