Why YouTube is not available in Android Auto?
Android Auto is a smartphone projection system developed by Google to allow drivers to access apps and services from their phone on a car’s infotainment display. It was first announced in 2014 and has become widely supported across vehicle makes and models.
YouTube is Google’s hugely popular video sharing and streaming platform, where over a billion hours of video are watched every day. With over 2 billion monthly active users, YouTube has become synonymous with online video.
Given the popularity of both Android Auto and YouTube, it may seem natural that YouTube would be supported on Android Auto. However, this is currently not the case, and drivers are unable to access YouTube directly on their car’s display when using Android Auto.
What is Android Auto?
Android Auto is a software system developed by Google that allows Android smartphones to interface with vehicle infotainment systems. It provides a simplified interface optimized for use while driving, with features like Google Maps navigation, media playback controls, voice commands, and more. Android Auto requires three key components:
– A compatible Android phone running Android 6.0 or later (source: https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/android-auto-how-works/)
– A compatible vehicle head unit or aftermarket stereo
– The Android Auto app installed on the phone
Once connected via USB cable or wireless Android Auto, the phone’s apps and services are mirrored on the vehicle’s display. This allows drivers to access core functions without fiddling with their phone, keeping their eyes on the road. Key features include Google Maps for navigation, Google Assistant for voice controls, music apps, messaging, and phone calls. Android Auto aims to provide a simplified yet powerful in-car experience.
What’s missing from Android Auto?
When Android Auto was first introduced in 2015, it launched with a limited set of apps due to restrictions imposed by Google on what could be offered for safety reasons. Over the years, Google has expanded the types of apps supported, but there are still some notable omissions from Android Auto, especially when it comes to popular apps many users expect to see.
One of the most glaring absences is YouTube, which is not available as a standalone app or integrated directly into Android Auto. With YouTube’s massive popularity as a video platform, it’s one of the most requested and missed apps that Android Auto users wish they could easily access in their vehicle. Despite strong demand from users over many years, Google has still not added YouTube support to Android Auto.
Some other popular apps that are still missing from Android Auto include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Prime Video, Twitter, and Reddit. Android Auto was designed to minimize distractions and promote safety while driving, but the limited selection of apps remains frustrating for many users, especially the lack of YouTube given how central it is to Google’s services.
Why isn’t YouTube supported?
There are a few key reasons why YouTube is not supported on Android Auto:
First, there are technical limitations. Android Auto is designed to only support apps that are optimized for in-vehicle use, with simplified interfaces and voice controls. The full YouTube app does not meet these requirements. Running video streams over Android Auto would require significant development work to optimize performance and data usage.[1]
Secondly, distracted driving laws prohibit watching videos while behind the wheel in many places. YouTube videos would clearly go against these regulations. Google does not want to enable illegal behavior that could lead to accidents.[1]
There are also concerns around data usage. Streaming videos in the car could use significant amounts of mobile data, which many users may not want.[1]
Additionally, Google may want to promote their YouTube Music app instead for music listening in the car, rather than standard YouTube videos.
While some enthusiasts have found workarounds to get YouTube working through unofficial modifications, Google has not officially enabled YouTube due to these limitations around optimization, safety, data usage, and intended experience.[1]
Google’s Stance
Google has not directly commented on why YouTube is not supported in Android Auto. However, looking at Google’s overall approach provides some insight into their reasoning.
Android Auto was designed with driving safety as the top priority. Google wants to minimize driver distraction by limiting Android Auto to core driving-related apps like maps, music, calls, and messages. Supporting bandwidth-heavy video apps like YouTube could undercut that focus on safety.
Google also needs to be mindful of data usage restrictions. Built-in infotainment systems don’t rely on the driver’s mobile data plan like Android Auto does. So Google has to be more selective about which apps are supported to avoid excessive data usage.
Additionally, Google may have concerns over driver behavior if YouTube were enabled. Watching videos while driving could tempt dangerous divided attention behavior. Restricting video access reinforces that Android Auto is meant solely for essential driving needs.
While Google hasn’t directly addressed the lack of YouTube, their general approach suggests concerns over safety, data usage, and responsible driving behavior. Supporting YouTube doesn’t align with Android Auto’s core focus and purpose.
Workarounds
There are some unofficial apps and hacks that people have created to try and get YouTube working on Android Auto. One popular option is an app called AAAD (Android Auto Advanced Debugging). This app acts as a workaround by tricking Android Auto into thinking it’s a supported media app. It enables streaming YouTube videos directly on your car’s display while on the road.
Another unofficial YouTube app called CarStream also offers YouTube support for Android Auto. To use it, you first need to sideload the CarStream APK onto your Android phone. Then when connected to Android Auto, you can open the CarStream app to search for and play YouTube videos. Some users on Reddit and other forums have reported getting CarStream to work successfully for YouTube streaming in their cars.
There are also some manual hacks involving modding system files on rooted Android phones to enable YouTube support in Android Auto. However, these hacks tend to break with Android Auto and YouTube app updates. So they require constantly re-applying the hack everytime a new update is released. Most users find the unofficial app solutions like AAAD and CarStream to be easier and more convenient workarounds.
User demand
There has been a strong user demand for YouTube support in Android Auto. Many users have started online petitions and threads requesting that Google add YouTube as a supported app.
For example, a Reddit thread titled “Petition to make this the r/BeamNG icon” contains comments asking for YouTube support in Android Auto (source). Additionally, a Magisk thread on XDA Developers forums has a comment stating “petition for XDA fixed/modded app” for adding YouTube back to Android Auto (source).
These online petitions and forum threads demonstrate that many Android Auto users want the ability to stream YouTube videos in their vehicles. There is a clear user demand for Google to add official support.
Alternatives
Since YouTube is not natively supported on Android Auto, many users have turned to alternative video apps that can be accessed while driving. Some popular options include:
CarStream – An Android app that allows users to stream YouTube videos directly to their car’s infotainment system. It essentially works as a YouTube client optimized for in-vehicle use.
AAuto YouTube – An app that scrapes YouTube and allows searching, queueing, and streaming videos on Android Auto. It provides a simple YouTube-like interface.
AutoTube – Similar to AAuto YouTube, this app enables searching and streaming YouTube videos on Android Auto. It focuses on voice commands and safety.
These apps provide much of the core YouTube functionality while optimizing it for safe in-car use. They allow access to YouTube’s massive video library without official YouTube support on Android Auto.
The future
There are strong indications that YouTube support in Android Auto may arrive sometime in the future. At Google I/O 2022, Google announced plans to bring YouTube to cars with native Android software, though Android Auto itself was not specifically mentioned. This shows Google is working on integrating YouTube into the in-car experience. Additionally, evidence found in Android Auto APK teardowns suggests YouTube integration is in development.
While a timeline is unknown, it’s reasonable to expect YouTube will come to Android Auto at some point, likely within the next 1-2 years. Google faces pressure from users demanding the feature, and as more new cars ship with Android Auto built-in, the demand will only increase. However, technical challenges remain around optimizing the YouTube experience for in-car use. But with Google dedicating resources to improving Android Auto, it’s only a matter of time until users can safely and conveniently access YouTube videos on the road.
Conclusion
In summary, YouTube is not available in Android Auto for several key reasons. Google has not enabled YouTube access due to safety concerns over distracted driving from watching videos. Hardware limitations also make it impractical to stream videos in vehicles. While users have expressed a desire for YouTube support, there are constraints around data usage, licensing, and audio-only limitations. Workarounds exist using third-party apps, but have drawbacks. It’s unclear if native YouTube integration in Android Auto will arrive anytime soon. However, as technology evolves, there may eventually be ways to enable safe, restricted YouTube playback while driving. The outlook depends on Google’s strategy and whether demand is strong enough for them to reconsider. For now, alternatives like podcasts and music apps partially fill the gap. But Android Auto’s lack of YouTube remains a missing piece for many users, even if the reasons behind it are understandable from Google’s perspective.