How To set up Android Auto on a degoogled android phone

[Maverick2022XL]

The purpose of this is for use of maps on your head unit for navigation through the phone using an android based phone without google installed.

You'll need the following, either a custom OS like LineageOS installed on the phone with root access or a stock Android OS that has been rooted and all google apps removed. This also assumes your are working with Android 16. Lower versions will be the same procedure but require different app builds for that version of Android. This also assumes your OS if custom like Omni or LineageOS for MicroG doesn't already have microG installed.

If you absolutely must you can do this with only google maps installed but this guide will use osmand~ as our mapping program. We want to do this using offline maps since offline maps work only on GPS so they work pretty much anywhere regardless of if you have cell service plus they don't incur any data usage in offline mode. This also assumes you used magisk to root your phone.

1. You'll need to install the Fdroid repository app. Then add the following repository to Fdroid, https://repo.microg.org/frdroid/repo

2. In Fdroid you'll need to download and install the following apps osmand~ (mapping software), Aurora store fdroid build (for access to google play store without a google account), MicroG Companion and MicroG Services.

MicroG uses stubs that are open source implementation of various google services but spoofs signatures which is required for Android Auto to work correctly without play store and other dependencies installed.

3. Next we need AA4MG (Android Auto for MicroG). This is installed as a module through Magisk.
https://github.com/sn-00-x/aa4mg

The website has the current build and instructions for installation which is to install it as a module using Magisk then reboot afterwards.

4. Confirm the following in the Microg Companion app under self check.
The first 5 options should checked. If so then you are almost done.

5. Open Aurora store and log into google play store anonymously and download if needed and also update Android Auto if already installed.

At this point Android Auto will work now with your Ford head unit without having any google apps installed. Just make sure all permissions are allowed. You can selectively remove permissions afterwards until it doesn't work to see what you want to keep enabled.

6. To set up osmand~ to be available in Android Auto launcher you need to do the following. Go to settings then osmand settings. Change the default profile from browse map to driving. That is it and it should now be available in AA. Just make sure you have location turned on and osmand~ has location permission allowed.

You should now have a full navigation capabilities in the head unit. Also a rooted Android Auto allows for added functionality like using unapproved 3rd party apps like screen2auto for example which allows you to mirror your phones screen to the head unit to watch videos on it for example while driving.

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[Maverick2022XL]

An alternate method is to use Gapps instead. on your degoogled phone. This will work with or without root access.

Gapps are just the individual google apps and can be installed on an app by app basis though they usually come in packages.

The 2 current packages still being maintained I know of are mindthegapps and NikGapps.

Mindthegapps is a minimal build but still will require installing google maps to make Android Auto work.

NikGapps has different builds from basic to full replacement of all google apps. The basic will be sufficient but also require google maps afterwards.

If you need stuff like google pay services this will restore that functionality.

The steps are similar but differ in the following manner.

You don't need microG or AA4MG so skip any steps regarding those.

First you'll need to download and install whichever package you choose. You just need a build for your Android OS version and processor type which should ARM64 for newer phones.

Then follow the steps 5 and 6 if you want to use osmand~ with the only deviation being installing google maps and any other google app Android Auto says is needed if it won't work.

If you want extra control over those apps you want a firewall application to control who they talk to. If you have root access I recommend using AFwall+ which you can get on Fdroid or google play store or from their github page. It filters on the kernel level so it intercepts all traffic regardless of the permissions allowed.

 

[Quest]

I use Here We Go on my android phone
Its free & no root required & works offline with downloaded maps

 

[Maverick2022XL]

I use Here We Go on my android phone
Its free & no root required & works offline with downloaded maps

If it works with AA great. I don't know much about it. I prefer osmand~ but any offline mapping app that integrates with AA is applicable here. osmand~ doesn't require root either and is also free. There are pay versions of it too but the fdroid build is full featured and AA capable.

 

[Maverick123]

I must be missing something but what's the point of removing Google from a phone that runs Android ... which belongs to Google ... ?

 

[Maverick2022XL]

I must be missing something but what's the point of removing Google from a phone that runs Android ... which belongs to Google ... ?

Android is also open source. There is a couple of reasons first due to bloat and battery usage of these apps, 2 maybe not all are needed in one's case, 3 privacy issues with google knowing everything you do on that phone because their apps are sending information back to google you don't want sent. Though concerning bloat issues you can installing Google go apps instead which are compact versions of their counterparts.

Also in nations like China for example phones using Android have no google integration and use Chinese based apps instead.

Bottom line if you want more granular control of your phone at minimum you'll want a custom Android OS or rooted stock build from the manufacturer. You can always add back the google or manufacturer specific apps and features afterwards on an as need or want basis. If you are okay with shut and eat your peas as response then this is not going to register as an option. If you don't care that is fine also but there are others do and will pursue these options.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

If it works with AA great. I don't know much about it. I prefer osmand~ but any offline mapping app that integrates with AA is applicable here. osmand~ doesn't require root either and is also free. There are pay versions of it too but the fdroid build is full featured and AA capable.

So, I'm older retire..eeee. how much for a phone setup for plug and play with online updates? I might have old phone but wouldn't be against buying a econo new phone to get new batteries if necessary. I had a distant friend years ago who didn't worry about cell data usage. He signed up for service from a streaming server and the only data charged to his cell account was for the small amount needed to log into the streaming server. His streaming app took care of the his internet searches and data transfers with the uncounted streaming activity. It was years ago but I think the streaming service was unlimited at $12-$15 per month. I did not use enough data at time to justify expense.

 

[Maverick2022XL]

So, I'm older retire..eeee. how much for a phone setup for plug and play with online updates? I might have old phone but wouldn't be against buying a econo new phone to get new batteries if necessary. I had a distant friend years ago who didn't worry about cell data usage. He signed up for service from a streaming server and the only data charged to his cell account was for the small amount needed to log into the streaming server. His streaming app took care of the his internet searches and data transfers with the uncounted streaming activity. It was years ago but I think the streaming service was unlimited at $12-$15 per month. I did not use enough data at time to justify expense.

To buy a custom degoogled phone, vendors are going to take you to the cleaners on the price. Best to have someone you know set up your existing phone if can be done or buy a newer phone and make sure it supports the os like lineageOS for example and works on whatever network you want to use. Once you have it set up and working they do provide updates automatically for the OS.

If you want cheap service Tmobile's Tello is the way to go. You can get plan's as cheap as $6 a month with 100 minutes and no data if you don't need MMS for pictures in texts. They also allow you to buy data, minutes, txts on pay as you go with a minimal plan. It supports wifi dialing which doesn't use mobile data. Unlike advertised it does work on any cell phone tower that supports LTE or 5G even when they say there is no coverage in an area.

Here is the bigger issue with buying a degoogled phone. The vendor can't just sell you one with someone else's custom OS on it without a prior agreement between the 2. They have download the source code from google, configure and compile it along with the kernel. Assuming they know what they are doing, you'll get a phone without any gremlins. If it isn't good luck getting help or updates cause chances of them supporting that build afterwards is not high.

Best bet is to get a local electronics or phone shop that can mod the phone to do it for you.

Reason being you are better off using an existing phone with a custom OS since that custom OS is tailored to your phone and certain builds lineageOS have been doing this for a long time now. They have plenty of support and provide regular updates. The reason they don't offer Gapps natively is licensing issues or they would offer alternate official builds.

 

[Maverick2022XL]

2 important steps I left out.

Once Android Auto is installed and updated you may need to get into the developer settings. You can either use android auto - xlauncher unlocked which gets installed with AA4MG or enable them through Android Auto itself.

To enable developer mode for Android Auto you need to get into the settings, scroll down to version. Tap version 7 times, once it tells you are a developer you can then use the 3 buttons in the right hand corner to access developer mode.

For android auto to work with the head unit if it won't get past the start up screen you need to go into the developer options and set application mode to developer, you'll also want to check unknown sources if you want to install unsupported apps into AA.

Second concerning osmand~ and navigation, both osmand~ and android auto need to have location permissions enabled or else you won't be able to use the navigation features except as saved favorites or adding in the addresses on the phone first and starting navigation from the phone.

 

[Maverick2022XL]

Lastly for a true hands free experience you'll need a replacement digital assistant for google. Dicio Assistant is a good offline replacement that is freeware. You have other options like chatgpt for example.

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