all the ways to use it

Want to upgrade your car and install Android Auto on it? We tell you the main ways you can do this.

We are going to explain to you all the ways you need use Android Auto in an old car, with different methods that will be useful to any of them. This is the operating system that you install on your mobile phone, but which then runs in the console of compatible cars when you connect them to the device. But what happens to those who are incompatible?

Thinking about these slightly older cars, we are going to give you all the alternatives. Some will require a fairly high investment, but others will be slightly cheaper or even free. So, you’ll have multiple ways to do it depending on your desired comfort, preferred integration, and your budget.

Use an Android tablet or mobile phone

Let’s start with the option use an Android tablet or phonewhich can be especially useful if you have an old mobile phone that you want to give a second life to.

To use Android Auto on your Android phone or tablet, you need to use specific application called “Head Unit Reboot”. This app has a free trial to see if you’re convinced to use it, and the full version costs only €4.89.

This application will allow you to turn your device into Android Auto and use it directly from the screen. In this case, it is best that you also have a compatible support so that you can put it in a safe place in the car. This also applies to your current mobile phone, but if you have an old one, you can use it exclusively for this purpose.

Install Android Auto on your car stereo using Android

There may be cars that have an Android radio system but do not have Android Auto. In this case you can also use the Headunit Reloaded app by installing it into your car’s console to turn it into Android Auto.

This app will allow you to use Android Auto on your Android radio screen, and you can do it wirelessly or over a wired connection. To pair, you’ll have to enable developer options on your phone, but it’s a fairly simple process. This will add Android Auto to your car console.

Replace the car radio with another one

And it’s possible the most expensive alternative , but also the one that best integrates Android Auto into your car. The idea would be to change the radio system to a new one that it has a screen and is compatible with Android Auto as standard.

Here, the ease of doing this may depend on several things. If your car already has a third-party radio installed, replacing it with a new one will not be difficult; all you have to do is unscrew it and make the appropriate connections. But if your car has a standard built-in radio, you may need a specialist.

It is also important that you clearly know the dimensions of the radio in your car and buy a radio that is the same size. You also need to make sure that our car’s panel has 2-DIN space and that the radio is of universal dimensions. As our colleague Eva Rodriguez told us at Xataka Android, you will find models from 100 euros to others exceeding a thousand euros, and it all depends on the brand, size, screen used, additional features, inputs and much more.

And if your car is not compatible with double DIN radios and you only have one, which is the 1-DIN radios, which have a kind of hinge that has a screen built into it with Android Auto. They are usually simpler, there are fewer models, but they are also cheaper.

Use a specific accessory

And if you don’t want to change your car’s radio system, but want something more advanced than using a mobile phone or tablet, you also have an alternative: use special accessories. One of the best alternatives is the Carpuride we tested, an accessory that is a screen for the car. The price of this device is about 170 euros.

It’s a tablet-sized screen that can be placed on the stand that comes with it. The holder can be glued to the car dashboard and then the screen to it. It’s compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay if you have an iPhone.

This device is an entertainment center already prepared for this function. you don’t need to install anything or make any changes to your vehicle. The only thing you need to do is place it in a place where it will not interfere with vision and will not be subject to penalties from DGT.

The only disadvantage of this type of screens is that they are not fully integrated into the car. But in return, you have an effective solution, and since it’s portable, you can take it to another car or remove it from your dashboard for safety when you’re about to park. When you select it, you have access to different formats, screen sizes, as well as additional functions.

Image | Eva Rodriguez

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