I use two phones with Android Auto — here’s how I easily switch between them

Andy Walker / Android Authority

If you’re struggling with connection issues on Android Auto, you’ll already know how difficult it is to keep one phone connected, let alone two.

I share my car with my fiancée, and we both use Android Auto on our respective devices: her Galaxy S10 Plus and my Galaxy S24 FE. But when it comes time for one of us to drive the car and the other’s phone connects instead of the driver’s, it can be a little annoying.

Do you use wireless Android Auto? 4 votes Yes, I prefer using wireless Android Auto. 75 % No, I prefer using wired Android Auto. 25 %

To make our lives a little easier, I’ve dreamed up a solution using NFC tags and Samsung’s Modes and Routines app (also called Bixby Routines on older Samsung devices).

But, how does it work, does it work, and if so, is it worth implementing in your car? I discuss in detail below.

The problem: Two phones, one Android Auto dongle

Andy Walker / Android Authority

If you’re the only driver of your car, you’ll likely wonder what I’m on about. So let me give you a brief glimpse into my life.

I use a cheap Android Auto dongle in my car. It’s affordable and reliable, but importantly, it allows me to run the service cable-free. Wireless Android Auto requires connection to a phone on two fronts: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct. This means that whichever phone connects to the dongle’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi first is the first to connect to the car mirroring service, and this race is usually won by the last device that connected.

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