6 photos
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Google
It’s here. Android Auto 18.1 is here after only a few days of beta testing, with Google now shipping the new version through the Google Play Store to the very first devices.
Before you head over to the Play Store to check for updates, here’s the obligatory thing you must always keep in mind: these updates roll out in stages, so while some devices are getting it already, others will have to wait up to several weeks for the same thing.
This is because Google uses a phase-based approach to find bugs in their early stages before too many devices are impacted. The search giant gradually accelerates the rollout, so if no major problem affects your device, you should be served the update through the Google Play Store in the coming weeks.
Android Auto 18.1 comes without a changelog, but that’s hardly a surprise. As we know already, Google is busy giving the finishing touches to a major Android Auto update that should start rolling out either by the end of the year or in the first quarter of 2027. Codenamed Cielo, this big transformation of Android Auto is the first notable makeover since the debut of Coolwalk in 2023.
Furthermore, Google has lots of bugs to fix in Android Auto, including a glitch that breaks down notifications. As a result, there’s a chance there are plenty of improvements hiding in Android Auto 18.1, meaning that installing this update is worth a shot if you’ve been struggling with the app.
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
How to download Android Auto 18.1 todayBecause the new version is rolling out gradually, the only option that appears to be available is to wait until the Google Play Store pushes the update to your device. Fortunately, there’s a way to download Android Auto 18.1 on your device today and skip this what-could-be-long wait.
It all comes down to downloading and installing this update using the APK installer. You can find the APK file on this page, and after you download it, you just need to tap the file to begin the update.
Follow the wizard that shows up on the screen – in some cases, you are prompted to enable special permissions, especially if your device is configured to only allow the installation of apps from the Google Play Store – and you should be good to go in a few seconds.
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
YouTube is on its wayWhile everybody’s waiting for that big update that Google promised in the spring, which should include widgets and support for screens of all sizes and shapes, the search giant teased another big improvement.
YouTube is coming to Android Auto, and according to a table presented by the company at a recent event, this should happen soon.
Support for video apps and browsers is one of the big changes coming to Android Auto this year, but now it looks more like that the whole thing will happen in the first months of the next year. Based on Google’s previous updates for Android Auto, beta users could start getting YouTube support on Android Auto in the last weeks of 2026, while production devices might be provided with the new experience in Q1 2027.
Once video apps go live on Android Auto, with YouTube spearheading this grand debut, users will be able to watch videos on their infotainment screens while stationary. This means that the videos will be allowed only when vehicles are parked. It’s an obvious limitation that must be there for safety reasons, as people would otherwise be tempted to glance at the screen while driving.
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
Google is also developing an audio-only mode for Android Auto that will allow a video to continue the playback in the background and allow only the audio through the vehicle speakers. This experience will require a YouTube Premium subscription for YouTube users, as this is essentially background play, which isn’t available as part of the free tier.
The rest of the video apps that will land on Android Auto as part of this update can also support the audio-only mode, assuming their developers integrate this feature.
Google hasn’t yet shared more specifics about the YouTube ETA on Android Auto, but considering the company said this would happen “soon,” it’s probably safe to avoid holding your breath. Whenever Google says something is happening soon, it typically takes longer than you’re willing to wait, so fingers crossed that YouTube goes live on Android Auto sooner rather than later.
Until this happens, installing Android Auto updates is recommended to stay up-to-date with the latest improvements and fixes, especially in cars where the experience with the app has been unreliable. Today’s update should become available on all devices through the Google Play Store automatic app update distribution engine by the end of the month.
The full build number of today’s update is Android Auto 18.1.6644.