Play Youtube Video on Android Auto using this app
29th Dec 2017 : v1.0 released
29th Dec 2017 : v1.0.1 released to fix install errors on Android API level < 21
30th Dec 2017 : v1.0.2 released with safety disabled. Safety was showing blank screen when fullscreen. Controller support for nontouch screen still pending.
30th Dec 2017 : v1.1.0 Controller support for non touch devices done. Includes fullscreen and back nav support as well.
1st Jan 2018 : v1.1.1 Fix for app not installed on Marshmallow and lower Android phones. Install this version if you face “App not installed” error
1st Jan 2018 : v1.1.2 Stability fixes and support to resume video if was playing before app was minimized.
2nd Jan 2018 : v1.1.3 Ability to open any website via “Google search” option. Also send any custom url from the phone app. The car app remembers the last url visited and loads it automatically.
2nd Jan 2018 : v1.2.0 Speech to text for youtube searches. Minor fix to controller inputs.
2nd Jan 2018 : v1.2.1 Possible first fix for audio volume not controllable.
3rd Jan 2018 : v1.2.2 Full screen videos can be toggled more easily due to floating toolbar. Speech recognising view not hiding bug fixed. Its clickable just in case it doesnt hide. Progressbar to show page load progress.
3rd Jan 2018 : v1.2.3 Possible second fix for audio volume not controllable on some cars
5th Jan 2018 : v1.2.4 Fixed black screen which appears sometimes. Possible third fix for volume control in some systems.
6th Jan 2018 : v1.3.0Night mode support for Youtube added. Switch on your headlights to see the magic.
9th Jan 2018 : v1.3.1 Full screen mode now persists across videos. No need to switch fullscreen mode for each video on a playlist. It also stays on across app launches. You also should see a slight page speed boost.
9th Jan 2018: v1.3.2 Initial implementation of playing local offline videos/music/images. To enable, open phone app, grant “external storage” permission, then long press on the home icon (to the right of back button) on the car to open the SDcard folders. Now you can select a file and play it fullscreen. (Demo)
12th Jan 2018: v1.4.0 Now you should be able to use steering mounted controls (for next and previous video). This update also allows a “somewhat” background playback which allows you to listen to the audio without the video, but the catch is that you have to select the video first using the UI and then switch to background mode. This update should fix any volume control issues you have been facing in the past. (Watch the Demo)
12th Jan 2018: v1.4.1 If you have crashed when accessing youtube purchased videos, this build will fix it.
13th Jan 2018: v1.4.2 Please uninstall all previous builds and install this one if “youtube auto” has suddenly disappeared from Android auto (from last 1-2 days). If you dont uninstall previous builds, there is a chance that 2 similar looking apps show up.
This is possible because Google has blocked my previous app. Still not 100% sure.
13th Jan 2018: v1.4.3 About link redirecting to 404 page fixed.
14th Jan 2018: v1.4.4 Safety Warning popup added which pops up everytime you start driving. This warning will disappear if you use handbrake/parking mode.
15th Jan 2018: v1.5.0Aspect ratio support to remove black bars. You can toggle between aspect ratios in full screen mode. Also irritating notifications have been removed.
15th Jan 2018: v1.5.1Fullscreen controls support for controllers, use right,left,up and center to seek, change aspect ratio and play/pause.
15th Jan 2018: v1.5.2Bug fixes for “I understand the risk” not clickable for some users. Fixed steering mounted controls not working the first time.
15th Jan 2018: v1.5.4Fix for “I understand the risk” button not clickable. Irritating notifications are back because without them there is no way to make steering controls work reliably. Will be fixed soon
18th Jan 2018: v1.6.0Youtube auto renamed to CarStream with new logo. Looks like google bannned again. So if previous app is not showing up, use this app.
19th Jan 2018: v1.6.1Youtube auto renamed to CarStream with new logo. Looks like google bannned again. So if previous app is not showing up, use this app.
25th Jan 2018: v1.7.0Bookmarks support added. Click on last icon on the top toolbar. Long press on a bookmark to delete. Demo
25th Jan 2018: v1.7.1 Italian and chinese translations added. Check the credits section for how to add more languages. Thanks to everyone (mentioend in credits) for translating.
26th Jan 2018: v1.7.2 External SD card support works with most devices. Look for the ‘external storage’ bookmark. French translation added.
27th Jan 2018: v1.7.3 Basic keyboard input added. Translations to finnish, portuguese, danish, turkish, french added. Thank you everyone
6th Feb 2018: v1.8.0 More translations added. Revamped local offline player. Now play SD Card videos with next and previous support. Also supports formats like MKV. Also Bookmarks issues have been fixed. For a full list of supported formats read ‘Standalone container formats’ on this page
6th Feb 2018: v1.8.1 Bug fix release,
issues related to local videos not playing correctly fixed.
7th Feb 2018: v1.8.2 Bug fix release for bookmark dpad support in non touch screens
8th Feb 2018: v1.8.3 Bug fix release for audio focus issues. If carstream overwrites other players, this version fixes it. Also local audio/video continues to play in background.
21st Jun 2018 : 2.0.0 Introduces a way to unlock carstream in rooted phones. Thanks to ‘slashmax’ for figuring out the trick.
The following message is shown if handbrake is not applied. Please make sure you use this app safely.
8th Feb 2018 : For raising bugs or enhancement requests please visit https://github.com/thekirankumar/youtube-android-auto/issues
 | (1528301 hits) Youtube Auto Latest Version Download |
How to install the app
How to watch local videos of all formats on SD Card
Raising bugs, enhancement for new features
CarStream is developed and maintained by me in my free time. In order to efficiently manage my time, it would be great if you can use github for raising bugs and feature requests. I have been using this blog’s comments section till now for this, but it doesnt scale well. So if you put anything here, it will mostly get ignored. So please use github. I know its painful to create a github account, but it helps me. Before raising a github issue, check if the same issue exists, otherwise it will most likely be closed.
Use this link to reach github issues page
Debugging black screen issue
Black screen when switching on Youtube auto is usually related to Power saver mode on your phone. Some phones have it as “aggressive doze mode” or “advanced battery optimization”. For youtube auto to work seamlessly, you have to switch off power saver mode completely or disable it just for Youtube auto.
Also sometimes you can follow this trick of switching on youtube auto phone app on phone and then connecting to the car. Please try this on Xperia and Huawei phones. Also some huawei phones are not compatible with android auto in general. Even Waze doesnt work. Source
Disabling the bottom bar in fullscreen mode
Many users have requested this feature of hiding the nav bar when in fullscreen mode. Unfortunately google doesnt support this feature and we can expect google to give an API in future version of android auto. So this is not feasible.
Source code
If you want to add new features or checkout the code visit https://github.com/thekirankumar/youtube-android-auto/ Pull requests for new feature are welcome.
Donation
If you like this app, please make a donation.
My bitcoin (BTC) address 1MHUymspbm3FgJexAFcvxxq6QdHS9bJjZh
My paypal address https://paypal.me/thekirankumar2
My litecoin (LTC) address LXRkN1JDm1weqDL6WKCQRTcqqfPnSiGaCQ
Credits
Unofficial Android SDK https://github.com/martoreto/aauto-sdk Without this SDK this project wouldn’t exist. Thanks to Martoreto for reverse engineering the Waze app and coming up with a easy to use SDK and a sample app.
VideoEnabledWebview https://github.com/cprcrack/VideoEnabledWebView This webview makes fullscreen videos easy to implement.
Thanks for helping with translation :
German : Timo Neumeier
Russian : Ilja Skobelev
Italian : Gabriele Rizzo
Chinese : Nelson
French : Adil Bousfiha
Finnish : Joona Ahveninen & Raitsa
Portuguese: Daniel Stuart
Turkish: Ufuk Ata
Danish: Hayrullah Celik
Bulgarian : Boby
Polish : Krzysztof Białek
Estonian : Magnus Jaaska & Olev Kaas
Spanish : César Formica & Miceot
If you want to translate to your local language, please visit the github repository and raise a pull request or just mail me the strings.xml file at [email protected]
Note
Disclaimer :This is my personal project and I maintain it in my free time. The work here is in no way related to my Employer. It is a hobby project where I have not committed to anyone about maintaining it. With Google blocking every move, its getting more difficult to progress. You can imagine how it would be to fight as a one man army against google.
Unblocking instructions
[21st Jan 2018] Google has blocked the app multiple times till now and its becoming difficult for me to release just a new version to unblock it. Here are some tricks to do it yourself when google blocks the app.
Google blocks the app’s package name. This is how apps identify themselves and google is able to block the app easily by just identifying my app’s package name and then blocking it. As a workaround, if you are an android developer, just clone the source code and change the package name in build.gradle as well on the google-services.json file.
If you are not a developer, I recommend you use APK Editor Pro app (Its a paid app, but the apks are available everywhere). It allows you to change package names of any app without creating the APK yourself.
- Download APK editor PRO (free version doesnt allow many features)
- Open the settings and click “sign APK with” and select “key created by APK Editor”
- Exit settings and come back to main menu
- click “Select APK from app”
- select the car stream apk
- select “Full Edit”
- click on the third tab on bottom called “manifest”
- click on the second line from top called “manifest xmlns:android….
- click on “package” and change the package name to anything you want. This is the most important step. You should use something which is unique to you. Use maybe your name or username in it. Do not use special character except “dot”. If your name is john doe, use maybe “com.johndoe.testapp” as the package name. Be creative here, because this is what google uses to block the app
- Click save button, be careful not to press cancel.
- Now click the build button on the top-right corner of the screen
- This will take a few seconds and finish the creating a new APK
- [IMPORTANT] Once it finishes, uninstall the old version of car stream. If you dont uninstall, the new APK wont install
- Now go back to APK pro and press install the new apk you created which has your custom package name
- After installation, Car Stream should work for you
If you get install issues with APK editor, try APK cloner. It doesn’t let you change package name, but it automatically chooses a package name and is easy to use and free.
If google blocks the apk again, come back here to this section for a new workaround.
8th Feb 2018 : For raising bugs or enhancement requests please visit https://github.com/thekirankumar/youtube-android-auto/issues
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Will there be a way to add an option to see a Desktop Version of sites for the browser? All sites load of with the Mobile Version (if available) and looks super weird since AA is usually in landscape view.
Today the Car Stream dissapeared in my android auto.
Only I´ve return to (brand Car).
I tried to fix it uninstalling and reinsttaling but nothing happennned.
Android Auto does not show the program
Program is not showing up at all. I hope this gets fixed this is amazing technology.
Don’t give up developer!! You have done so much so far !! I’m more than welcome to help figure out a work around !!
Love this app!
1.6.1 blocked again … Googe what wrong u ganna cantor ever things …
Con el móvil Huawei por lite la app no se ve en android auto del coche, ni del teléfono móvil. Lo he intentado todo, pero nada de nada. Alguien sabe la razón?
Móvil p9 lite.
App is amazing. Google needs to get out of the way. I really wish it was working. Is there a way to block Google from updating / blocking csrstream?
I got it to work once and the updated it and now it wont work at all im willing to donate cuz ill love this feature in my focus rs
kuran kumar you should sell in 1$ that app so that way we all could help you get it working and i will feel good helping you out to make it better.
Hi, I’m loving this so far, but there’s one little issue. Does anyone know how to fix that audio latency between the phone and car? I’ve been looking into it, but haven’t figured it out yet. I would love to have the audio synced correctly when I use this app.
Working fine hopes. Google kept me out of blocking list this time.. Thnks great work
Pixel 2 XL
Jan 19th version
Ford fusion 2017
App doesn’t work
The workaround posted for renaming the build worked amazing!! Thank you so much for the how to!!!!!
Doesn’t work for me.
I keep getting this error:
A/ (23481): First type is not attr!
Using APK Editor, is it possible to change the initial URL?
of course when using the apk editer pro
Does it HAVE to say testapp at the end of can it be whatever so I can ensure GOOGLE doesn’t find a pattern if everybody is typing the same thing. If so can I delete it and re follow the steps and install again?
It could be anything. No limits to the package name as long as it is a valid.
Problem parsing the package while installing from APK editor pro?
Please try editing this apk http://www.thekirankumar.com/blog/mydrive/youtube_auto_debug.apk
Just a suggestion. You can use ‘app cloned which is free in the play store. Just clone the app.
Apk editor pro didn’t work for some reason
When I hit build I get a red x and says “A/ (16376):first type is not attr!
I’m getting the same error, with (16376) replaced with a random number each time I click build.
Tried with both 1.6.0, 1.6.1, and debug versions of the APK, both from APK or from app. Same error every time.
I was getting the same thing with a “free” version of Pro I downloaded. I installed and paid for Pro through the Play store and it works without that error.
Took 1.61.Got apk Editor Pro. Followed carefully your procedure. Uninstalled your 1.61 then installed the “new” one without success. Tried 4 times. The “new” apk installs but doesn’t start. Jams and block every time. Sure your procedure is exact?
Does APK cloner work for you ? Some comments say that it works.
Hello friend! The size of the image larger than the screen and the subtitles appear automatically, how to fix it!?
I had the same issue. Download app cloner from the play store and clone the app. I worked fine
Does APK cloner allow changing package name. I can’t find that option
No, it doesn’t. It will change the name automatically by one character, but doesn’t let you define the package name.
Hello
Great ! Thank you very much for this job. I have a question for the new application.
I have a bugg now when i launch the application. Black screen when i click on the logo car stream on android auto.
I had this problem the first time whith YouTube auto. But debbuging in time by update.
Do you know where is the problem now in carstream ? I need App editor pro ?
Thxs
Stephane
Blocked again doesn’t show up
After apk editing it got blocked ?
Been trying to get this to work all day. Thought changing the APK would finally do it but I keep getting the following once I hit build:
Succeed!
APK saved as /storage/emulated/0/ApkEditor/gen_signed.apk
At this point, as instructed I go back into my apps and delete CarStream from my phone.
I come back to APK Editor and hit Install and get this:
“There was a problem parsing the package.”
Can’t get it to install at all. Really, really want to get this to work but I’m at a loss here.
Try APK cloner
Ok, so I tried APK Cloner and it did create a copy, which I named CarStream2 but it still does not come up on Android Auto.
Maybe I’m confused, but when I click the “Send to Car” it says on the bottom to go to the Android Auto app and click the Receive from Phone, but WHICH app? The one on my phone or the car? I can’t find a “Receive from Phone option on either. Looking at the screen in my car, I do not have the CarStream link (above the Return to Google link) as shown in the video you posted so it makes me think it’s still getting blocked.
Did you open the app with the new name on your phone and granted all permissions, before you connected the phone to your car? I think you have to do that to make it work.
Tried again today and it’s working perfectly now.
Uninstall the old app, keep the cloned app and then connecting to Android auto
i can not see car system on android auto.Suggestions?
Maybe you have to disable the Video In Motion Feature, to dont let Google block the App. So looking videos is just possible until 10 km/h or somehing Like that. The same speed as the Keyboard disapears in google maps.
Hi guys! I installed App Cloner, opened it and then CarStream changed name to my last name + Stream (like “SmithStream”), saved, installed and deleted CarStream. It worked just fine. On my Astra screen the app is still named CarStream.
I hope it will work later. Maybe G has other ways of blocking this app?
This app works great after the app editor…thanks Kiran Kumar for the awesome effort…Will donate for the help
Installato versione pro,Kiran la tua guida e ok! Funziona tutto alla prima prova Thank you.
After follow all the process
Installation was successful too but car stream failed to open
Message reads “car stream keeps stopping”
Any suggestions or does it requires root acces to successfully attempt this renaming package thing
I am using the suggested app cloner option. Can you tell post instructions using app closer? Im a newbie, but managed to clone CarStream. Do i simply change the app name ? Or is it something more involved. Thank you in advance, this app is awesome.
I don’t fully remember, but I think I opened app cloner, searched for the app to clone (CarStream), opened the app, changed name, clicked on the blue circle, waited till the the cloning was done, deleted CarStream. Opened the CarStream app with new name on my phone and granted permissions. Connected to screen in car. Voila!
Is there a way to see netflix? It doesn ‘t start contents
Good work!
Maybe add different languages as well?
Hi, Kiran and friends,
I would like to confirmed, APK Cloner is easy to fixed from google blocked,
Thank you for the great app and trick,
I can’t the name edit
Help
res/drawable-v21/$avd_hide_password__0.xml: Invalid file name: must contain only [a-z0-9_.]
res/drawable-v21/$avd_hide_password__1.xml: Invalid file name: must contain only [a-z0-9_.]
res/drawable-v21/$avd_hide_password__2.xml: Invalid file name: must contain only [a-z0-9_.]
res/drawable-v21/$avd_show_password__0.xml: Invalid file name: must contain only [a-z0-9_.]
res/drawable-v21/$avd_show_password__1.xml: Invalid file name: must contain only [a-z0-9_.]
res/drawable-v21/$avd_show_password__2.xml: Invalid file name: must contain only [a-z0-9_.]
I got the same mistake
Hi, Jess,
I would recommend you to trying wth APK cloner as above friends had mention it, this app just easy to fixed. please try instead of APK editor.
Thanks,
Hi friends, most are writing APK Cloner. Isn’t the app named App Cloner?
I can other app edit, but cant carstream…why?
Invalid name?…
I used apk cloner pro
Sorry used apk edit pro
Hello friend! The size of the image larger than the screen and the subtitles appear automatically, how to fix it!?
I can’t the name edit with Apk edit pro…
Please link for Apk cloner? Of playstore
I do not know what the application is.
There are many in the playstore
Link of Apk cloner
Please
I too please
Can confirm this works with app cloner (free version)
Change the name of the application and make sure you uninstall the old application before you install the Clone.
Thanks Kiran for helping us out so much your awesome dudes
Pepe go to play store type in “app cloner” the icon is blue
App cloner
Made by appListo
Hey Guys I am greatly fond of this app since I tried it and it works. But with latest development involving Google blocking the app when downloaded I moved to obtain the App Pro version and followed the instructions to activate my safe copy. Unfortunately, there’s sparsing issue encountered Everytime I attempt to install the app and I am confused cause I paid $4.99 and didn’t expect to run into this kinda problem. Therefore I need help!!!
a.editor pro is free in ap..ide
Excellent job, worked work working