Can Android Auto play FLAC?

ByJael Lawler February 16, 2024

What is Android Auto?

Android Auto is Google’s interface for using Android smartphones in vehicles. It allows drivers to access key features and apps from an Android device on the vehicle’s display screen. Android Auto aims to provide a simplified interface optimized for use while driving, with large buttons, voice commands, and minimal driver distraction.

Some of the core Android Auto features include navigation with Google Maps, media playback, messaging, and voice assistance. It connects to a vehicle’s infotainment system either wirelessly through WiFi or via a USB cable. The Android Auto mobile app runs on the phone and projects onto the car’s display. It is designed for use with touchscreen displays in the dashboard.

Android Auto was first announced in 2014 and has expanded across vehicle brands over time. As of 2022, Android Auto is compatible with most major car manufacturers. It provides a more seamless experience compared to only using an Android device alone while driving. Key goals of Android Auto include improving driver safety and bringing the power of Google services to the vehicle’s interface.

Overall, Android Auto allows drivers to leverage Google’s software and AI assistant while optimizing the experience for safe vehicle use. It brings the convenience and capabilities of a smartphone to an integrated in-car system.

What is FLAC?

FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec. It is an audio coding format that compresses audio files without losing any information from the original audio source, making it a lossless compression format. This differs from lossy formats like MP3 and AAC that achieve smaller file sizes by permanently removing data from the original audio file.

When a FLAC file is uncompressed, the result is a bit-for-bit identical copy of the original source audio. This makes FLAC useful as an archival format for audio masters, as the compressed files are typically 50-60% smaller than uncompressed audio, but without sacrificing audio quality. FLAC is also used by some audiophiles for listening purposes when audio quality is paramount.

FLAC is an open format with royalty-free licensing and native support across operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. The FLAC project website describes it as “the reference implementation for the FLAC audio format”. FLAC compresses audio using linear prediction similar to formats like MP3, but the compression is lossless so no data is removed or permanently altered.

Android Auto Media Support

Android Auto supports a wide range of audio formats that apps can play, including many popular compressed formats. According to the Android developer documentation, the supported formats include:

AAC/M4A
WMA
WAV

OGG
FLAC

This allows apps to play music and audio files in all the common formats people have on their phones. The supported formats focus on compressed audio like MP3 and AAC that maximize storage space while retaining quality. Android Auto is optimized to play these formats smoothly in the car.

Does Android Auto Support FLAC?

Google’s official stance is that Android Auto does not natively support FLAC playback at this time. The current audio codecs supported are AAC, MP3, WMA, OGG, MIDI, and WAV (source). FLAC is a lossless audio codec that allows for higher quality audio, but also larger file sizes. Since Android Auto is designed for in-vehicle use, the concern is likely around bandwidth usage and performance.

However, there are some workarounds to get FLAC files playing in Android Auto. The most popular method is using the DoubleTwist music player app. DoubleTwist has built-in support to transcode FLAC files into a compatible format that Android Auto can play. There are reports of successfully using DoubleTwist to play FLAC music files through Android Auto across various forums and Reddit (source). Just keep in mind that by transcoding the files, you lose the lossless quality.

So in summary – no, Android Auto does not natively support FLAC playback currently. But with some app workarounds like DoubleTwist, you can find ways to play your FLAC library through Android Auto, albeit at a reduced quality.

Why FLAC on Android Auto Matters

There are two key reasons why playing FLAC files on Android Auto is important for many users:

High Fidelity Audio

As a lossless audio format, FLAC preserves the full quality of the original audio recording (Source). This means FLAC files contain more detailed and accurate audio data compared to lossy compressed formats like MP3. Android Auto’s support for FLAC allows audiophiles and hi-fi enthusiasts to enjoy studio-quality sound while on the road.

Storage Savings

FLAC files are typically 50-60% smaller in size compared to uncompressed formats like WAV (Source). This allows Android users to store more high-quality music on their devices without sacrificing huge amounts of storage space. Given Android Auto’s use of the mobile device’s local music library, FLAC support enables listeners to bring large lossless collections in their cars.

Workarounds to Play FLAC

Since Android Auto does not natively support FLAC playback, there are a couple workarounds you can try to get FLAC files playing.

One option is to convert your FLAC files to MP3. While this will result in some loss of audio quality, MP3 is a supported format in Android Auto. You can use free audio converter tools like Audio Converter to batch convert FLAC to MP3.

Another workaround is to stream FLAC files from your device to your car over WiFi. Apps like

While these workarounds allow you to play your FLAC library in Android Auto, you lose the benefits of uncompressed audio quality. Hopefully native FLAC support will come in a future Android Auto update.

Future FLAC Support

Many Android Auto users have been requesting support for FLAC files for years now. There are several threads on reddit and Android forums asking when Android Auto will add FLAC playback support:

According to a post on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidAuto/comments/8nl10g/loading_and_playing_flac_music_for_aa/), users want FLAC support to take advantage of lossless audio quality when using high-end car audio systems.

On the Android Central forums (https://forums.androidcentral.com/threads/pixel-android-auto-audio-flac-ugh.808773/), users have complained about the lack of FLAC support and have asked Google to add it in future Android Auto updates.

However, Google has not officially responded to these requests or indicated if FLAC support is planned. Based on the ongoing requests, it seems likely that Google is aware of user demand for FLAC playback. But it remains to be seen whether and when Google might add native FLAC functionality to Android Auto.

Best Practices for FLAC on Android Auto

Here are some recommendations for managing and playing your FLAC library through Android Auto:

Convert your FLAC files to a lower resolution format like MP3 when adding them to your Android Auto library. The conversion will reduce file size while still retaining decent audio quality. Services like SoundGuys provide instructions on converting FLAC to MP3.

Use the Google Play Music app on your Android Auto system, which provides native support for playing FLAC files. Enable the setting to download your Google Play Music library for offline and in-car listening. Downloaded tracks will play even without an internet connection.

Consider using the UAPP app, a third party Android Auto audio player that reliably handles FLAC playback. You can directly access FLAC files from UAPP without needing file conversion.

Enable developer options and reduce the Bluetooth audio quality setting on your Android Auto system if you experience choppy FLAC playback over wireless Android Auto connections. This may stabilize streaming of the high-resolution FLAC files.

Summary

In summary, Android Auto currently does not natively support playing FLAC audio files. This is likely due to the bandwidth limitations of running Android Auto through a USB cable to your car’s infotainment system. While there are some workaround solutions like converting FLAC to MP3 or using a different media app, direct FLAC playback is not possible at this time.

Hopefully in the future, Google will enable FLAC support in Android Auto, as more users want high-quality audio in their vehicles. But for now, the easiest option is to convert your FLAC files to a compatible format like MP3 before adding them to your Android Auto library.

The key takeaway is that FLAC is not supported on stock Android Auto, so FLAC-lovers will need to resort to workarounds for the time being.

References

This article was developed using information from the following sources:

The official Android Auto website and support documentation at android.com/auto
Community forums discussing experiences using FLAC files with Android Auto such as Reddit

Technical articles explaining the FLAC audio format such as this overview on Lifewire
Product details and specifications for car stereo head units compatible with Android Auto
Reporting on Android Auto and Google’s approach to supported media codecs from sites like 9to5Google

While the article aims to provide fully accurate information, exact source details have been omitted in keeping with the request to avoid formal citations. The References section indicates the types of sources utilized without providing links or specifics.