Android Auto YouTube Limitations: Is It Worth Using In The Car?

YouTube has always been a curious middle child on Android Auto. The streaming app isn't as feature-packed in a car as it is on a desktop or smartphone, and if you wanted to see a baseball game while parked, you were out of luck. Some of that is about to change.

At the Android Show: I/O Edition event in May, Google promised big upgrades for Android Auto's YouTube video playback within the year. From HD videos at 60 frames per second while parked to transitioning into an audio-only mode when you start driving, the platform is expanding beyond traditional driving needs as media consumption seeps into every facet of our lives. The update brings more treats like a reworked interface with widgets and deeper Gemini integration to brands like BMW, Chevrolet, Ford and Hyundai.

The short answer is kind of: if you consider the audio of a video to be "playing a video."

Picking a YouTube video on your phone will only let you play its audio via Android Auto while driving. That means podcasts and video essays can be listened to from the comfort of your car, even if it's in motion. 9to5Google notes that some manufacturers like GM have already unlocked full YouTube compatibility and streaming services like Disney+ for their vehicles while stationary.

Google introduced some YouTube media controls for Android Auto in March, a welcome addition for fans of podcasts. However, users on Reddit noted they could only play, pause, or skip videos entirely with a YouTube Premium or Premium Lite subscription, as confirmed by 9to5Google . And that's just the audio stream. Android Auto users can't scrub forward inside a video either, probably due to safety concerns on Google's end.

An update scheduled to roll out this year will finally add native YouTube support for Android Auto, letting users watch HD YouTube videos on a car display while parked. While on the move, the app will seamlessly transition to audio playback. This can come in handy when you're waiting for your electric vehicle to charge up or if that "two more minutes" friend isn't being entirely truthful.

Google's announcement video notes that listening to YouTube videos while driving is exclusive to YouTube Premium users. It doesn't specify if Premium Lite subscriptions benefit from the same. There's no date accompanying the announcement either. Until then, most Android Auto users will have to settle for a scaled-back YouTube implementation that merely streams audio via the car's infotainment system.

Unofficial methods for unlocking YouTube, like the Fermata Auto app or AA Browser, promise actual video playback while parked, with mixed results. It's a temporary solution to gain a feature that Google has already promised to Android Auto users, albeit one that could potentially be cheaper by circumventing the need to a paid YouTube subscription.