A new app called PhoneAuto runs Android Auto on your phone screen again, years after Google ended it. It works, but it is an early beta with risks.
An app called PhoneAuto brings Android Auto, Google's driving-friendly layout for maps, music and calls, back to the phone screen. Google ended that option in 2022. A reviewer at 9to5Google tried the beta and found that it works, with some rough edges.
Android Auto once ran on a phone with no car display. Google announced in 2019 that it would end that. Its replacement was unfinished, so Google released a stopgap, which shut down in 2022. Since then, Android Auto has been for car screens only.
PhoneAuto uses a developer feature called "head unit server" to run Android Auto on the phone itself. It takes a few extra taps. Afterward, you must tap "quit" in your notifications to stop it. The app can partly automate that if you grant accessibility permissions.
On a Galaxy Z Fold 8, landscape mode worked well on both the inner and outer screens. The layout adjusted to the display, and touch felt responsive enough. Portrait mode lagged badly. Neither mode matched the smooth motion of some newer cars. The review covered one phone, so results on others are not known.
PhoneAuto shows Android Auto can return to your phone screen, but it is a short-lived beta, so wait for a Play Store release if you want less risk.
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