With the release of Android 12, users are switching to Google Assistant driving mode. Google has confirmed that Android Auto will shut down for phone screens and has already stopped working for some users.
As 9to5Google reports, question marks popped up about Android Auto for phones a few days ago when it stopped working for some users. Users running Android 12 beta who try to load it will see a message saying that it is only available for car screens and should use the Google Assistant driving mode instead.
In fact, Google has now clarified the situation by issuing the following statement:
“The Google Assistant driving mode is our next evolution in the mobile driving experience. For users using Android Auto in supported vehicles, this experience will not go away. For those who use the experience on the phone (Android Automobile application), it will switch to Google Assistant driving mode. From Android 12, Google Assistant driving mode is the integrated mobile driving experience. We currently have no further details to share. ”
Android Auto hasn’t been around that long, first released in 2015, received a major UI overhaul in 2019, and has since spread to 42 other countries. It will now disappear from phones but will still be available on vehicles.
To use the Google Assistant driving mode, you need a device running Android 9.0 or higher with 4 GB of RAM and ideally, Assistant notifications enabled and contact permissions granted (to allow calls and messages during use). The mode can be accessed by opening the Google Maps app, finding your destination, and pressing “Start”. Otherwise, just say, “Ok Google, go to [destination]”. During use, you can make and receive calls, send and receive messages, and listen to music.
