A Beginner's Guide to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

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It wasn’t long ago my father accidentally told me he’d never once used the Android Auto system that came built into the VW Golf he’d been driving for several years. Why? He didn’t know it existed.

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Some people, like me and my dad, use Android Phones. Other people use Apple phones. If you use an Apple phone, your system is called Apple CarPlay, instead. The two systems are similar: both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are powerful ways to stay connected, informed, entertained, and accessible on the go. While the systems have different names, interfaces and functions, they both do a lot of fairly similar jobs of which you might not even be aware.

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A Beginner's Guide to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Back to video

Many newer cars have both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Just plug in a compatible phone and the correct system will appear on the car’s screen. Still, some newer vehicles only have one system or the other, and some have none. Point is, if you drive a car made within the past few years, there’s a good enough chance to give the system a try, assuming you haven’t already.

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See, my dad had been plugging his phone into a power outlet in his Golf to charge it, not into the USB port which also recharges the phone but also connects it to the central infotainment screen. Another friend had a similar experience with his Chevrolet Silverado. When I plugged his iPhone into the correct port on the dash, he was bewildered when Apple CarPlay popped into action.

Accessing either system is simple: you just plug in your phone, tap an on-screen button or two, and that’s about all there is to it. Thing is, you need to plug your handset into the correct outlet. If you don’t make that initial connection, you might never realize you’re missing out on a very powerful tool enjoyed by drivers around the world. Check your owner’s manual, or in an online community, to see if your vehicle is compatible; then check for instructions on how to set it up. The process takes just a moment and is very simple.

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Below, I’ll leave you with a few tips and pointers, as well as few of the ways I use Android Auto to make life a little more relaxing at the wheel. Many of the pointers below will apply to first-time Apple CarPlay users as well, though the interfaces and voice commands will vary slightly.

Getting Started

If you try connecting to Android Auto for the first time, be sure to turn your phone’s Bluetooth on, and use a quality charging cable that’s designed for data transfer and is in good shape. A cheap and beat-up charging cord can cause frustrating problems. Unlock your phone and start your car’s engine, but leave the vehicle in park. Plug in, wait for the on-screen prompts, tap through those, and in a moment or two you should see the Android Auto (or Apple CarPlay) interface on your screen – or a newly-available button to activate it. Check your owner’s manual for more details.

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With the system up and running, try saying “OK Google, what can you do?” or “Hey Google, Help”. The Google Voice Assistant (similar to Apple’s Siri), can provide some suggestions about functions it can do. If you’re using an Apple Phone, the voice prompt “Hey Siri, help” will work just as well. Remember, using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay may use mobile data from your smartphone’s data plan.

Music on the Go

I listen to music on Spotify all day long, and Android Auto makes it easy for me to bring it into the car. I just tap the on-screen ‘SPOTIFY’ icon, or say “OK Google, Spotify” after starting the engine, and my music resumes playback from wherever I left off—whether from listening on my PC at home or my handset at the gym.

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Drivers can have the system find a new playlist, skip a song, or switch the music off, just by asking. Press the voice command prompt on the steering wheel, or just say “OK Google, play Lenny Kravitz” or “OK Google, skip this song”. There’s no need to take your eyes off of the road, or hands off of the wheel. The iPhone user can experience similar control over their native music app using the Siri voice assistant.

Stress Free Commuting

Whether you’re road tripping in inclement weather or commuting to work in a blizzard, it’s always nice to know about road closures and accidents along your route without having to think twice. Even if you know where you’re going, try having the system navigate you to your destination. Just say “OK Google” or “Hey Siri” and then “Navigate to 3424 Peter Street”, for instance. With navigation active on screen, look for volume settings and mute all guidance other than traffic alerts. This way, the system won’t bother you audibly unless there’s a problem along the route, at which times it can offer some faster alternatives if available.

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You can ask either system for current weather alerts or road conditions along your drive, or to send a text to someone letting them know where you are, and that you’ll be late on account of the weather. Just say “Ok Google” or “Hey Siri” and then “text mom… I’m going to be running a bit late for dinner, see you around 7” for instance.  There’s no need to take your eyes off of the road or hands off of the wheel to stay fully connected when it’s important to do so. You can also ask Google (or Siri) to provide weather forecasts, updates, and even information on emergency travel advisories along your route, too.

Help Stay Organized

If you’re like me, you do a lot of thinking at the wheel – which might prompt you to remember something important, or want to leave yourself a reminder. As a complete scatterbrain, being able to say “OK Google, remind me to get milk tomorrow evening” or “Hey Google, take a note” is extremely handy, and I use these functions on the daily. If you’re using Google or Apple to manage your calendar, to-do lists and the like, functionality expands.

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If you’re a professional on the go, you can end a phone call, schedule an appointment into your calendar, set a reminder so you don’t forget it, and then text someone about it, all while you’re sitting in the Timmies drive-through, and all using your voice. There are GPS-based reminders possible too, for instance: “Hey Google, remind me to get some drywall screws next time I’m at Home Hardware”.

Customize With Apps

As users get more experienced, both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay can be further customized with user-selected apps, installed to your handset but available via the touch-screen interface in your dash. For a look at some popular add-on apps for Android Auto, click here , and for a list of popular add-on apps for Apple CarPlay, click here .

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