With recent updates to Google Maps and Android Auto, Google has finally lifted an unbearable restriction with its mapping app. As several users testify, it is now possible to launch the Google Maps mobile application on your smartphone and on Android Auto simultaneously.
On the OS market dedicated to the automobile, there are two camps: the aficionados of CarPlay from Apple or those of Android Auto from Google. If each solution has its advantages and disadvantages, Android Auto has imposed an unbearable restriction for years now with Google Maps.
Indeed, if Google Maps is running on Android Auto, it was impossible to launch the mobile application of the service on his smartphone. If you try, the only thing you will get is an error message at the bottom of your screen. A really annoying limitation, since the Android Auto version of Google Maps offers significantly fewer features than its smartphone counterpart.
For example, the application displays a lot of additional data on your destinations, as well as your personalized routes, which the Android Auto version does not allow. However, several users of the Android Auto community on Reddit have noticed a change with the latest version 11.67.02 of the Google Maps APK.
Also read: Android Auto gets a weather app, but it’s useless for now
Google Maps can finally work on both Android Auto and smartphones
Now it is obviously possible to launch the full version of Google Maps on your smartphone when the Android Auto application is running. Our colleagues from the 9To5Google site were able to confirm these changes on a Galaxy S23 Ultra after downloading the latest Maps APK. From now on, your passenger can assist you with the full version of Maps on your smartphone. Useful for example to consult turn-by-turn navigation or to find alternative routes while driving.
Beware, however, as users report, the experience is far from being perfectly optimized. For some, the opening of the application on a smartphone is still buggy. For others, the route entered in the Android Auto version was not displayed on the Android app. However, it was enough to restart the app for routes sync across both media. In fact, we can still wonder if this is not a bug on the latest Maps APK. We obviously hope not and that Google has finally decided to lift this unbearable restriction of Google Maps with Android Auto.