Do I need android auto?

[Moondoggy]

Do I need android auto? By default my Pixel 3 has Android Auto installed but the car has no functional interface with the app. The phone can connect to the car via Bluetooth and I can make and answer calls thru the car hands free. My question comes down to this. When I get in the car android auto come on and hides the phones home screen and just seems to be in the way. I can't uninstall android auto and would like to know if there's a way to not self activate.

 

[foxbat121]

You can disable that behavior in Android Auto settings. Looks like you have it set to auto launch with Bluetooth.

Many rental cars now have AA built in. So it is nice to have AA available on your phone.

 

[Mike Dee]

Do I need android auto? By default my Pixel 3 has Android Auto installed but the car has no functional interface with the app. The phone can connect to the car via Bluetooth and I can make and answer calls thru the car hands free. My question comes down to this. When I get in the car android auto come on and hides the phones home screen and just seems to be in the way. I can't uninstall android auto and would like to know if there's a way to not self activate.

Android Auto on the phone makes your phone easier to use while driving so it's a bit safer

 

[NMCynthia]

When I first got my Pixel 2, and AA was installed on it, I let it automatically run every time I drove (and I'm in my car a LOT). THEN I got the bill from Verizon! I was absolutely floored over how much data it used ... I doubled my bill in one month! Needless to say, AA got uninstalled!

 

[Michael Detwiler]

When I first got my Pixel 2, and AA was installed on it, I let it automatically run every time I drove (and I'm in my car a LOT). THEN I got the bill from Verizon! I was absolutely floored over how much data it used ... I doubled my bill in one month! Needless to say, AA got uninstalled!

I use AA in my wife's 2016 Expedition a lot and the experience on the 8" dash is amazing. May cost a little data, but the safety of that is worth it.

 

[foxbat121]

I use AA whenever I drive. The data usage never exceeds a few hundred MBs a month. No effect on my bills.

 

[pjwk81]

I've stopped using the standalone app recently and just launch Google Maps when I start driving. It handles calls, etc pretty ok. Not ideal but the AA app on the phone is a buggy mess.

 

[Michael Detwiler]

I've stopped using the standalone app recently and just launch Google Maps when I start driving. It handles calls, etc pretty ok. Not ideal but the AA app on the phone is a buggy mess.

- "buggy mess" Seriously? - never had a problem. Use almost every day.

 

[galaxyfive]

If all you need is the ability to make and answer calls, then AA is overkill. You can disable it as some has already suggested. I wouldn't say its a buggy mess but it falls way behind Apple's slick implementation tbh.

 

[Mr Segundus]

I really wish Android Auto was just as good as Apple CarPlay. Android Auto is kind of a mess, IMO. But I still use it. It works better than just Bluetooth in my car.

 

[foxbat121]

I had used both in my car. Google Assistant and Google Maps are way better than Apple's offering. Although CarPlay offers a better UI. But that's about it. Entering places to navigate to is much easier and accurate using voice on AA than Apple's stupid SiRi.

 

[hallux]

When I first got my Pixel 2, and AA was installed on it, I let it automatically run every time I drove (and I'm in my car a LOT). THEN I got the bill from Verizon! I was absolutely floored over how much data it used ... I doubled my bill in one month! Needless to say, AA got uninstalled!

It's not Android Auto itself that used all that data, it was what you were doing with it that did. Audio streaming and maps are going to use data, no matter how you launch them.

 

[Trees]

Suggest trying Offline maps in Google Maps to help reduce data usage.

 

[C5Longhorn]

I uninstalled it (I'm rooted) for the time being, I may add it back later.

 

[Mike Dee]

I had used both in my car. Google Assistant and Google Maps are way better than Apple's offering. Although CarPlay offers a better UI. But that's about it. Entering places to navigate to is much easier and accurate using voice on AA than Apple's stupid SiRi.

Agreed... Google Maps & Google Assistant are better.

 

[Almeuit]

I had used both in my car. Google Assistant and Google Maps are way better than Apple's offering. Although CarPlay offers a better UI. But that's about it. Entering places to navigate to is much easier and accurate using voice on AA than Apple's stupid SiRi.

Yeah for CarPlay I just use Google Maps.

 

[Robisan]

Yeah for CarPlay I just use Google Maps.

How do you use Google Maps with CarPlay?

 

[Almeuit]

How do you use Google Maps with CarPlay?

Download Google Maps. Plug into CarPlay and use it .

 

[Robisan]

Download Google Maps. Plug into CarPlay and use it .

Isn't Apple Maps the default in CarPlay? How do you make GMaps come up when you choose maps in CP?

 

[chrispmoto]

My new (17) GMC truck handles things so nicely I don't even think I need AA.
Can someone talk me into it??