3 useful sideloaded Android Auto apps I use almost every day

Anyone who has read my work knows how I feel about Android Auto. I like the in-car infotainment platform, but hate the hoops it sometimes makes you jump through just to get an app up and running. This is why I still prefer Apple's CarPlay in a lot of situations. That said, just like the mobile version of Android, the open nature of Google's in-car operating system offers a distinct advantage over CarPlay: the ability to sideload apps.

There's a lot of not very useful (and potentially shady) apps out there when it comes to sideloading mobile Android apps, and the same goes for Android Auto. However, there are two really great sideloaded apps I've come to rely on when I'm using Android Auto, and one I've only recently uncovered that I'm still experimenting with.

Don't use any of these apps while driving. Always make sure your car is parked before booting up AA Browser, CarStream, or Car2Stream.

AA Browser lets you surf the web in your car

Take advantage of that big screen in your car

For all the sideloaded apps I outline in this story, you'll need to download the Android Auto Apps Downloader (AAAD). It's not a browser or YouTube player itself, though; it lets you bypass Google's Play Store so you can install apps like AA Browser in a way Android Auto recognizes as legitimate.

First up, make sure you have Android's Developer Mode:

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Open the Settings app on your Android device Tap About Phone. Open Software Information (with my Pixel 10 Pro, this option is on the main About Phone screen). Find your phone's Build Number, and tap it seven times in a row. If you've done this correctly, you'll see a message stating Developer Mode Enabled (you'll see a notification that you have only three taps left when you're close).

Next, it's time to turn on Android Auto's Developer Mode:

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Open the Settings app on your Android phone.

app on your Android phone. Navigate to Connected Devices (it's the second option).

(it's the second option). Tap on Android Auto (on my Pixel 10 Pro, I also need to tap Connection Preferences first).

(on my Pixel 10 Pro, I also need to tap first). Scroll down and tap Version until Developer Settings are enabled (you'll see a notification that you have only three taps left when you're close).

After you've installed the AAAD APK, open up the app on your phone and install the latest version of AA Browser (you should see it in the list immediately, but you might need to scroll down a bit). You should then see the AA Browser icon on your Android Auto launcher. The app features a full URL bar, forward/back buttons — it really is just a full-fledged browser you can use in your car (while it's parked, of course).

For the most part, anything you can do with your smartphone's browser, you can now do with AA Browser, including logging into a streaming service that doesn't have an official Android app. Of course, you can also browse XDA — because that's what you really need to be doing when you're chilling in your vehicle. Sometimes AA Browser can get a bit glitchy, but for the most part, it's surprisingly reliable, especially for an Android app from a third-party storefront.

CarStream lets you watch YouTube through Android Auto

Only use this app when you're safely parked

YouTube is finally coming to Android Auto, but even when it does start making its way to vehicles later in 2026, it will only be available on select models from BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, and Volvo. With that in mind, CarStream works on every vehicle that supports Android Auto, opening up the YouTube floodgates (only use it while your vehicle is parked).

If you've followed the above steps to turn on Android's and Android Auto's Developer Mode, and also installed AAAD, you'll see CarStream in the list of apps you can install on your device inside Android Auto Apps Downloader, giving you instant access to your YouTube account directly on your vehicle's display. It's worth noting that you need a solid data connection to keep content from constantly buffering, so keep an eye on your phone's signal bars. While CarStream can sometimes freeze up, it's pretty reliable and a great way to share YouTube videos with passengers when you're parked.

Skip both of these apps and just use Screen2Auto instead

The app casts your phone's display to your car's infotainment system

If you're just looking for a straightforward solution to getting a website or video up on your vehicle's screen while it's parked, Screen2Auto is the best option. I briefly tried AA Mirror, but I couldn't get it running (all I could get to show up was a black screen). Like AA Browser and CarStream, Screen2Auto is located in AAAD. Tap on the latest version of the app and install it.

You'll need to move through a series of somewhat intimidating permissions (it's up to you if you're cool with giving a sideloaded app this level of access to your device), but the most important one is allowing Display Over Other Apps by navigating to Apps > Screen2Auto > Allow Display Over Other Apps. You'll also likely need to turn on Allow Restricted Settings (I needed to with my Pixel 10 Pro, for example) by going to Settings > Apps > Screen2Auto, Three Dots > Allow Restricted Settings.

Quiz 8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge Android Auto vs. CarPlay

Trivia challenge Think you know your way around in-car tech? Put your Android Auto and CarPlay knowledge to the test. Features History Compatibility Design Technology Begin 01 / 8 History In what year did Apple first introduce CarPlay to the public? A 2012 B 2013 C 2014 D 2015 Correct! Apple unveiled CarPlay in 2014 at the Geneva Motor Show, with Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo among the first automakers to support it. It was originally teased as 'iOS in the Car' before getting its polished CarPlay branding. Not quite. CarPlay made its public debut in 2014 at the Geneva Motor Show. Apple had teased the concept earlier under the working name 'iOS in the Car,' but 2014 was when the real product hit the stage. Continue 02 / 8 History What was Android Auto originally called during its early development phase before launch? A Android Drive B Google Road C Open Automotive Alliance D It launched directly as Android Auto Correct! Google launched the platform directly under the Android Auto name in 2015. However, it was backed by the Open Automotive Alliance — an industry group formed in 2014 — which helped build manufacturer support before the consumer rollout. Actually, Google launched the platform directly as Android Auto in 2015. It was supported behind the scenes by the Open Automotive Alliance, an industry consortium, but the consumer-facing product always carried the Android Auto name. Continue 03 / 8 Compatibility Which of the following smartphone operating systems is compatible with Android Auto? A Android 5.0 and above B Android 6.0 and above C Android 8.0 and above D Android 10 and above Correct! Android Auto requires Android 6.0 Marshmallow or higher to run on a phone. Google updated the minimum requirements over the years, and Marshmallow became the baseline that stuck for the phone-based version of the app. Not quite. Android Auto requires Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later. While early versions supported Android 5.0, Google raised the minimum requirement to 6.0, which remains the baseline needed to run the platform on a paired smartphone. Continue 04 / 8 Features Which voice assistant is natively built into CarPlay? A Google Assistant B Amazon Alexa C Siri D Cortana Correct! Siri is Apple's native voice assistant and is deeply integrated into CarPlay. Drivers can activate it hands-free using 'Hey Siri' to send messages, make calls, get directions, and control playback without ever touching the screen. The correct answer is Siri. Apple's own voice assistant is baked into CarPlay and handles everything from navigation requests to message replies. It's designed to keep drivers' eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Continue 05 / 8 Design What is the name of the overhauled CarPlay experience Apple announced in 2022 that extends to multiple vehicle screens? A CarPlay Ultra B CarPlay Pro C Next-generation CarPlay D CarPlay Max Correct! Apple announced 'next-generation CarPlay' at WWDC 2022. This ambitious redesign aims to take over all screens in a vehicle — including the instrument cluster — and display things like speed, fuel level, and climate controls, all powered by iOS. Apple branded it simply 'next-generation CarPlay' when it was unveiled at WWDC 2022. It's a major evolution designed to spread across every screen in a compatible vehicle, including the driver's instrument cluster, representing a much deeper integration than current CarPlay. Continue 06 / 8 Technology Which wireless standard does both Android Auto and CarPlay use to enable wireless connections to compatible head units? A Bluetooth 5.0 B Wi-Fi 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) C NFC D Wi-Fi Direct Correct! Both wireless Android Auto and wireless CarPlay use Wi-Fi 802.11ac, also known as Wi-Fi 5, to stream the interface to the car's head unit. Bluetooth is used only for the initial handshake and connection setup, but the actual data transfer happens over Wi-Fi. The answer is Wi-Fi 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5). While Bluetooth plays a role in initiating the connection, the bulk of the data — including the screen mirror and audio — is transmitted over Wi-Fi 5. This is why wireless versions require a compatible dual-band Wi-Fi radio in the head unit. Continue 07 / 8 Features Which of these third-party navigation apps was notably NOT available on CarPlay at launch but later received Apple's approval? A Apple Maps B Waze C Google Maps D Both Waze and Google Maps Correct! At CarPlay's launch, only Apple Maps was supported for navigation. Google Maps didn't arrive on CarPlay until 2018, and Waze followed shortly after. Apple opened CarPlay to third-party navigation apps as part of iOS 12, a significant policy shift. The correct answer is both Waze and Google Maps. When CarPlay launched, Apple restricted navigation to its own Maps app. It wasn't until iOS 12 in 2018 that Apple opened the platform to third-party navigation apps, finally welcoming Google Maps and Waze aboard. Continue 08 / 8 Compatibility Which car manufacturer was the first to offer a fully wireless Android Auto experience in a production vehicle? A Tesla B Toyota C Hyundai D Volkswagen Correct! Hyundai was the pioneer here, offering wireless Android Auto in its 2019 models. This was a significant milestone, as it freed drivers from the need to plug in their phones every time they got in the car, making the in-car experience much more seamless. Hyundai was actually first. The South Korean automaker introduced wireless Android Auto in its 2019 lineup, beating other manufacturers to the punch. It was a notable achievement that set a standard other brands would soon race to match. See My Score Challenge Complete Your Score / 8 Thanks for playing! Try Again

After that, when you launch Screen2Auto from your infotainment system screen, you should instantly see whatever you have open on your Android phone's display. The app can be pretty glitchy, and in some cases, I had to unplug and plug my Pixel 10 Pro back into my vehicle to get it working properly (a few times, I also needed to launch Car2Screen on my phone first). When it is working properly, it's pretty impressive.

This is a really easy way to get video streaming apps to appear on your car's screen without needing to log in to your account (assuming you're already signed in on your phone), or to quickly open a website to show someone in your car something. Like all the sideloaded apps I mention in this story, Screen2Auto can be a bit glitchy sometimes, but to be fair, so can Google's official Cast protocol and even Apple's AirPlay 2.