Quiet but useful: Android Auto 17.1 beta focuses on fixing what was broken

© A. Krivonosov

Google has released a new beta build of Android Auto 17.1. The update is currently available to testing program members, but it can also be installed manually via APK file without waiting for the full rollout. Google has not published an official changelog.

Based on early signs, this is not a major update with new buttons or a visible redesign, but rather a technical release focused on bug fixes and stability improvements. For Android Auto, that is not a small thing: drivers regularly complain about random connection drops, Gemini glitches, unresponsive voice commands and app crashes during certain actions.

Android Auto 17.1.1623 beta may be useful for those whose system is already misbehaving. Manual installation is straightforward: download the APK onto your smartphone, open the file via the download notification or from the Downloads folder, and follow the wizard. If you are installing an APK for the first time from outside Google Play, Android may ask you to allow installation from an unknown source.

In parallel, Google is preparing a bigger Android Auto update expected later this year. It should bring widgets and support for video apps, including YouTube while parked. While the car is moving, the system will switch to audio mode, and YouTube will require a Premium subscription. App developers will need to add support for background audio.

Another notable change is already reaching some Google Maps users in Android Auto. Road hazard alerts are now displayed in a way that no longer covers turn-by-turn prompts, the next maneuver and route information. This may not be directly tied to Android Auto 17.1 and could be enabled server-side, so it is worth updating both Maps and Android Auto.

If the beta turns up no serious issues, the stable Android Auto 17.1 release could start rolling out as early as next week. Sometimes the most useful update is the one after which nothing in your car simply stops working.

Earlier it was reported that Google is investigating an Android Auto failure following driver complaints.