Android Auto

Android Auto 13.7 update now rolling out, hints at new apps

Ben Schoon | Feb 10 2025 - 1:15 pm PT

Google is rolling out the new Android Auto 13.7 update and while it doesn’t change much on the surface level, it does make some tweaks behind the scenes.

Outside of the beta track, Google has released the latest Android Auto version, 13.7. This is the second update released in 2025, but there are no major user-facing changes that we’ve spotted thus far. We did notice some extremely subtle changes to the recent addition of Material You support, but they’re effectively invisible in the grand scheme.

As is generally the case with Android Auto app updates, the bulk of “what’s new” in this version primarily boils down to bug fixes behind the scenes, though Google has yet to confirm anything specific.

Digging into the app, though, there is one hint at what might be around the corner.

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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 case that they do ship. With that in mind, read on.

In Android Auto 13.7’s code there are new strings regarding “new app” pop-ups. One is regarding an app that is now available on Android Auto, while the other is for an app now available while the vehicle is parked.

<string name=”new_app_available”>Now available in Android Auto</string>
<string name=”new_parked_app_available”>Now available in Android Auto while parked</string>

Similar messages have appeared in past Android Auto versions, but this time around it comes with the context of Google’s expanded work on “Car ready mobile apps.”

In a page updated in January, Google detailed a program that would begin in February 2025 which would make it easier for developers to bring their apps to car screens, including both Android Auto and Android Automotive, and that includes apps that only work while the vehicle is parked. While there’s no direct reference to that here, these messages could very well be for the new apps being made available through that program.

It’s also very important to note that, for this initial February 2025 date Google is referring to, this is only for Android Automotive OS, the platform that runs natively on certain vehicles. Google says that these changes will apply to Android Auto, the phone projection platform, “at a later date.”

Google’s Android Auto app updates are generally staggered in their release, but this latest version launched at the end of last week, so it should be widely available throughout this week. If you’ve spotted any user-facing changes, let us know in the comments below!