You try to connect a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone to an automotive multimedia system through Android Auto, but you can’t find the app on the menu? This problem is familiar to many owners of devices based on MIUI. The fact that the manufacturer often hides or modifys standard Google services, and in some regional firmware Android Auto is completely absent from the box.
In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to detect and activate Android Auto on Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and other models – from checking system settings to manually installing APK. You’ll also learn why the service may not work even after installation, and how to circumvent the limitations of MIUI without risking warranty.
Before you start searching, make sure your car supports Android Auto (check the list of compatible models on the manufacturer’s website).
Why Android Auto is not on the Xiaomi Redmi menu
The reasons why you don’t see the Android Auto app on your Xiaomi Redmi can be a few:
- 📱 Regional firmware: In Chinese and some global versions MIUI Google services replaced by Xiaomi alternatives (e.g. Mi Car).
- 🔄 An outdated version MIUI: In the firmware older MIUI 12.5 Android Auto could be disabled by default.
- 🚫 Manufacturer restrictions: Xiaomi blocks some Google features on budget models (e.g. Redmi) 9A/9C).
- 🔍 Hidden Access: The application can be hidden in the developer settings or system services.
The most common situation is when Android Auto is installed but not displayed in the list of applications, which is because MIUI classifies it as a system service, not user software, and you will need to use system search or special commands to find it.
⚠️ Note: If your Redmi is running on Chinese firmware (CN ROM), Android Auto can be completely removed, in which case you will need to flash it to the global version (Global) ROM) or installing through ADB.
Method 1: Search through MIUI system settings
Before you install anything, check to see if Android Auto is hidden in the depths of MIUI.
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Slip the icon of the magnifier (search) in the upper right corner.
- Enter the Android Auto or Auto request.
- If the app is found, click on it and select Show on the home screen.
If the search does not yield results, try an alternative path:
- 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Press 7 times on the version MIUI, activate the developer mode.
- 🔍 Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
- 🔄 Find the option to Enable Windows Free Form (or Force Desktop Mode) and activate it.
- 📱 Reboot your phone and check the app menu again – Android Auto may be coming.
Method 2: Install Android Auto via Google Play
If system search didn’t help, try installing the app manually.Although Android Auto is part of Google Mobile Services (GMS), it can be downloaded separately:
- Open the Android Auto page on Google Play.
- Click Install. If the button is inactive, update Google Play Services.
- After installation, restart the phone.
Important: Some Redmi models (such as the Redmi Note 8 Pro with the MediaTek Helio G90T) may require additional customization:
Make sure that the MIUI version is not lower than 12.0.7
Update Google Play Services to the latest version
Enable installation from unknown sources (Settings → Appendices → Special Permits)
Disable battery optimization for Android Auto (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery)-->
If Android Auto still doesn’t start after installing, check:
- 🔌 Is the phone connected to the car through the original USB-cable (not all cables support data transmission).
- 🔄 Is File Transfer Mode Enabled (MTP) when connected to the car.
- 📵 Is it blocking? MIUI background activity of the application (check in Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).
Method 3: Manually enable via ADB (for power users)
If standard methods don’t work, you can try activating Android Auto via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is suitable for models where the service is locked at the firmware level.
You will need to:
- 💻 Computer with installed ADB Tools.
- 🔌 USB-cable to connect Redmi to PC.
- 🔧 Initiated debugging mode USB (see section above).
Instructions:
- Connect the phone to the PC and open the command line (cmd).
- Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices (should display the name of your device).
- Run the command to activate Android Auto: adb shell pm enable com.google.android.projection.gearhead
- Reboot the phone.
On Redmi models with a MediaTek processor (such as the Redmi Note 9T), an additional command may be required to unlock system applications:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.projection.gearhead
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.projection.gearhead⚠️ Attention: Use ADB You can crash the system if you run the wrong commands. Don't change other system parameters without understanding the consequences.
What if the ADB does not recognize the device?
Method 4: Alternative applications for connecting to a car
If none of these methods worked, consider the MIUI-compatible Android Auto alternatives:
| Annex | Features | Compatible with Xiaomi Redmi |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Car | Xiaomi's official solution for the Chinese market, supports voice commands and navigation. | Only on CN ROM, requires registration in Mi Account. |
| Car Launcher AGAMA | Adapted launcher for car screens with gesture support. | It works on all models but requires manual adjustment. |
| AutoMate | An alternative to Android Auto with support for plugins and customization. | It can interfere with battery optimization in MIUI. |
| Waze + Spotify | Combination of a Navigator and Music Service for Basic Functionality | It works without restrictions, but without integration with the car. |
To install Mi Car on global firmware, you will need:
- Download APK from Xiaomi’s official Chinese website (e.g. app.mi.com).
- Install the file through the File Manager (allow installation from unknown sources).
- In the application settings, select the language (English or Chinese).
💡
If you are using Mi Car, add it to auto-run via Settings → Apps → Auto-run so that it automatically opens when you connect to the machine.
Solving problems with connecting Android Auto to the car
Even if you were able to find and install Android Auto, there may be errors when connecting to your car.
- 🚗 Car doesn't recognize phone: Check if your car supports Android Auto (some models only work with Apple CarPlay). Update the multimedia firmware through the car manufacturer's website.
- 🔌 Connection interrupted: Disable Battery Optimization for Android Auto in Settings MIUI. Try another one. USB-cable (preferably original from Xiaomi).
- 📵 Android Auto does not start automatically: In the app settings, enable Auto Run when you connect to Bluetooth. Add Android Auto to Secure Apps (Settings) → Battery → Secure applications).
If the problem persists, try resetting Android Auto's settings:
- Open Settings → Applications → Android Auto.
- Click Warehouse → Clear the data and Clear the cache.
- Reboot your phone and connect to the car again.
How to Upgrade Android Auto to Xiaomi Redmi
Android Auto updates add support for new cars and fix bugs to update the app:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Enter Android Auto in search.
- If an update is available, click Update.
If the update does not appear:
- 🔄 Check if automatic updates are disabled in Google Play settings.
- 📥 Download the latest version APK from a verified source (e.g. APKMirror) and install manually.
- 🔧 Make sure there is enough space on your phone (Android Auto requires you to use it). ~100MB).
For Redmi models with limited Google support (e.g. Redmi 9C NFC), you may need to install Google Installer:
- Download Google Installer.
- Install and launch the application.
- Select Install to install the missing Google services.
- Restart your phone and upgrade to Android Auto.
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On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note) 8 Android Auto may not work as it does due to optimization conflict MIUI. In this case, it will help to disable the function. MIUI Optimization through ADB (Adb shell settings put global miui_optimization 0).