Android automotive brings Youtube, Netflix to car screens in 2025
February 2025 marks a significant milestone in Android Automotive's and Android Auto's development. Google's system, which is installed in modern cars, will start supporting applications previously adapted for devices like tablets.
For drivers using Android Automotive, this means a significant increase in the number of available applications, including the availability of apps like YouTube and Netflix. Google announced this change in 2024, and as Android Authority reminds us based on documentation, the update will take effect in February 2025.
From that point forward, all applications "optimized for large screens" (most programs for Chromebooks and tablets) will also become available in cars. Eventually, this developer-side approach will apply to Android Auto as well. However, a specific date for Android Auto has not been set.
Google's goal is that developers shouldn't need to spend time creating additional versions of their programs for cars. Applications that have already been adjusted to work on larger displays should automatically adapt to car screens entirely without developer input or with minimal involvement.
As reported during the I/O conference in 2024, this update is expected to result in, among other things, the availability of a range of entertainment programs in Android Auto (and earlier in Android Automotive) that may be useful during stops, including for streaming movies—such as Netflix or YouTube. Currently, in Android Auto, only GameSnacks games are available in this category, which are simple enough to be more of a curiosity than a real form of entertainment while parked.
