Android Auto may unlock new Apps for your Car with New App Available feature
Google’s promise for Car Ready Mobile Apps Program and New Car App Quality Tiers, which will unlock new apps installed on your phone for Android Auto without further app development, may be coming true with Android Auto 13.7 update.
Today’s Android Auto update also brings important bug fixes in Google Maps, wherein the location is centered while the search dialogue is open. It also introduces a new long-awaited feature which may introduce new apps for Android Auto. Google released a new Android Auto 13.7 update to stable channel. It is recommended for those looking forward to bug fixes, stability, and much more.
But there’s more! If you have been following our coverage of Android Auto, then the latest Android February 2025 security patch fixes the long-standing audio output issues on Android Auto as well as Bluetooth connectivity.
The two main fixes come to Audio and Bluetooth, fixing issues with audio output in Android Auto under certain conditions and fix for issue occasionally preventing connection with certain Bluetooth devices or accessories.
While the Google Pixel may be the first to receive the February 2025 software update running Android 15, phone manufacturers and telecom carriers will soon release the latest Android Security Patches for their respective phones later this month.
So if you have been facing audio issues on your device, it is best to update your phone software and also download the latest Android Auto 13.7 APK from below.
What’s new in Android Auto 13.7?
The recent issue with Goole Maps wherein the Google Maps UI is centered on the screen, that makes the car current location icon centered. This indeed causes frustration to see one’s location when the destination box is taking up a good portion of the screen.
When you don’t have a destination set, the search box covers a significant portion of the screen, unless you close it every time you start the car.
The issue with Google Maps on Android Auto that makes the car current location icon centered may have been fixed with the latest update. It is off-centered now.
We’ve noticed that the latest Google Maps update now fits the Android Auto screen much more effectively.
Our APK Breakdown series, unveils new features implemented in the latest Android app updates, including the latest Android Auto.
New Android Auto Apps
Android Auto may notify you if there are new apps available for your car. Google announced Car Ready Mobile Apps Program last year, which may be taking effect now as Android Auto will show compatible apps installed on your phone.
We found the following code in Android Auto 13.7 source:
<public type=”string” name=”new_app_available”/>
<public type=”string” name=”new_parked_app_available”/>
The new parked app is particularly interesting because Android Auto may enable mroe apps when parked.
Car Ready Mobile Apps Program
Android Auto 13.7 update aligns with Google’s promise for Car Ready Mobile Apps Program and New Car App Quality Tiers.
Google announced new quality tiers to streamline the process of adapting existing apps for cars. These tiers ensure that apps provide a great user experience while addressing unique automotive considerations such as safety and varied screen sizes.
The tiers include:
- Tier 1: Car Differentiated — Apps specifically designed for the diverse hardware in cars, adaptable to both driving and parked modes, and optimized for various screens like the center console and instrument cluster.
- Tier 2: Car Optimized — Apps that provide a strong in-car experience with some car-specific engineering, suitable for both driving and parked modes.
- Tier 3: Car Ready — Apps compatible with large screens, enabled while the car is parked, and requiring minimal additional development work.
Android Auto Car App Quality Tiers may be taking into effect and app developers may already be working on deploying apps for cars as we write. We may even see Google’s own apps like YouTube make its way to Android Auto while the care is parked.
Download Android Auto 13.7 APK
New Android Auto 13.7.6506 stable APK is now available for download. Get the APK and sideload onto your phone. Or, sign up for beta and get it officially from the Google Play Store.
- Android Auto APK 13.7 stable (arm64)
Download Android Auto from Play Store
The official Android Auto listing is now available on Play Store. However, the latest version takes some time to reflect as it is a phased update. As an alternative, download APK from above or sign up for beta version.
