Android Auto is one step closer to controlling your car’s built-in radio tuner
Source: Android Authority
TL;DR
- Android Auto is one step closer to offering built‑in radio controls, per our recent investigation of the latest app version’s code.
- New strings discovered in the app point to future radio search functionality.
- There’s no word on when radio support will officially be available in Android Auto.
New Radio Search Strings
Our teardown of the latest Android Auto APK revealed the following string resources, which suggest a radio‑station search feature is being prepared:
Search for stations
There are no stations available right nowWhat This Could Mean
If implemented, the feature would let drivers locate and tune to their favorite stations directly from Android Auto, bypassing the need for third‑party radio apps.
The discovery also includes a new HD Radio image. HD Radio is a digital overlay for existing analog stations, widely used across North America, and supported by millions of vehicles today.
A “Radio tab” is mentioned in the code, which could serve as a dedicated hub for all radio‑related functions within the Android Auto UI. How this will be presented to users remains unknown.
Existing Radio Support
Android Auto already allows users to access radio apps from the Google Play Store, providing a workaround for the platform’s lack of native digital radio support. Built‑in controls would let users skip these third‑party solutions entirely.
Context
This radio‑control news arrives alongside ongoing work to bring video support to Android Auto. Both features are still in development, and no official release dates have been announced.
⚠️ An APK teardown predicts possible future features based on work‑in‑progress code, but there’s no guarantee those features will reach a public release.