Google does not want us to see videos in Android Auto, which makes a lot of sense when the car is running, but not so much at other times. Officially it is not possible to watch videos in Android Auto , but luckily there are ways to achieve it without too much fuss.
We will tell you how you can watch videos on Android Auto , whether they are videos from YouTube or from other streaming services, as well as the videos you have saved on your mobile. For this we are going to need apps that are not on Google Play , but after installing them they do not have much complication.
Watch videos from YouTube
YouTube on Android Auto with Carstream
If you are used to watching YouTube videos and would like to continue watching them on Android Auto as well, then you have it easy because there are several applications with which you can do it relatively easily. What’s more, for a limited time, even Google let us use it through an easter egg (which no longer works).
To watch YouTube videos on Android Auto you will need to use a bridging application. There are several, although the main ones are Carstream and Cartube , which work in a very similar way: to install them you will need to use an unofficial app installer.
This is my must have Android Auto app
You can install both apps from AAAD, which is an unofficial Android Auto app installer that you can install from their APK . Then it’s as easy as tapping on the specific app, either Carstream or Cartube, and start downloading and installing it. Finally, open it on the mobile to grant permissions and configure them and, after connecting the mobile to Android Auto, you can start using them. These apps work by displaying the YouTube website , so they’re very easy to use on Android Auto.
- Detailed steps to install Carstream
- Detailed steps to install Cartube
Watch videos from other streaming apps
Screen2auto
What if instead of watching videos on YouTube you want to watch videos from any other website or app? Then the easiest thing is to resort to a global solution, although you have two possibilities. You can either use an app to load any website in Android Auto or one to duplicate the mobile screen .
To have a browser in Android Auto you can use WebViewAuto, a somewhat crude but functional semi-abandoned project that you can download from GitHub . Another option is to use AA Store to create a shortcut to your favorite websites in Android Auto. For example, Netflix.
If you use an app and not a web, then you can try your luck with an app to duplicate the mobile screen in Android Auto. For this, you have alternatives such as AA Mirror or Screen2Auto . Both work in a similar way and you can install them from AA Store and AAAD .
- Detailed steps to install WebViewAuto
- Detailed steps to create shortcuts with AA Store
- Detailed steps to install AA Mirror
- Detailed steps to install Screen2Auto
Watch videos you have on your mobile
Local Video Player
Finally, if the videos you want to play in Android Auto are stored locally on your mobile, then you will need to use another type of application. While we wait for Google to activate the Cast tool in Android Auto, the next best thing is to use an app like Local Video Player .
You can install Local Video Player from AA Store and after installing it and granting the permissions, its use is very intuitive. Basically, it integrates into the Android share menu (on mobile), so all you have to do is share a video with the “Watch on car” app. It works perfectly.
