CarStream (previously YoutubeAuto) for Android Auto APK download and setup

Play Youtube Video on Android Auto using this app

Screen Shot 2017-12-31 at 10.04.28 AMVersion history :

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.
Android auto youtube warning

8th Feb 2018 : For raising bugs or enhancement requests please visit https://github.com/thekirankumar/youtube-android-auto/issues

Youtube Auto Latest Version
(1528310 hits)
Youtube Auto Latest Version
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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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2,440 thoughts on “CarStream (previously YoutubeAuto) for Android Auto APK download and setup

  1. Андрей

    Excellent work fine instructions Everything is done wonderfully perfectly works the application all started.

    Reply
  2. Pepe


    Andrew:

    Pepe go to play store type in “app cloner” the icon is blue
    App cloner
    Made by appListo

    Thank you very much, you can explain how the cloner app works.
    just change the name? nothing more?

    Reply
  3. Joe

    I keep getting this error when I go to build

    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_.]

    Reply
  4. Krazywicki

    I can stream internal video as long as it is from internal phone memory and mp4 format. Can get to files by holding down home button on car Android you tube app auto screen.

    Reply
  5. Shehan

    Hi Kiran Thanks for ur help… APK cloner worked on Mazda Hybrid… I just want no is there a way i can select the quality of the youtube video just like in Original YouTube…

    Reply
  6. Ali

    I can download the app but cannot install on the phone now… How can I download it. I push the screen to download but it suddenly closes..an error on the screen.

    Reply
  7. alex

    Hello Kiran Kumar! The size of the image larger than the screen and the subtitles appear automatically, how to fix it!?

    Reply
  8. Robert

    i did the APK editor PRO and folloed video and for some reason when i click install it returns to the manifest screen

    Reply
  9. Eddie

    When I run app on my car – 2018 Hyundai Sonata – I don’t see the CarStream player. I see a message that says,

    “Click last tab in bottom bar & start playing from You…”

    Anyone have any idea how to get past this?

    Reply
  10. Abhinav

    I don’t use buddy clone or all editor. I was downloading from your link and that was working in my car.
    Now suggest me what to do. Coz carstream icon I can see on my phone but not in android auto at car screen

    Reply
  11. Robert

    Salve io ho provato a fare tutti i passi ma una volta cambiato il nome mi da un’errore come posso fare ? Grazie mille

    Reply
  12. Robert

    Salve io ho provato a fare tutti i passi ma una volta cambiato il nome mi da un’errore come posso fare ? Cos’è il clone dell’app ? Grazie mille

    Reply
  13. milan

    It works. But after 10 to 15 min youtube redirect to home page automatically. I have checked the cable and all other settings. Can you help for the issue ?

    Reply
  14. dodo

    Used app cloner and cloned carstream app. after that deleted the original. and boom it works )) thanks a lot. but there is a little problem. you have to make fullscreen by yourself for all videos )

    Reply
  15. EDMILSON FERREIRA

    Hello Kiran Kumar, I wonder if there is no possibility of you releasing the Maps.me program which is a browser like Waze. The advantage of this apicative is that it works without the need for 4G network. I also want to thank you for the wonderful program Youtube Auto, I’m using it and several friends here in Brazil, we expect more tools in your program, do not stop updating it. A hug, Edmilson (Brasilia – Brazil)

    Reply
  16. Hamad alhindi

    Hello.
    Is there a way u can help me add the Arabic language to the search keyboard. I have the apk editor pro. Where and how to do it.

    Reply
  17. anto

    hi, I’m having a problem with changing the package name with apk editor pro.
    I follow the video step by step, I create the app with the name of the modified package, I install it in the tel, but when I try to open it, it closes immediately without giving any error message … do you know how I can solve the problem? can you tell me which version of apk editor pro do you use?

    Reply
    1. DJ

      Hi, anto.
      I would recommend to using APK Cloner, because it’s just easy to fixed that. please try. only change the package name and go.
      Good luck,

      Reply
  18. Tim

    I get all the way to uninstalling carstream and then go back to the APK editor and hit install and it says file not found and it says parse error/unknown up top and it just says loading on the screen but nothing happens. Did I miss a step? This was my second attempt at it and same thing both times.

    Reply
    1. Tim

      FYI the file says its created successfully but if you close APK then go back into it and look for the file its not in there. Not sure what I am missing but please advise if you can.

      Reply
  19. NewNew

    Have you ever tried to emulate android auto with another app, i mean to stream the phone screen or another app screen to the car multi media system.
    It should be possible but i can’t understand how android auto works.

    Reply

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