Android Auto supports way more apps than you think—here are 4 surprises
Android Auto is the same Android that runs on your phone, but with a very limited interface. That’s the point, of course, but you’d be surprised how many Android apps are actually supported by Android Auto. Here are four apps that you might typically think of as phone apps, but which also work as full-fledged Android Auto apps.
Zoom
Benefit from a video conference
In the age of remote work and constant connectivity, Zoom has become ubiquitous on our smartphones and home computers. Yet the idea of participating in a video conference while operating a motor vehicle seems completely counterintuitive and very dangerous. The developers behind Zoom recognized the persistent need for mobile professionals to stay connected while on the move and created an Android Auto integration that prioritizes driver safety without sacrificing essential communications features.
Naturally, the video component of the app is entirely disabled when connected to your car’s dashboard – I really doubt your car has a webcam. Instead, Zoom for Android Auto works strictly as a highly streamlined audio-only conferencing tool that integrates with your vehicle’s existing microphone and speaker system.
The main benefit of this integration is its ability to organize and simplify your daily meeting schedule while you’re on the go. When you connect your phone to your car, the Zoom interface on the dashboard clearly displays your upcoming calendar events and scheduled calls. Rather than dangerously fumbling with your smartphone to find meeting links, copying complicated passcodes, or navigating the standard mobile app interface while you drive, you can join a conference call with a simple, deliberate tap on your car’s infotainment screen.
Once you’re in a meeting, the dashboard interface remains remarkably clean, displaying only the most critical controls needed for the call. The clearly visible mute and unmute buttons are easily accessible, allowing you to quickly tune out background road noise or join the conversation without taking your eyes off the road for more than a split second.
Discord
Stay informed about your gaming communities
Discord is another app that has smartly adapted its platform for Android Auto by removing visual clutter and focusing entirely on secure, voice-based communication. You won’t see your server lists, custom emojis, or image uploads on your car dashboard. Instead, the Android Auto version acts as a smart, hands-free channel for your most critical notifications and direct messages.
When you receive a direct message or direct mention on a server while you’re driving, Discord uses Google Assistant to handle the interaction securely. A discreet notification appears on your screen and you can ask the voice assistant to read the incoming text aloud through your car’s audio system. This allows you to stay up to date with your most active communities or coordinate plans with friends without ever having to look at your phone screen.
Most importantly, the integration allows you to fully participate in the conversation via voice dictation. Once the assistant reads a message, you can dictate your response out loud, which Discord then accurately transcribes and sends back to the chat channel. This transforms a highly visual, text-rich platform into a completely hands-free communications tool.
Home assistant
Your home needs you
Finally, managing an entire smart home ecosystem is traditionally a task reserved for a dedicated tablet or highly detailed smartphone app. Home Assistant, known to be one of the most powerful and complex open source smart home platforms available, involves complex dashboard layouts, endless automation scripts, and granular control over hundreds of connected devices. Bringing this level of complexity to a car’s dashboard would be extremely distracting, but Home Assistant’s Android Auto integration simplifies the experience brilliantly. It focuses only on the actions you need most during the physical transition from your home to your vehicle.
Instead of trying to mirror your complex home dashboard, the Android Auto app lets you create a specific, simplified menu of designated “driving favorites.” These appear as large, easily accessible icons on your car’s touchscreen that represent single actions or predefined routines. For example, when you arrive in your neighborhood, you can press a single button on your dashboard to effortlessly open your smart garage door, unlock the front door, and turn on the entryway lights. Conversely, when you rush out the door in the morning, a “leave home” button on your car’s screen can instantly arm your security system, turn off all interior lights, and lower the smart thermostat.
This integration essentially turns your car’s infotainment screen into a mobile extension of your smart home’s physical control panels. It completely eliminates the need to pull out your phone while sitting in your driveway or rely on sometimes spotty voice commands to trigger important home automations.
Vivaldi
A complete navigator directly in your car
When you think about which apps are best suited for a car dashboard, a full-fledged web browser is probably the last thing that comes to mind. However, Vivaldi has managed to integrate its highly customizable browser directly into the Android system. Automotive ecosystem, providing a surprisingly robust experience for drivers. Most people assume that browsing the internet from the driver’s seat is inherently dangerous, and Vivaldi addresses this problem head-on with strict safety protocols. The app only works when your vehicle is completely parked. As soon as you get behind the wheel, the navigation session is immediately suspended, ensuring that there are absolutely no visual distractions while you actively navigate the roads.
You may be wondering right now: “Why do I need a navigator in my car?” » For many reasons, in fact. Whether you’re waiting in a parking lot to pick up a friend, waiting a long time at a ferry terminal, or spending thirty minutes at a fast charging station for your electric vehicle, Vivaldi transforms your dashboard display into a complete entertainment and information center. You can access your synced favorites from your computer or smartphone, read the latest news articles, check your emails on the web, or even stream high-definition video content from platforms like YouTube or Netflix.
Additionally, the interface is carefully optimized for the unique aspect ratios and touchscreens of modern vehicle infotainment systems. The controls are large and intuitive, avoiding the frustrating experience of trying to operate tiny, unoptimized web links on a screen placed at arm’s length. Quite neat.
