Google is pulling the plug on Android Auto updates for some older telephones

If in case you have an older Android phone, there’s an opportunity it won’t help the newest variations of Android Auto for much longer. In July 2024, Google introduced that to run the most recent variations of Android Auto, your cellphone would should 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 vary.

In accordance with Auto Evolution, with the newest 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 you probably have a tool working Android 8, you’ll not obtain the newest Android Auto updates, and the final supported replace you’ll be able to obtain is Android Auto 15.4.

At present, whenever you go to the Google Play Retailer, Android Auto signifies it nonetheless helps Android 8.0 or greater, however it will change when Android Auto 15.5 launches, which might 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 may cease working fully on Android 8 in some unspecified time in the future

Though Android 8 was launched again in 2017, some folks nonetheless use it. In accordance with the newest 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 newest 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 cellphone 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 value noting that whereas Android Auto will proceed to work on units working Android 8, there’s a likelihood that Google could finally discontinue help fully. This implies not solely will Android 8 units not obtain Android Auto updates, nevertheless it may additionally cease functioning correctly, as has occurred up to now with units working Android 7 and older.

If you happen to’re nonetheless working Android 8 and do not need to miss out on the newest Android Auto updates, your principal choices are to replace to Android 9 in case your system helps it or to improve to a more moderen system working a extra present model of Android, reminiscent of Android 15 or Android 16.

For these new to Android Auto, it is an app that shows a few of your cellphone’s options in your automotive’s infotainment display. This enables safer use of sure apps whereas driving, together with navigation apps like Waze and Google Maps, in addition to music streaming companies reminiscent of Spotify and YouTube Music. It’s just like Apple CarPlay, which presents a comparable expertise for iPhones.