Android Auto to add support for Work Profiles, removes Play Music mention [APK Insight]

Ben Schoon | May 7 2021 - 11:42 am PT

Google’s Android Auto just picked up another update, and this time around, it seems to be addressing a longstanding issue. Android Auto is about to added support for Android’s Work Profiles feature.

About APK Insight: In this “APK Insight” post, we’ve decompiled the latest version of an application that Google uploaded to the Play Store. When we decompile these files (called APKs, in the case of Android apps), we’re able to see various lines of code within that hint at possible future features. Keep in mind that Google may or may not ever ship these features, and our interpretation of what they are may be imperfect. We’ll try to enable those that are closer to being finished, however, to show you how they’ll look in the case that they do ship. With that in mind, read on.

Work Profiles in Android Auto

Strings within Android Auto 6.4, rolling out now on the Play Store, hint that Work Profile support will be added very soon, if it isn’t already live. The strings in question directly mention “grant work profile permission” among related terms. This is an overdue feature for Google to add, as Work Profile support in Android Auto has been a point of contention for some users for years now.

<string name=”permission_cross_profile_description”>”Allows Android Auto to display data from the work profile while driving.”</string>
<string name=”permission_cross_profile_name”>”Work Profile Data”</string>
<string name=”settings_work_profile_permission_flow_title”>”Grant work profile permission”</string>
<string name=”work_profile_permission_flow_name”>”Permissions”</string>

We don’t have access to a Work Profile at the moment to test if this is already live on Android Auto, but if you do, drop a comment below or send us an email. You’ll need to be on Android Auto 6.4.

As a reminder, Work Profiles on Android and, by extension Android Auto, allow users to separate their apps and other data from their personal apps without requiring multiple phones. It’s unclear exactly how the feature will look on Android Auto’s interface.

‘Connectivity Troubleshooter’ disappears

In the previous Android Auto update, we spotted a new feature called the “Connectivity Troubleshooter” that would help users with problems with their connection. In this update, those strings have been removed from the app. Not all strings have been removed, though, so there’s a chance Google isn’t pulling this idea entirely.

Notably, though, Google has added strings that point to a first-time setup pop-up that links out to a Google Support article.

<string name=”online_help_message”>””If you’re using Android Auto for the first time, this Google Support article will help you get started.””</string>
<string name=”online_help_resolution_text”>”Open Google Help Center”</string>
<string name=”online_help_title”>”I need help setting up”</string>

On a related note, the app is also adding a pop-up that notifies users that their phone needs to support 5GHz Wi-Fi in order to use Wireless Android Auto. As that functionality expands to more users, that’s a good pop-up, though one we suspect most people won’t see as it seems the pop-up will only appear on devices that don’t support 5GHz.

<string name=”no_5ghz_message”>”This phone does not support connecting to 5GHz Wi-Fi access points. Wireless Android Auto requires a phone with 5GHz support, please try using Android Auto with a USB cable.”</string>
<string name=”no_5ghz_title”>”Phone does not support 5GHz Wi-Fi connections”</string>

Google Play Music removed

The service has been shut down for a fair bit now, but it’s just now being fully removed. Google Play Music has been fully removed from Android Auto as of version 6.4. The string below was one of the last ones left in the app referencing the killed streaming service.