Anyone who has read my work knows how I feel about Android Auto. I like the in-car infotainment platform, but hate the hoops it sometimes makes you jump through just to get an app up and running. This is why I still prefer Apple's CarPlay in a lot of situations. That said, just like the mobile version of Android, the open nature of Google's in-car operating system offers a distinct advantage over CarPlay: the ability to sideload apps.

There's a lot of not very useful (and potentially shady) apps out there when it comes to sideloading mobile Android apps, and the same goes for Android Auto. However, there are two really great sideloaded apps I've come to rely on when I'm using Android Auto, and one I've only recently uncovered that I'm still experimenting with.

AA Browser lets you surf the web in your car

Take advantage of that big screen in your car

For all the sideloaded apps I outline in this story, you'll need to download the Android Auto Apps Downloader (AAAD). It's not a browser or YouTube player itself, though; it lets you bypass Google's Play Store so you can install apps like AA Browser in a way Android Auto recognizes as legitimate.

First up, make sure you have Android's Developer Mode:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device
2. Tap About Phone.
3. Open Software Information (with my Pixel 10 Pro, this option is on the main About Phone screen).
4. Find your phone's Build Number, and tap it seven times in a row.
5. If you've done this correctly, you'll see a message stating Developer Mode Enabled (you'll see a notification that you have only three taps left when you're close).

Next, it's time to turn on Android Auto's Developer Mode:

• Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
• Navigate to Connected Devices (it's the second option).
• Tap on Android Auto (on my Pixel 10 Pro, I also need to tap Connection Preferences first).
• Scroll down and tap Version until Developer Settings are enabled (you'll see a notification that you have only three taps left when you're close).

After you've installed the AAAD APK, open up the app on your phone and install the latest version of AA Browser (you should see it in the list immediately, but you might need to scroll down a bit). You should then see the AA Browser icon on your Android Auto launcher. The app features a full URL bar, forward/back buttons — it really is just a full-fledged browser you can use in your car (while it's parked, of course).

For the most part, anything you can do with your smartphone's browser, you can now do with AA Browser, including logging into a streaming service that doesn't have an official Android app. Of course, you can also browse XDA — because that's what you really need to be doing when you're chilling in your vehicle. Sometimes AA Browser can get a bit glitchy, but for the most part, it's surprisingly reliable, especially for an Android app from a third-party storefront.

CarStream lets you watch YouTube through Android Auto

Only use this app when you're safely parked

YouTube is finally coming to Android Auto, but even when it does start making its way to vehicles later in 2026, it will only be available on select models from BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, and Volvo. With that in mind, CarStream works on every vehicle that supports Android Auto, opening up the YouTube floodgates (only use it while your vehicle is parked).

If you've followed the above steps to turn on Android's and Android Auto's Developer Mode, and also installed AAAD, you'll see CarStream in the list of apps you can install on your device inside Android Auto Apps Downloader, giving you instant access to your YouTube account directly on your vehicle's display. It's worth noting that you need a solid data connection to keep content from constantly buffering, so keep an eye on your phone's signal bars. While CarStream can sometimes freeze up, it's pretty reliable and a great way to share YouTube videos with passengers when you're parked.

Skip both of these apps and just use Screen2Auto instead

The app casts your phone's display to your car's infotainment system

If you're just looking for a straightforward solution to getting a website or video up on your vehicle's screen while it's parked, Screen2Auto is the best option. I briefly tried AA Mirror, but I couldn't get it running (all I could get to show up was a black screen). Like AA Browser and CarStream, Screen2Auto is located in AAAD. Tap on the latest version of the app and install it.

You'll need to move through a series of somewhat intimidating permissions (it's up to you if you're cool with giving a sideloaded app this level of access to your device), but the most important one is allowing Display Over Other Apps by navigating to Apps > Screen2Auto > Allow Display Over Other Apps. You'll also likely need to turn on Allow Restricted Settings (I needed to with my Pixel 10 Pro, for example) by going to Settings > Apps > Screen2Auto, Three Dots > Allow Restricted Settings. The option to enable these permissions should then appear when you launch the app again (if it doesn't, try restarting your phone and unplugging/plugging back into Android Auto).

After that, when you launch Screen2Auto from your infotainment system screen, you should instantly see whatever you have open on your Android phone's display. The app can be pretty glitchy, and in some cases, I had to unplug and plug my Pixel 10 Pro back into my vehicle to get it working properly (a few times, I also needed to launch Car2Screen on my phone first). When it is working properly, it's pretty impressive.

This is a really easy way to get video streaming apps to appear on your car's screen without needing to log in to your account (assuming you're already signed in on your phone), or to quickly open a website to show someone in your car something. Like all the sideloaded apps I mention in this story, Screen2Auto can be a bit glitchy sometimes, but to be fair, so can Google's official Cast protocol and even Apple's AirPlay 2.