‘Android Auto for Phone Screens’ is shutting down w/ Android 12 in favor of Assistant Driving Mode [U]
Google’s ambitions in the car led to Android Auto being redesigned a couple of years ago, mostly to positive feedback. However, the version of Android Auto on phone screens was meant to shut down at the time and has been on life support ever since. Now, that version has stopped working for some users.
The aptly named “Android Auto for Phone Screens” was launched in 2019 as Google was forced to delay Google Assistant Driving Mode. That feature, which finally started rolling out in 2020, continued into earlier this year, and has expanded since, was supposed to replace the experience on phone screens. At the time, Google called this app a “stopgap” for users who needed an in-car experience but lacked a vehicle compatible with Android Auto.
Fast-forward to today and apparently, some users are seeing a notice that Android Auto for Phone Screens no longer works. XDA says that some Pixel owners on Android 12 saw the app skip the typical experience entirely and instead display a notice that says:
