- Android Auto now supports YouTube, but not in the way you’d expect.
- Video playback is off by default, and the reason is more layered than it sounds.
- Access requires a YouTube tier that a lot of users aren’t currently paying for.
Android Auto has just got a little bit better, as YouTube has just been added to the system. However, this does not mean users will be able to watch clips from their favorite content creators, because Google has put some serious limitations on the player.
While the vast majority of YouTube users watch videos on it, the new YouTuber player on Android Auto is unable to play videos, for obvious safety reasons. Instead, as many users wrote on Reddit, it is strictly limited to audio, although it can play all content, just without video. So, if you want to enjoy a classic segment of Top Gear while behind the wheel, you’ll only hear the voices of Clarkson, Hammond, and May.
In practice, that means it works best for podcasts, interviews, and news-style listening, rather than anything that depends on visuals.
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However, this isn’t the biggest issue. As the YouTube player requires background playback support to function, that means it will only work for those who pay for YouTube Premium, which starts at $7.99 per month. If you’re already a subscriber, happy days. If not, it may be hard to justify the expense just to get some audio playback in your car.
Keep in mind, that entry price applies to the stripped-back Premium Lite tier, while a full subscription in the U.S. comes in at $13.99 per month.
Other Limitations
In addition, the YouTuber player on Android Auto only includes Play/Pause and skip buttons, meaning you can’t skip forward or back 15 seconds like you can if listening to a podcast on Spotify. The player also offers no ability to browse for content, so you’ll have to load up a video before you set off. At least the controls are on the screen, so you don’t have to reach for your phone.
This is still an improvement over the previous experience, where YouTube audio would play through the car but without any native playback controls in the interface.
The good news is that this limited version of YouTube could be updated. According to Android Central, Google may unveil a full YouTube experience player for Android Auto at the Google I/O event on May 19-20, before rolling it out more broadly. For those who can’t wait and want the ability to watch YouTube videos through Android Auto now, the popular third-party CarStream app adds this capability.
