The thing that makes Android Auto different from just using your phone is that it’s designed to be boring. The whole point is to keep your focus on the road by removing everything that isn’t essential. I figured that same idea could work just as well at a work desk. So I set up my spare phone as a dedicated Android Auto screen right beside my PC, and it actually clicked.
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Android Auto for desk isn’t as bizarre as it sounds
I don’t get distracted while working anymore
I know exactly what you’re thinking. Why would anyone want to set up Android Auto at their desk? For me, it comes down to distraction.
I use Android Auto as a smart dashboard on my desk. It helps me with things like controlling the smart lights in my room, using Spotify, and staying on top of notifications and calls. I can now do all of that without picking up my phone. The interface is simple, icons are big, and there are voice commands, so interactions are quick and easy.
Sure, I could do all of this from my phone too, but it’s not the same. Most of the time, I’d pick up my to check something and end up doomscrolling Instagram or X for the next half an hour. And as someone who works from home, that kind of rabbit hole is way too easy to fall into.
Having an Android Auto screen on my desk removes that temptation. Since it doesn’t let me go beyond basic stuff, there’s just nothing to get sucked into. There are no Instagram stories or YouTube videos to keep me busy.
And honestly, the basics are more than enough. My favorite thing to do is use voice commands to set up reminders, check my calendar, control smart home devices, or ask stupid questions. Again, it’s nothing fancy, but that’s exactly why I like it. I personally use a phone because that’s what I have, but a tablet would obviously make more sense here.
The setup takes a little time
Don’t worry, it’s a one-time thing
Enough about the use cases. Let’s talk about how you can actually get this thing working. For that, you’ll need to download the Headunit Revived app on the spare phone or tablet you want to use Android Auto. It’s about $4 on the Play Store, but the project is open-source, so you can also get it for free directly from their GitHub page.
On your main phone, from which you want to mirror everything, download a companion app called WiFi Helper (Headunit Revived). It handles the wireless connection, so both devices can talk to each other.
Once both are installed, open the Headunit Revived app and follow the setup prompts. The app does a decent job of walking you through it, but here’s the short version. Head to Settings > Wireless Mode > Helper Connection Strategy and choose WiFi Direct (P2P).
Switch over to the WiFi Helper app on your main phone and set the Connection Mode to Wi-Fi Direct. Then, go to Wi-Fi Direct Device Name and enter the same name that appears on top of the Headunit Revived screen. Hit Start Android Auto and then tap the Wi-Fi button in Headunit Revived.
If you’ve done everything correctly, the Android Auto interface should pop up on your screen. There’s also a wired mode that works slightly better, but I personally didn’t find it convenient because having the two devices connected by a cable makes charging them both a pain.
Once you’ve gone through the initial setup, connecting and disconnecting Android Auto is pretty much instant. You can dive into the app settings to tweak the resolution, scaling, dark mode, and a few other things, but none of that is necessary. The best part is, you’re not locked into anything. You can disconnect both the devices and still use them independently.
My spare phone is finally useful
I have a couple of old Android phones lying around, so I’m always looking for easy ways to repurpose them. Using my old S22 as an Android Auto display is what’s working for me now. But that’s not how I stumbled across the Headunit Revived app. My car also doesn’t have Android Auto either, so I installed the app to solve that problem. And yes, I still carry the same Android Auto setup in my car for long trips.
I won’t pretend it’s all perfect, though. For starters, you’ll want a phone or tablet that’s not too old. If the device is laggy, it can kill the whole experience. There’s also one annoying limitation when you’re using it on a desk. The map is something you can’t hide entirely, which means there’s always a part of the screen that’s basically useless. Still, it’s definitely worth a shot if you want to add Android Auto to your car or get a smart dashboard for your desk.