Google Meet is now rolling out widely on Android Auto, giving drivers the ability to join scheduled calls directly from their vehicle dashboard without picking up their phone. The wider release follows a limited rollout that began in April and should reach all users shortly, with the feature designed as an audio-only experience where there is no video support and the phone camera stays off during the call.
The car interface offers a simplified layout with controls to mute, switch Bluetooth output devices, and end the call, while the phone automatically enters an “On-the-Go” mode when a call starts, which enlarges buttons, disables the camera, and removes distractions to keep the driver focused on the road. The Android Auto app includes two tabs for managing calls: a “Scheduled” tab that surfaces upcoming meetings and a “History” tab that lets users quickly call recent contacts or groups, with tapping a call joining it instantly without a pre-call screen. However, instant meeting links only appear under the Scheduled tab, meaning a call must already be on the user calendar before connecting to Android Auto.
Some features are unavailable for safety reasons in the car environment, including Hand Raise, Question and Answer, and Polls. If a breakout room is created during a call, the user moves into it automatically and returns to the main room when it ends. Work profile accounts are not supported, though active work calls still appear on the display. There is also a first-run quirk where users may need to open and restart the Meet app on their phone before it functions correctly in the car. The rollout follows Google’s recent introduction of Meet for Apple CarPlay, meaning the platform is now available across both major in-car operating systems, and the integration uses the updated Google Workspace icon for Meet that Google rolled out earlier this year.
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