If you decide to take a long trip and drive by yourself, the best way to make the driving time less boring is with music. Waving with music in your car, just like having a happy music party with your friends in a car! I always play YouTube Music in my car. And my car is integrated with Android Auto. It's very convenient and stable to play YouTube Music in the car via Android Auto.
So, in this post, I will share my experience on how to get YouTube Music on Android Auto. Plus, some useful tips to solve the YouTube Music not working on Android Auto. Also, I'm happy to see the sharing of your experience when driving with YouTube Music in the comments. If you are ready, let's scroll down.
Part 1. Does Android Auto Support YouTube Music?
Yes, YouTube Music is fully supported on Android Auto, allowing you to stream music directly from your phone to your car's infotainment system. Once connected, you can browse your library, access personalized playlists, and control playback using your car's touchscreen or hands-free via Google Assistant voice commands.
Before you start playing YouTube Music in your car, there are a few requirements and compatibility details you should know.
Requirements for Using YouTube Music on Android Auto
- An Android phone running Android 8.0 or later
- The Android Auto app installed or built into the device (included by default on Android 10 and above)
- The YouTube Music app installed and updated to the latest version
- A car or aftermarket head unit that supports Android Auto
- A high-quality USB cable or a compatible phone and head unit that support a 5GHz Wi-Fi connection
Does YouTube Music Work with Android Automotive?
Yes, YouTube Music works with Android Automotive OS, the built-in Google system found in cars such as Polestar, Volvo, and GMC models. However, the experience is slightly different.
Unlike Android Auto, which projects apps from your phone, Android Automotive runs a native YouTube Music app directly on the car's hardware. You can sign in by tapping the YouTube Music icon on the car's screen and scanning a QR code with your phone to link your account.
The interface is similar to the mobile version, allowing you to browse playlists, search for songs, and stream music directly from the car system. However, some users have reported synchronization issues with private or unlisted playlists in earlier versions of the Android Automotive software.
Part 2. YouTube Music Free vs Premium on Android Auto
When using YouTube Music on Android Auto, both free and paid accounts can access the app, but the listening experience is quite different. The free version focuses on ad-supported streaming, while YouTube Music Premium unlocks additional features like ad-free listening, offline downloads, and better playback control.
| Feature | YouTube Music Free | YouTube Music Premium |
| Ad-free Listening | ❌ | ✔ |
| On-Screen Browsing | Limited to local files/uploads | Full access to playlists & catalog |
| Voice Commands | Play specific artists/uploads | Play any song, album, or mood |
| Offline Playback | ❌ | ✔ |
| Play on Demand | Radio-style only | Yes |
| Background Play | Limited (Screen must remain on) | Full (App runs while navigating) |
Part 3. How to Add YouTube Music to Android Auto
Adding YouTube Music to Android Auto is usually simple because the app is supported by default on most systems. Once the app is installed and updated on your phone, it should appear in Android Auto automatically.
Add YouTube Music to the Android Auto App Drawer
If YouTube Music doesn't appear on your car screen immediately, you may need to enable it in the launcher settings:
Disconnect your phone from the car.
On your phone, open the Android Auto app (Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto).
Tap Customize launcher.
Ensure the checkbox for YouTube Music is checked. You can also drag the "six-dot" icon next to it to move YouTube Music to the very top of the list so it appears first on your car's home screen.
Reconnect your phone to the car; the icon will now be visible in the app dock.
Set YouTube Music as the Default Music Player (Optional)
If you want Android Auto to prioritize YouTube Music when using voice commands or music shortcuts, you can set it as the default music app.
Open the Google Home app.
Navigate to Assistant Settings > Music.
Under Your music services, select YouTube Music.
Once selected, you no longer need to say "...on YouTube Music" at the end of every request. Simply saying "Hey Google, play some Jazz" will trigger the app automatically.
Part 4. How to Play YouTube Music on Android Auto
Once YouTube Music is added to Android Auto, playing music is easy. You can control your audio using the touchscreen, physical steering wheel buttons, or voice commands.
How to Play YouTube Music on Android Auto (online streaming)
Connect your phone to Android Auto via USB or a wireless connection.
Launch Android Auto on your car's screen.
Tap the media or music tab.
Select YouTube Music.
Browse playlists or search for songs.
Tap a play button to start listening.
If you are connected to the internet, music will stream normally. You can use the touchscreen to pause, skip tracks, shuffle songs, and give thumbs up or thumbs down to influence recommendations.
Tip: Using Google Assistant to Control YouTube Music
Voice commands are the safest way to manage music while driving. Here is how to use them specifically for YouTube Music:
- To start music: Say, "Hey Google, play my Supermix," or "Hey Google, play [album or playlist name]."
- To refine recommendations: Say, "Hey Google, I like this song" to add it to your liked music, or "Hey Google, I don't like this song" to skip it and help improve future recommendations.
- To play personal content: Say, "Hey Google, play my liked songs," or "Hey Google, play my 'Work Out' playlist."
- To explore moods or genres: Say, "Hey Google, play upbeat driving music," or "Hey Google, play 80s pop.""
- To switch apps: If audio is coming from another app, say, "Hey Google, switch to YouTube Music."
Part 5. How to Play YouTube Music in Car without Premium (offline)
As discussed, the free version of YouTube Music on Android Auto is quite limited. It relies on radio-style shuffle playback, includes frequent ads, and does not allow browsing your full library on the car's screen. If you want a Premium-like experience without a monthly subscription, you can play music as local device files instead.
The Solution: Use ViWizard YouTube Music Converter
To bypass the limitations of the free version, you can use ViWizard YouTube Music Converter. This tool lets you download and convert YouTube Music playlists, tracks, and albums into universal formats such as MP3, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, M4A, and M4B. The converter preserves original audio quality and ID3 tags (including metadata and lyrics), so you can enjoy a listening experience similar to Premium while keeping files stored locally.
After conversion, you can transfer the music files to your phone or a USB drive. Android Auto can then play these local files without ads and with full playback control.
Download music from 10 streaming platforms to MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, or M4B with original quality and ID3 tags for permanent offline listening.
How to Use ViWizard for YouTube Music Android Auto Playback
Step 1 Set Output Format for Android Auto
Launch ViWizard YouTube Music Converter and go to Preferences > Conversion. For Android Auto compatibility, choose MP3 or FLAC as the output format. You can also select a high-quality bitrate to balance audio quality and file size. Click OK to save your settings.
Step 2 Access Your YouTube Music Library
On the main interface, click the YouTube Music icon to launch the built-in web player. Log in to your YouTube Music account (Free or Premium) to access your library, including your liked songs and custom driving playlists.
Step 3 Select Music for Download
Browse for the music you want to listen to while driving. Open a playlist or album and click the + (Plus) button. A list of tracks will appear; select the songs you want to play in your car or all tracks in the list. Click Add to List.
Step 4Convert and Download Music
Click the Convert button to start downloading and converting the tracks into local audio files. ViWizard preserves metadata such as song titles and album art so your library remains well organized. Once finished, open the output folder to locate your downloaded files.
Step 5Transfer and Play Converted Music on Android Auto
Option 1. Transfer Files to Smartphone for Android Auto Playback
Connect your phone to your computer and move the converted files to your phone's "Music" folder.
Open the YouTube Music app on your phone, go to Settings > Library & downloads, and enable Show device files.
When you connect to Android Auto, these songs will appear under the Device Files tab in the library.
Plug your phone into your car to launch Android Auto.
Open YouTube Music on the car display, tap Library, and select Device Files to start ad-free playback.
Option 2. Transfer Files to a USB Drive for Android Auto Playback
Ensure your USB flash drive is formatted to FAT32 or exFAT.
Copy the converted MP3 or FLAC files from your computer directly onto the USB drive.
Insert the USB drive into the car's Media/Data USB port.
On your car's infotainment screen, change the audio source from "Radio" or "Bluetooth" to "USB" or "Media."
Browse your folders on the car screen and select your songs.
Part 6. How to Fix YouTube Music Not Working on Android Auto
YouTube Music isn't working correctly on Android auto. After I last updated nothing will show on the car screen. I can play stuff from my phone and it plays fine. I can even search things with Google Assistant, and they will play, no problem.
–eh_steve_420 from Reddit
YouTube Music may not work so nicely with Android Auto; you may encounter or have already faced the trouble of playing YouTube Music in your car with Android Auto. Here, we list the different common issues of YouTube Music not working on Android Auto. You can locate the one you are suffering.
Issue 1. YouTube Music Home Menu Not Showing
🔎Reason: Multiple Google Accounts or Unstable Connection.
How to Fix:
You can use a wired connection. Use a USB cable to connect your phone and Android Vehicle. Until your car's informational system recognizes your YouTube Music account, you can continue to play YouTube Music on Android Auto successfully.
Check your YouTube Music account. It will cause a connection conflict if your Android Auto account does not match your YouTube Music account.
Issue 2. YouTube Music Start Icon Not Working
🔎Reason: Android Auto update caused the running errors.
How to Fix:
You need to delete YouTube Music on your phone and reinstall it. So that the running crash between Android Auto and YouTube Music will be removed.
And connect your car and mobile again to allow Android Auto permission. Check your YouTube Music account. It will cause a connection conflict if your Android Auto account does not match your YouTube Music account.
Issue 3. YouTube Music Playlist Disappears
🔎Reason: Brand Account bugs. If you have a brand account, Android Auto may hide the playlist from your brand playlist for an unknown reason.
How to Fix:
Share the YouTube Music playlist on your brand account to your main Google account.
Connect your main YouTube Music account with Android Auto, and you can play YouTube Music on Android Auto successfully.
Issue 4. YouTube Music Premium Recognizing Failure
🔎Reason: Connected with the wrong Google account.
How to Fix:
Open the Chrome browser on your mobile device.
Go to Settings to see your account information.
Sync to the Google Account that subscribes to YouTube Music Premium.
Then your Android Auto will display the Premium content for you.
Issue 5. YouTube Music Disappears from Android Auto
🔎Reason: Low battery mode on your phone, or your Android Auto thinks your YouTube Music is an unknown source.
How to Fix:
Turn off the Lower power mode
Go to settings on your mobile.
Scroll down to find the Battery option.
Turn off Low power mode.
Get Android Auto developer mode
Go to Settings on your screen.
Scroll down to App & notifications to find Android Auto.
Tap on Android Auto and open its application settings to locate version info.
Click Version 10 times and click OK to allow development settings.
Then you can head back to Android Auto, click the three-dot icon in the top right corner.
Choose Developer settings. Find and enable Unknown sources, then you can close and re-open Android Auto.
Reconnect your mobile phone and Android Auto, and you will see the YouTube Music image on the car screen again.
Additiona ways to fix YouTube Music not working on Android Auto:
- Check your Network condition: A weak WiFi or cellular signal affects the streaming of YouTube Music, not only in Android Auto. You can sync to a stable WiFi or data.
- Force stop YouTube Music and Android Auto on your phone: the temporary app glitches may be caused by an App conflict. Glide from bottom to top to close YouTube Music and Android Auto.
- Clean cache: Go to settings on your device > Apps > App management > YouTube Music > Storage usage > Clear cache.
Conclusion
YouTube Music works well with Android Auto. A YouTube Music Premium subscription gives the best experience because you can browse music on the screen and listen without ads. If you don't want Premium, you can still enjoy your music. Tools like ViWizard YouTube Music Converter let you download songs and save them as local files. After converting the files, you can play them in Android Auto from your phone or a USB drive. This way, you don't need to stream music or use mobile data.
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Matt Smith, a digital entertainment industry enthusiast at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing insightful commentary and solutions for music and media-related topics, including industry trends, analysis, and recommendations.
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