
Long drives can get tiring and boring, and what better way to stay energized than with music? YouTube Music is a go-to streaming platform for many, offering over 100 million songs from artists around the world.
Want to know how to play YouTube Music in your car? This guide outlines 6 methods to enjoy your playlists from YouTube Music while you're on the road. Let's dive in!
Can You Play YouTube Music in Your Car?
Yes! You can definitely play YouTube Music in your car, whether you drive an electric vehicle or a reliable older model. There are several ways to enjoy your favorite playlists on the go, and the method you choose often depends on your car's hardware.
Quick Compatibility Check:
- Modern Infotainment: Most cars built after 2016 support Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, giving you easy access to YouTube Music.
- Tesla Models: Tesla includes a native YouTube Music app in its media suite. You can log in directly through the car's large touchscreen without needing your phone. If you have a Tesla vehicle, check out this guide: 5 Ways to Play YouTube Music on Tesla
- Wired & Wireless Classics: Even without a smart dashboard, you can use Bluetooth, AUX cables, or USB drives to get your music pumping through the speakers.
- App Integration: If safety is your priority, YouTube Music integrates directly with navigation apps like Waze. This allows you to control your beats without leaving your map.
In the next sections, we'll share how to play YouTube Music in your car using Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, AUX/cable, a USB drive, and Waze app integration. Each method comes with a detailed tutorial and step-by-step instructions, making it super easy for you to follow along.
Solution 1. Stream YouTube Music in Car via Android Auto
Android Auto brings your favorite apps to your car's display so you can focus while you drive. With YouTube Music for Android Auto, you can control your music using the touchscreen or your voice.

What You Need:
- A car that supports Android Auto (most cars made after 2016)
- An Android phone running Android 8.0 (Oreo) or higher with a data plan
- A USB cable to connect your phone to the car, or wireless Android Auto if your car supports it
How to Add YouTube Music to Android Auto:
Step 1 Connect your phone to the car's infotainment system via USB or enable wireless Android Auto.
Step 2 On your car's display, open the Android Auto app.
Step 3 Launch YT Music from the Android Auto menu.
Step 4 Browse your library, playlists, or recommended tracks and tap to play.
Step 5 To stay safe, press the voice button on your steering wheel or say "Hey Google, play [Song Name] on YouTube Music."

Does Android Auto support YouTube Music? Yes. Then, how do you play YouTube Music on Android Auto, and how do you troubleshoot if it's not working? This detailed post will guide you.
Solution 2. Play YouTube Music on CarPlay
For iPhone users, Apple CarPlay offers a sleek, simplified interface for YouTube Music. It allows you to use Siri to change tracks and navigate your library without touching your phone.

What You Need:
- An iPhone 5 or newer running the latest iOS
- A car that supports Apple CarPlay
- An Apple-certified Lightning or USB-C to USB cable
How to Get YouTube Music in Car via Apple CarPlay:
Step 1 Go to Settings > General > CarPlay on your iPhone and select your car from the list.

Step 2 Connect your iPhone to the car's USB port. For wireless CarPlay, hold the voice control button on your steering wheel to start the pairing process.
Step 3 Once the CarPlay home screen appears, swipe through your apps to find the YouTube Music icon.
Step 4 If you don't see it, go to your iPhone Settings > General > CarPlay > [Your Car] > Customize and drag YouTube Music to the top of the list.
Step 5 Tap the app on the car's screen to browse and play your "Supermix," Downloads, or Playlists.
Step 6 To keep your hands on the wheel, use Siri. Say "Siri, pause" or "Siri, resume music." You can also ask Siri to play a playlist by saying, "Siri, play my driving playlist on YouTube Music."
Solution 3. Connect YouTube Music Using Bluetooth
If you don't have a smart dashboard, Bluetooth is the most reliable alternative. This method essentially turns your car into a giant wireless speaker for your phone.

What You Need:
- A car with Bluetooth audio support
- A smartphone with the latest YouTube Music app installed
- Your car's Bluetooth paired with your phone
How to Play YouTube Music in Car via Bluetooth:
Step 1 Go to your car's head unit and find the Bluetooth settings. Select "Add Device" or "Pair Phone."
Step 2 On your phone, open Settings, then Bluetooth, and search for your car's name.

Step 3 When the PIN shows up on your phone, match it with the one on your car's screen and tap "Pair."
Step 4 Switch your car's audio source to Bluetooth or BT Audio using the Media or Source button on your dashboard.

Step 5 Open the YouTube Music app on your phone and hit play. Your music will now stream through the car's sound system.
Step 6 For safety, use your car's steering wheel controls or your phone to pause, skip, or adjust the volume.
By this easy and wireless operation, one can enjoy music at a relatively shorter time, but this may drain your phone's battery and degrade the sound quality.
Solution 4. Use AUX or Cable to Play YouTube Music
If you want to play YouTube Music in your car with the highest possible sound quality and zero lag, a physical cable is the way to go.
Method A: The AUX YouTube Connection (3.5mm Jack)
This is the most universal wired method for older cars with a headphone-style input. You simply need a 3.5mm male-to-male auxiliary cable and a phone with a headphone jack. Here's how to connect your phone to your car for YouTube Music playback:

Step 1 Plug one end of the AUX cable into your phone.
Step 2 Connect the other end to the car's AUX input.
Step 3 Press the "Source" or "Aux" button on your car's stereo until it shows "AUX."
Step 4 Open YouTube Music on your phone and start playing your favorite songs.
Remember, the AUX cable only carries audio, so you'll use your phone to change songs, but you can adjust the volume with your car controls.
Method B: Direct USB Data Connection
Many modern cars allow you to play YouTube Music through USB in car ports, which can also charge your phone while streaming. Here's how:

Step 1 Connect your phone to the car's USB port with a USB cable.
Step 2 If prompted, allow media access on your phone.
Step 3 Select USB as the audio source on your car's dashboard.
Step 4 Your car may show your music library or let you control playback through the infotainment system, while others might just act as an audio-out connection.
Step 5 Start playing songs from YouTube Music and use your car controls or your phone to manage the music.
Solution 5. Play YouTube Music via USB Drive
If your car doesn't support Android Auto or CarPlay, or you simply want to enjoy YouTube Music without ads or using mobile data, there's a reliable solution that works for all users. ViWizard YouTube Music Converter allows you to download YouTube Music as real audio files, such as MP3, and transfer them to any device, including a USB drive for your car.
Why This Method Is the Safest and Most Reliable
- ✔ Works with almost all car stereos
- ✔ No data usage
- ✔ No ads
- ✔ No Premium subscription needed
- ✔ Original audio quality preserved
- ✔ Keeps full ID3 tags (artist, album, title displayed on your car screen)
- ✔ Perfect for long road trips
Batch download music from YouTube Music and 10 other streaming platforms. Save files as MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, or M4B with original sound quality and conversion speeds up to 30x.
How to Download YouTube Music to USB and Play in Your Car:
Step 1 Set the Output Format
Open ViWizard YouTube Music Converter on your computer. Click the Menu icon in the top-right corner and select Preferences. In the Conversion tab, pick an output format like MP3. Then, choose an output folder on your computer and click OK to save your settings.

Step 2 Access Your YTM library in ViWizard
On the main interface, click the YouTube Music icon to open the built-in web player. Log in to your YouTube Music account so you can access your playlists, albums, and saved songs.

Step 3 Select the Music You Want to Download
Browse your library and choose the songs, playlists, or albums you want to play in your car. Click the Add button to load them into the conversion list. You can add multiple tracks at once.

Step 4 Convert and Transfer to USB Drive
Click the Convert button to download and convert the selected songs to local audio files.

Once the conversion is complete:
Click the folder icon to locate the converted files.
Insert your USB drive into your computer.
Copy the converted music files to the USB drive.
Safely eject the USB drive and plug it into your car.
Switch your stereo source to USB mode.
Browse and play your YouTube Music files directly from your car system.

Solution 6. Stream YouTube Music Within the Waze App
If you use Waze for navigation, you can stream YouTube Music directly inside the app without switching between screens. This integration places your music controls directly on the map, ensuring your navigation stays front and center.

What You Need:
- The latest version of Waze installed
- The YouTube Music app installed
- A smartphone (Android or iPhone)
- Mobile data connection
How to Connect YouTube Music to Waze:
Step 1 Launch the Waze app on your phone.
Step 2 Tap the music note icon located on the top right of the map screen.
Step 3 From the list of available apps, choose YouTube Music.
Step 4 If prompted, tap "Accept" to allow Waze to connect to your YouTube Music library.
Step 5 Once connected, a mini-player will show up at the top of your Waze map. You can play, pause, or skip tracks without leaving the navigation screen.
Step 6 Tap the YouTube Music icon in the Waze player to view your "Recent Plays" or "Library" right from the map.
Step 7 Now you can control playback directly in Waze while you navigate.
FAQs about YouTube Music in Car
Can you play YouTube Music in your car without Premium?
Yes, you can play YouTube Music in your car without a Premium subscription. You can stream music through Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, AUX, or USB while using the free version. However, free users may hear ads and won't have access to background playback or offline downloads. If you want ad-free or offline playback without streaming, you'll need either Premium or converted local files using ViWizard YouTube Music Converter.
Is there a specific YouTube Music Car Mode?
Yes. YouTube Music features a simplified playback interface with larger, high-contrast buttons and easy access to voice search. This driving mode is automatically triggered when using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. If you are using your phone on a mount, you can access a similar experience through the Waze Audio Player integration or by using Google Assistant's Driving Mode.
Does YouTube Music use data in the car?
Yes. YouTube Music uses mobile data when streaming songs in your car. At Normal quality, an hour of streaming uses around 72MB, while High quality can exceed 115MB per hour. To save on data charges, download your playlists using Wi-Fi ahead of time (you'll need a Premium account) or use a USB flash drive to play converted MP3 files offline.
Can I play my own uploaded songs on YouTube Music in the car?
Yes. If you've uploaded your own songs to YouTube Music, you can stream them in your car just like regular tracks using Bluetooth, cable, Android Auto, or CarPlay.
Keep in mind that uploaded songs still require an internet connection unless you download them for offline playback or convert them to local files for USB playback.
Conclusion
As listening to music when driving has become a trend, following the various options above helps you enjoy YouTube Music more easily. If you cannot fully believe these ways, give ViWizard YouTube Music Converter a chance and have a try. Within a few minutes, you are accessible to millions of music in your car in security.

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