Android Auto Can Run Outside a Car With a Spare Tablet and Receiver App

For a wired setup, Engadget said users need an Android phone running Android 11 or newer, a spare Android tablet or phone and a data-capable USB cable. Android Auto is already integrated into compatible phones, so the receiver app is installed on the second device. One option is Open Headunit, formerly Headunit Revived, which costs $3.99 on Google Play and supports Android 5.0 or newer on the receiving device. Headunit Reloaded is another option at $4.99.

After installing Open Headunit on the tablet, the user connects the tablet to the phone with a USB cable and an OTG adapter if necessary, selects Android Auto in the phone's USB options if prompted, opens the app on the tablet, taps USB, grants permission, chooses the phone from the device list and approves any remaining connection prompts on the phone. Android Auto should then appear on the tablet.

Both apps also offer Self-Mode, which runs Android Auto on the same device without keeping the phone connected. Engadget said this requires the device to have a working Android Auto installation of its own, which is not guaranteed on older tablets. Open Headunit's developer says Android Auto 17.4 and later may require starting the head unit server through Android Auto's developer settings before Self-Mode works. Wireless connections between the two devices are possible but take more setup, while USB is easier but occupies the tablet's charging port, a problem when the battery is already worn out.

Engadget said the appeal is that Android Auto's driving-friendly design acts as a distraction filter. Large controls let users pause Spotify or skip a podcast without unlocking the phone, messages can be read aloud and answered by voice, and Gemini on compatible systems can respond to queries and manage smart home gadgets through Google Home, though that is not always reliable. Android Auto also supports only a limited selection of apps, reducing the temptation to spend time on services such as Instagram.

The compromises are concrete. Running Spotify or Google Home directly on the tablet is simpler if those are the only goals. The dashboard can be dominated by maps when the user is not on the move, and the tablet will not run its normal apps while connected to Android Auto. Notifications for messages may be visible to anyone nearby. With both USB and wireless projection, the primary phone has to remain connected, and paid services such as Spotify Premium still require their own subscriptions. Google's official setup instructions do not cover using Android Auto on a tablet at home, and Engadget described the setup as a fun novelty with quirks.