Android for Cars overview | Android Developers

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Android for Cars overview | Android Developers

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* Install the Car App library

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Integrate with Car APIs

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Distribute

* Distribute to cars

* Car ready mobile apps

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Build AI experiences

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Get started

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Get started

*

Hello, world!

*

Developer Verification

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Adaptive apps

*

Compose for UI

*

AI-powered IDE

*

Training

*

Monetization with Play ↗️

*

Optimize by form factor

*

Phones, tablets, foldables

*

Android for Cars

*

Android TV

*

Android XR

*

Googlebook

*

ChromeOS

*

Wear OS

*

Build by category

*

Games

*

Camera & media

*

Social & messaging

*

Health & fitness

*

Productivity

*

Enterprise apps

*

Get the latest

*

Latest updates

*

Experimental updates

*

Android Studio preview

*

Jetpack & Compose libraries

*

Wear OS releases

*

Privacy Sandbox ↗️

*

Excellent Experiences

*

Learn more

*

UI Design

*

Design for Android

*

Mobile

*

Desktop experiences

*

XR Headsets & XR Glasses

*

AI Glasses

*

Widgets

*

Wear OS

*

Android TV

*

Android for Cars

*

Architecture

*

Introduction

*

Libraries

*

Navigation

*

Modularization

*

Testing

*

Kotlin Multiplatform

*

Quality

*

Overview

*

Core value

*

User experience

*

Accessibility

*

Technical quality

*

Excellent Experiences

*

Security

*

Overview

*

Privacy

*

Permissions

*

Identity

*

Fraud prevention

*

Gemini in Android Studio

*

Learn more

*

Get Android Studio

*

Core areas

*

Samples

*

Multidevice support

*

User interfaces

*

Background work

*

Data and files

*

Connectivity

*

All core areas ⤵️

*

Tools and workflow

*

Write and debug code

*

Build projects

*

Test your app

*

Performance

*

Command-line tools

*

Gradle plugin API

*

Android Bench

*

Device tech

*

Phones, tablets, foldables

*

ChromeOS

*

Android for Cars

*

Android TV

*

Android XR

*

Wear OS

*

Android Health

*

Better Together

*

All devices ⤵️

*

Libraries

*

Android platform

*

Jetpack libraries

*

Compose libraries

*

Google Play services ↗️

*

Google Play SDK index ↗️

*

Play Console

*

Go to Play Console

*

Learn more ↗️

*

Fundamentals

*

Play Monetization

*

Play Integrity

*

Play Policies

*

Play Programs ↗️

*

Games Dev Center

*

Overview

*

Play Asset Delivery

*

Play Games Services

*

Play Games on PC

*

Level Up guidelines

*

All Play guides ⤵️

*

Libraries

*

Play Feature Delivery

*

Play In-app Updates

*

Play In-app Reviews

*

Play Install Referrer

*

Google Play services ↗️

*

Google Play SDK index ↗️

*

All Play libraries ⤵️

*

Tools & resources

*

Android App Bundles

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Android Developers

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Android for Cars

Android for Cars overview

Stay organized with collections

Save and categorize content based on your preferences.

Bring your app to vehicles running either Android Auto or Android Automotive OS.
Use one app architecture that works for both cases so every user can enjoy your
app.

Android Auto

Android Auto provides a driver-optimized app experience if you have a phone
with the Android Auto app and a compatible car or aftermarket stereo
system . You can use your app directly on your car's display by connecting
your phone. You enable Android Auto to connect with your phone app
by creating services that Android Auto uses to display a driver-optimized
interface to the driver. To learn more, see Android Auto overview .

Note: Android Auto is only compatible with phones running Android 9 (API level
28) and higher.

Figure 1: Android Auto—powered by a
phone and running on a car.

Android Automotive OS

Android Automotive OS is an Android-based infotainment system that's built into
vehicles. The car's system is a standalone Android-powered device that's
optimized for driving. With Android Automotive OS, you install your app
directly onto the car instead of your phone. To learn more, see
Android Automotive OS overview .

Figure 2: Android Automotive OS running
on an emulator.

Supported app categories

Due to considerations unique to cars, Android Auto and Android Automotive OS
only support certain types of apps as described in the following table:

Category
Description
Platforms
Usage
Publishing

Media - audio

Media apps let users browse and play music, radio, audiobooks, and other
audio content in the car. See Build media
apps for cars for more information.

Important: The Media category doesn't include video
content - see the separate Video category for
details on apps that play videos.

Built using: MediaBrowserService and
MediaSession . On Android Automotive OS,
you can also build sign-in and settings screens (for use while parked)
using Views or Compose.

Media apps can also be built using the
Android for Cars App Library
templates, as a part of our
Early Access Program
for Android Auto. See Build a
templated media app for additional information specific to media
apps.

Android Auto and Android Automotive OS (for both media and templated media
apps).

While driving or parked

All track types

Important: Media apps using Car App Library templates can
only be published to Internal Testing tracks and Closed Testing tracks as a
part of our
Early Access Program

Communication - messaging notifications

Messaging notifications let users receive incoming notifications, read
messages aloud using text-to-speech, and send replies using voice input
in the car. See
Extend
messaging notifications for Android Auto for more
information.

Built using : MessagingStyle notifications, a
Service for handling reply and mark-as-read actions.

Android Auto

While driving or parked

All track types

Communication - templated messaging labs

Templated messaging apps expand upon the capabilities of messaging
notifications to let users browse conversation history, read historical
messages aloud using text-to-speech, and send replies using voice input
in the car.

Built using : The Android for Cars
App Library . See
Build templated messaging experiences for Android Auto for additional information specific
to messaging apps.

Android Auto

While driving or parked

Internal Testing and Closed Testing tracks

Communication - calling labs

Calling apps let users make and receive calls on their car screen.

Built using : The
Telecom Jetpack Library and the Android for Cars
App Library . See
Build calling experiences for Android Auto for additional
information specific to calling apps.

Android Auto

While driving or parked

Internal Testing and Closed Testing tracks

Navigation

Navigation apps, including providers of driver and delivery services,
help users get where they want to go by providing turn-by-turn
directions.

Built using : The Android for Cars
App Library . See Build a
navigation app for additional information specific to navigation
apps.

Android Auto and Android Automotive OS

While driving or parked

All track types

Point of Interest (POI)

POI apps let the user discover and navigate to points of interest and
take relevant actions, such as parking, charging, and fuel apps.

Built using: The Android for Cars
App Library . See Build a point of
interest app for additional information specific to POI apps.

Android Auto and Android Automotive OS

While driving or parked

All track types

Internet of Things (IoT)

IoT apps let you take relevant actions on connected devices from
within the car. Examples include controlling the state of certain
devices, such as opening a garage door, flipping home light switches, or
enabling home security.

Built using: The Android for Cars
App Library . See Build an internet
of things app for additional information specific to IoT apps.

Android Auto and Android Automotive OS

While driving or parked

All track types

Weather

Weather apps let users see relevant weather information related to their
current location or along their route. Weather apps can also provide
navigation capabilities.

Built using: The Android for Cars
App Library . See Build a
weather app for additional information specific to weather apps.

Android Auto and Android Automotive OS

While driving or parked

All track types

Parked app categories

Video

Video apps let users view streaming videos while the car is parked. The
core purpose of these apps is to display streaming videos.

Built using: Views and/or Compose. See
Build video apps for Android
Automotive OS for more information.

Android Automotive OS

Primarily while parked

Video apps can support limited use while driving as described in
Support audio
while driving .

All track types

Games labs

Game apps let users play games while the car is parked. The core purpose
of these apps is to play games.

Built using: Views and/or Compose. See
Build games for cars for more information.

Android Auto and Android Automotive OS

Only while parked

Internal Testing and Closed Testing tracks

Browsers labs

Browser apps let users access web pages while the car is parked.

Built using: Views and/or Compose. See
Build browsers for Android
Automotive OS for more information.

Android Automotive OS

Only while parked

Internal Testing tracks

Integrate with Google apps and services

You can build your own apps for use in vehicles that support Android for
Cars , including Android Auto and cars with Google built-in . The
following resources contain additional guidance relating to implementation:

* Your app can launch navigation in Google Maps built-in through
Google Maps for Automotive intents .

* Navigation apps can achieve interoperability with Gemini or Google Assistant
through three different formats of intents. See Implement navigation app
intents . To learn more about implementing turn-by-turn navigation apps
compatible with Android Automotive OS
Android for Cars overview | Android Developers

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