Wireless Android Auto is a convenient feature that allows smartphone users to project their Android interface onto their car’s infotainment display without the need for a physical cable. However, this feature is not commonly found in vehicles, and it’s more common to find wired Android Auto systems. To add wireless Android Auto functionality to a vehicle, a wireless Android Auto adapter can be used.
There are currently three main wireless Android Auto adapters available on the market: AAWireless, Motorola MA1, and Carsifi. AAWireless is a crowdfunded product that offers a simple setup with a detachable cable and a companion app for firmware updates and advanced tweaks. Motorola MA1 is the only officially licensed product for wireless Android Auto, and it works without any apps, focusing on simplicity. Carsifi is another crowdfunded product that offers a quick switch button for easily switching the phone that the dongle connects to, but it is more expensive than the other options.
There are also other wireless Android Auto adapters available, such as Ottocast, which supports both Android Auto and CarPlay. Some cheaper third-party options are also available, but their quality may vary.
To use a wireless Android Auto adapter, your car must already have the wired version of Android Auto, either through the built-in infotainment system or through a head unit. The adapter only eliminates the need for a physical cable. Most phones released in the past three to four years should work with a wireless Android Auto adapter, as long as they have 5GHz (Direct) Wi-Fi support.
Some common issues with wireless Android Auto adapters include a loss of connection, which can be resolved by turning Bluetooth off and on again, rebooting the phone, toggling Airplane mode, forgetting the car’s Bluetooth pairing and re-pairing the phone, or unplugging and plugging back in the adapter. Interference may also cause connection issues in some areas.
AAWireless offers a compatibility test to check if a wireless Android Auto adapter will work in a specific car model. It is normal for a phone to get hot while using an Android Auto adapter, but it is safe as long as the phone is not exposed to direct sunlight or extreme heat. Wireless Android Auto adapters can connect to multiple smartphones, and some adapters, such as Carsifi and AAWireless 2, offer a button for easily switching between previously paired phones.
