Android Auto exists so you can avoid looking at your phone while you’re inside your car. I experimented with that same idea on my work desk. I converted my phone into an Android Auto display, mostly to stop myself from constantly picking it up and getting pulled into Instagram or YouTube every time a notification popped up.
It’s been a week since I switched to this setup, and I kind of like it. My productivity has improved, and for once, my phone has something useful to do while I work.
Android Auto at a desk sounds bizarre until you try it
It felt ridiculous at first, but then it clicked
Android Auto isn’t designed to be used outside a car, and I also never really considered it as a good idea until I tried it myself. The whole design philosophy of Android Auto is “don’t make me think too hard.” You get a simple layout that shows your apps, maps, music controls, and alerts. Those are exactly the things I need while I’m working on my PC all day, minus the maps, of course.
Setting up Android Auto on my phone makes it easy to access important apps, like Messages, Calendar, WhatsApp, Spotify, and Phone. These let me stay on top of important messages, reminders, phone calls, and my music. Heck, I can even control my smart home devices, like lights, sensors, locks, my smart TV, and AC. It’s customizable too. If I don’t want certain apps in the app drawer, like Maps or Weather, I can hide those.
I can respond to text and WhatsApp messages with my voice and even use Gemini to get answers to questions. It’s also easy to interact with since the screen is always on and there’s no need to unlock the device. If I need to change music, it only takes a tap.
Sure, I could do all of this from my phone directly, but that’s not really the point. The simplicity is what makes this setup worth it. Everything is oversized and reachable in one or two taps. More importantly, Android Auto only shows stuff that matters. I don’t get Instagram DMs, and there’s no way to access apps like YouTube, which means there’s less chance of getting distracted.
Open Headunit makes this all possible
It’s not a one-click setup, though
The built-in Android Auto app can’t emulate a dashboard on its own, but it’s easy to set up with an app like Open Headunit. It’s a free, open-source app that brings Android Auto to cars that don’t have it. It basically tricks your phone into thinking it’s talking to a car when it’s not. You just need a spare phone or tablet that acts as the display and the app lets you connect your primary phone to it via USB or Wi-Fi.
Using two phones just for this setup obviously doesn’t make sense. Thankfully, Open Headunit also has a Self-Mode that lets you use your phone as Android Auto mode. It’s sort of like installing a different launcher that you can switch to at any time. The app is available on the Play Store for around $4, but you can also get it for free from GitHub.
Once you’ve installed it, you need to go through the initial setup and allow all the necessary permissions. Then, tap Start Self Mode, and the app will redirect you to the Android Auto screen. Here, scroll down, tap Version, and tap the number multiple times rapidly to unlock Android Auto Developer Options. Then, tap the three-dot icon at the top and choose Start head unit server. Go back to the app and tap Start Self Mode again.
This will open the Android Auto screen, and you can start using it as usual. You’ll see the music widget, apps, notifications, and Gemini voice access shortcut. You can now work on your PC and use your phone without getting distracted.
It’s not a perfect setup, but that’s fine
Using Android Auto outside my car is fun, but if you’re planning to do it for long hours, there are a few caveats you should know about upfront.
The biggest one is the map. Open Headunit still renders a map screen as part of the Android Auto display, and there’s no way to hide it. At a desk, that’s just wasted space, a chunk of screen showing roads you’re never going to drive on.
The other big thing is the battery life. Since this setup keeps the screen awake and also uses location services, your phone will burn through the battery faster than usual. The obvious solution here is to use a spare phone or tablet. If you have that, it works great.