Android Auto 12.5 update: Essential pre‑vacation tech upgrade

Android Auto 12.5 is no exception regarding Google's clarity in communicating changes. After updating the app, drivers must check if any car features have changed. Usually, new features are not visible to everyone simultaneously or are related to fixing Android Auto bugs that do not occur in every vehicle. Therefore, it is difficult to determine what changes apply to a given release upfront.

Android Auto 12.5 may be necessary to enable some server-side enhancements, and this is typically how Google introduces new features to cars. Drivers will need to be patient and ensure they have the latest version of Android Auto on their phones to be prepared for the rollout. One of the features anticipated for the near future is support for more options while parked, including Netflix and YouTube videos.

The site gizchina.com also notes that users of Android Auto 12.5 may see a button for reporting road incidents in Google Maps (well-known from the smartphone version of navigation). However, this change is unrelated to the Android Auto update itself. The button may appear for users of older system versions who have updated Google Maps to the latest edition.

Regardless of the specific new features in the app, it is generally advisable to consider that the latest release provides access to the newest fixes and should work most stably. Therefore, we recommend updating Android Auto before leaving for vacation. In Android 10 and newer smartphones, the driver system updates in the background through the Google Play Store. The update status can be checked in the Android settings or directly in the store in the app update history.