Google is pulling the plug on Android Auto updates...

If in case you have an older Android phone, there’s an opportunity it may not help the most recent variations of Android Auto for much longer. In July 2024, Google introduced that to run the latest variations of Android Auto, your telephone would have to be working Android 9.0 or greater. Nonetheless, it by no means truly made the change, and its newest updates continued to help Android 8.0 and above. Quick-forward greater than a 12 months later, and that’s lastly about to alter.

Based on Auto Evolution, with the most recent Android Auto replace, model 15.5, Google has modified the system necessities for Android Auto to now require a tool working Android 9.0 or greater. This implies when you’ve got a tool working Android 8, you’ll not obtain the most recent Android Auto updates, and the final supported replace you possibly can obtain is Android Auto 15.4.

Presently, once you go to the Google Play Retailer, Android Auto signifies it nonetheless helps Android 8.0 or greater, however this can change when Android Auto 15.5 launches, which could possibly be throughout the subsequent month or so, as it’s at the moment in its testing section earlier than a broader rollout.

Android 8 is not extinct but

It is potential Android Auto might cease working solely on Android 8 sooner or later

Though Android 8 was launched again in 2017, some individuals nonetheless use it. Based on the most recent Android distribution figures, about 4 p.c of customers are nonetheless on Android 8, with one p.c utilizing Android 8.0 and three p.c on Android 8.1. So, whereas it’s not a big proportion, it nonetheless has an affect. The final time Google up to date the Android Auto system necessities was in 2022, when it set Android 8 because the minimal requirement for the most recent updates and discontinued help for Android 7.

Android Auto model 15.5 is not a serious replace and primarily consists of bug fixes. If in case you have a telephone working Android 8, you will not be lacking out on a lot simply but. Nonetheless, this might change quickly, particularly as Google prepares to introduce Gemini to Android Auto.

It is price noting that whereas Android Auto will proceed to work on units working Android 8, there’s a likelihood that Google could ultimately discontinue help solely. This implies not solely will Android 8 units not obtain Android Auto updates, but it surely may additionally cease functioning correctly, as has occurred prior to now with units working Android 7 and older.

In case you’re nonetheless working Android 8 and do not need to miss out on the most recent Android Auto updates, your most important choices are to replace to Android 9 in case your machine helps it or to improve to a more recent machine working a extra present model of Android, corresponding to Android 15 or Android 16.

For these new to Android Auto, it is an app that shows a few of your telephone’s options in your automobile’s infotainment display screen. This permits safer use of sure apps whereas driving, together with navigation apps like Waze and Google Maps, in addition to music streaming providers corresponding to Spotify and YouTube Music. It’s much like Apple CarPlay, which affords a comparable expertise for iPhones.