Google has confirmed that it will discontinue its “Android Auto for Phone Screens” app from the Android 12 update onwards. To replace the driver-friendly interface users will now have to use the Google Assistant driving mode that is available on the Google Maps, or the native Android Auto interface on some cars, The Verge reported.
Google released a statement that said users of Android Auto mobile app has to use the Google Assistant driving mode now. It added, “Starting with Android 12, Google Assistant driving mode will be the built-in mobile driving experience.”
Google confirms the news after a news outlet reported that some users saw a message on the app that read “now only available for car screens”. The company also confirmed that the experience of users of Android Auto in compatible cars will not change. There are some reports that say the “Android Auto for Phone Screens” app is now incompatible with Pixel devices that has Android 12.
In 2019, Google built almost all of Android Auto’s features into Android 10 as a system-level feature which resulted in discontinuing the downloadable app. It will be fine with an Android Auto-compatible car but those who own older vehicles had lost access to the driving-friendly interface which was directly available on their phone.
To equip such users Google planned on the new Google Assistant driving mode. Due to the delay of the software, it started rolling out only last year. The gap made Google bring on an alternative measure which resulted in the introduction of the “Android Auto for Phone Screens app”.
