Photo: Google/autoevolution modifications
Google has already promised several improvements for Android Auto users, and each update is greeted with great enthusiasm by the user base.
Although the search giant typically ties new features to a server-controlled rollout, it’s always recommended to keep Android Auto up to date from a stability and reliability perspective. New versions of Android Auto could include fixes and performance improvements even if they apparently don’t feature radical changes.
This seems to be the case with Android Auto 11.8.
The new version was recently promoted to the stable production channel without a prior beta release. This is the second time that Google has skipped the beta update and directly given the green light to the stable update, so everyone can now download Android Auto 11.8 on their devices.
Google pushes Android Auto updates through the Google Play Store so users receive the new version in stages. This means that some users will receive the new update in the coming days, while others will have to wait up to several weeks to be offered the latest update.
Meanwhile, those who can’t wait for Android Auto to update to version 11.8 can get the new version by manually downloading and installing the update. The process is called sideloading, allowing users to download the Android Auto 11.8 APK installer on their device to initiate the update. Once the file is downloaded to the phone, users need to navigate to its location and tap on it to initiate the update.
When it comes to new Android Auto features, one of the most notable improvements as of late is support for phone icons and wallpapers.
Google has tried to create more consistency across devices, allowing the stock icon pack and home screen wallpaper to sync with the Android Auto screen. This means that the phone’s original theme and icon background will appear on Android Auto, making the transition from a mobile device to a car smoother.
The feature was announced earlier this year for Samsung phones, but I’ve already spotted similar integration on other Android devices, including Xiaomi. However, non-Samsung support seems half-baked, as users have complained about broken Android Auto icons after enabling this feature on their devices.
Meanwhile, Google also continues to refine Android Auto with additional fixes, and earlier this week the company managed to fix a bug affecting voice commands in WhatsApp. However, the search giant is not responsible for the problem in this case as the bug resided in the latest version of WhatsApp released on the Google Play Store. Google worked with WhatsApp to diagnose the issue and provide a fix. So, users who cannot send messages through Google Assistant when Android Auto is running need to update the messaging app to the latest version to receive the fix.