How to turn Android Auto on Xiaomi phone: a complete guide from connecting to bug fixing

Are you trying to connect your Xiaomi to a car radio recorder through Android Auto, but the system stubbornly ignores your attempts? Or does the application not run at all on a smartphone? The problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi devices - despite official support for the technology, in practice users face bugs, no menu item or sudden connection breaks. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to activate Android Auto on Xiaomi, including hidden settings, bypassing regional restrictions and solutions for outdated versions of the firmware.

It's important to understand that the problem isn't always with the phone. Often the stereo (especially Chinese uncertified models), USB-TypeC cable or even MIUI settings are to blame. We've tested the solutions on devices from Redmi Note 10 Pro to Xiaomi 13 Ultra — and we're ready to provide up-to-date instructions for all versions of MIUI, including global, Chinese and European firmware. If you've tried the standard way through Settings → Connected devices and it didn't work, don't close the page: it's going to be more interesting.

What is Android Auto and why it doesn’t work on Xiaomi out of the box

Android Auto is a protocol from Google that projects the smartphone interface onto the car radio screen, adapting it to control while driving. In theory, any Android 10+ device should support this feature. But in practice, Xiaomi often blocks it for two reasons:

• 🔒 Regional restrictions: Some firmware (especially Chinese) has been disabled due to local security laws.
• 📱 Optimization MIUI: Branded shell aggressively manages background processes, killing Android Auto services.
• 🔌 Problems with USB-Debugging: Devices with unlocked bootloader may require manual activation.

Xiaomi also doesn’t always include support for the Android Automotive OS (AAOS) protocol in budget models, even if they’re technically capable of handling it. For example, Redmi 9A doesn’t officially support Android Auto, but it can be run through workarounds, as we’ll discuss in the alternative methods section.

How to enable Android Auto through MIUI settings

If your Xiaomi is released after 2020 and runs on MIUI 12+, try the standard method.

1. Open Settings → Connected devices → Connect to the device.
2. Select Android Auto (if there is no item, see the next section).
3. Connect the phone to the tape recorder through USB-Cable (mandatory original or certified!).
4. On the tape screen, confirm the access permission.

If you see an error after connecting "Android Auto is not supported", check:

• 🔄 App Version: Update Android Auto to the latest version in Google Play.
• 📲 Permissions: In the application settings, enable all permissions, including Location and Microphone.
• 🔌 Regime. USB: When connecting, select File Transfer (MTP), Not Charging.

Update the Android Auto app to Google Play

Enable debugging over USB in the developer settings

Use the original USB-cable

Check the compatibility of the tape recorder on the manufacturer's website-->

Critical error: If the radio screen flashes after you've connected it or if it shows a black background, the problem is the data protocol. USB-regime ADB:

adb shell settings put global usb_config mtp,adb

Hidden Settings: How to Enable Android Auto on Chinese Firmware or Outdated Models

If you don't have Android Auto in your settings, it doesn't mean that the feature isn't available. In MIUI, it's often hidden under "developers" or regional restrictions. Here's how to unlock it:

Method 1: Through Developer Settings

1. Activate Developer Mode by tapping 7 times on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find Android Auto or USB-Default configuration and select MTP + ADB.

Method 2: Engineering menu (for advanced)

This method works on Xiaomi with Qualcomm processors (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro+):

##83781##

From the menu that opens, select USB Settings → Android Auto and activate the function. Attention: do not change other options in the engineering menu - this may disrupt the communication module!

Alternative methods: Android Auto without official support

If your Xiaomi doesn’t support Android Auto at the software level (like the Redmi 8A or Mi A3), there are workarounds:

1. Emulation via AA Mirror app

This solution is suitable for Miracast or Wi-Fi Direct radio:

• 📱 Install. AA Mirror from Google Play.
• 🔗 Connect your phone to the radio via Wi-Fi.
• 🎯 Launch the app and select Android Auto mode.

Limitation: Not all features will work (for example, Google Assistant may not respond).

2.Using CarStream for wireless connectivity

If your radio supports Android Auto Wireless, but Xiaomi doesn’t see it:

• 🔄 Install CarStream and turn on Developer Mode.
• 📶 Connect to the radio access point.
• 🚗 Start Android Auto Manually.

💡

If your wireless connection is permanently broken, turn off Battery Optimization for Android Auto and CarStream apps in your MIUI settings.

Manual inclusion via ADB (for experienced)

If Android Auto is installed but not running, do:

adb shell pm grant com.google.android.projection.gearhead android.permission.BIND_AUTO_FILL_SERVICE


adb shell am start -n com.google.android.projection.gearhead/.settings.AutoProjectionSettings

This command forcibly activates hidden projection settings.

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even if Android Auto is enabled, you may encounter problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

⚠️ Note: If the radio displays the message "Device not certified", it means that your Xiaomi is running on Chinese firmware. → Region.

Voice Assistant Problem: If Google Assistant doesn’t respond to commands via a radio:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Google.
2. Select Permissions → Microphone and access switch on.
3. Reboot the phone.

💡

If after all the manipulations Android Auto still does not work, check the compatibility of your radio on the official website of Google: a list of certified devices.

Optimal MIUI settings for stable Android Auto

To make Android Auto work smoothly, optimize your MIUI settings:

1. Turn off the battery auto-optimization:

• 🔋 Go to Settings. → Battery → Optimizing the battery.
• 🔍 Find Android Auto and choose Unlimited.

2.Tune in. USB-connection:

• 🔌 B Settings → Additionally. → For developers, turn on debugging by USB.
• 📱 Choose. USB-default configuration → File transfer (MTP).

Update the firmware:

On devices with MIUI 13+, Android Auto is more stable.

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. If there are no updates, install the latest version via MIUI bootloader.

💡

If after updating MIUI Android Auto stopped working, do reset the settings of the application: Settings → Apps → Android Auto → Storage → Clear data.

Wireless Android Auto on Xiaomi: Is it real?

Officially, wireless Android Auto is only supported on a limited list of devices (such as the Xiaomi 12T Pro or POCO F4 GT).

Requirements for wireless connection:

• 📱 Android 11 phone+ and wifi 5GHz.
• 🚗 Magnet with Android Auto Wireless support (e.g. Pioneer) SPH-DA230DAB).
• 🔗 Stable connection to Wi-Fi Direct.

How to turn on:

1. Connect your phone to the USB tape recorder and complete the initial setup.
2. Turn off the cable and restart Android Auto.
3. In the application settings, turn on Wireless mode.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi with a MediaTek processor (such as the Redmi Note 10), wireless mode may not work stable due to problems with Wi-Fi Direct drivers.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Android Auto on Xiaomi