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Google has made the games category for Android Auto and Android Automotive OS generally available, ending its beta phase. Developers can now publish compatible titles directly through Google Play's open testing and production tracks, rather than relying on early-access programs.
GM introduced a new picture-in-picture feature letting CarPlay and Android Auto run alongside its native infotainment system in the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks. This sparked reports that GM was reversing its 2023 decision to drop phone projection from its EVs, but a GM spokesperson confirmed to journalist Joanna Stern that the update applies only to gas-powered light-duty pickups, which never lost CarPlay support in the first place.
GM introduced a redesigned software interface for its upcoming Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks that refreshes the look of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Several outlets mistakenly reported this as GM reversing its 2023 decision to drop phone mirroring, but that removal only ever applied to GM's electric vehicles, not its gas-powered lineup.
A developer's Open Headunit app, priced under $4 on Google Play or free via GitHub, lets an aging Android tablet impersonate an Android Auto head unit, giving cars without built-in support a large touchscreen for navigation, calls and media. Testing found the setup imperfect but functional as a way to repurpose tablets that can no longer run modern apps well.
CarPlay allows multiple iPhones to be paired with a single vehicle, but only one can actively project the interface at a time. When a car mistakenly connects to a passenger's iPhone instead of the driver's, users must manually switch the connection through their infotainment system's Bluetooth or device menu.
A tech guide outlines several ways drivers can modernize aging car audio setups, from portable CarPlay/Android Auto touchscreen displays that mount on the dashboard to full aftermarket head unit replacements. It also warns that wireless CarPlay or Android Auto USB adapters only work if a car already supports the wired version, and that swapping the factory stereo can affect steering-wheel controls, cameras or amplifiers wired through it.
Android Auto users report that Gemini has stopped controlling smart home devices like AC units and lights while driving, with the assistant now replying that it cannot control such devices through Google Maps. The issue follows similar complaints on Wear OS, which Google said it had already fixed, though it's unclear if the two problems are related. Some users say the same commands still function inside the standalone Gemini app.
Some Android Auto beta users report that the cellular signal strength indicator, which vanished from the dashboard earlier this year, is reappearing after updating to version 17.8.1638. Users say the icon now shows up again beside the battery status indicator, though clearing the app cache may be required for it to reappear.
General Motors is rolling out a redesigned infotainment interface on two of its truck models that gives Apple CarPlay and Android Auto a dedicated window alongside native apps, rather than the full screen takeover typically offered by these platforms. GM has not explained why trucks are getting this treatment, only stating it wants to reduce the number of steps drivers need to navigate.
GM unveiled new dashboard software for its next-generation gas-powered pickups, the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, featuring a redesigned home screen, tighter Super Cruise integration, and improved compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The upgrade applies only to combustion models, continuing GM's separate strategy for its EV lineup, which dropped phone-mirroring support in 2023 in favor of Google Built-In software.
Because Android Auto ships as a regular Play Store app rather than a system component, it normally updates automatically in the background, but that process can stall if a phone lacks Wi-Fi access or auto-update settings are disabled. Users can check their version by searching for Android Auto in the Play Store, where an Uninstall button confirms they already have the latest release, or an Update button lets them install it manually. Devices need Android 9.0 or later, released in 2018, to receive current updates.
General Motors is reversing course on plans to drop Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, instead building a new infotainment interface that runs them alongside native vehicle gauges in a splitscreen layout. The system debuts in the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, which feature roughly 60 inches of combined screen space including a passenger video display, and will later expand to other GM models. GM says it collaborated directly with Apple and Google to design the shared-screen experience.