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ars edited this page Jan 30, 2026 · 8 revisions

Wireless Android Auto

HeadUnit Revived allows you to connect your phone wirelessly via WiFi. Unlike official Android Auto head units, this app currently does not use Bluetooth for the initial handshake. Instead, it relies on a WiFi connection established via a helper app or manual IP entry.

Prerequisites

  • Phone: Android 10 or higher with Android Auto installed.
  • Head Unit (Tablet): Android 4.1+ device with WiFi.
  • Network: Both devices must be connected to the same WiFi network. This can be:
    • A mobile hotspot created by the phone.
    • A mobile hotspot created by the head unit.
    • An external WiFi router (e.g., in-car LTE router).

Connection Methods

1. Using "Wireless Launcher" (Recommended)

This method is the most reliable, especially when using a Mobile Hotspot. It uses a small helper app on your phone to automatically find the Head Unit and initiate the connection (Reverse Connection).

  1. Install Helper App: Download and install the "Wireless Launcher" (or "Wifi Launcher") app on your phone (available on Play Store).
  2. Head Unit Setup:
    • Open HeadUnit Revived.
    • Go to Settings -> General.
    • Enable Wireless Headunit Server. This starts a background server listening for connections on Port 5288.
  3. Connect:
    • Start the "Wireless Launcher" service on your phone.
    • HeadUnit Revived will automatically detect the phone (via Port 5289) and trigger the connection.
    • Alternatively, the Launcher app on the phone will find the Headunit via NSD (mDNS) and connect to it.

2. Android Auto Developer Mode (Native / Manual)

This method requires no extra apps but involves manual steps on the phone. It uses the "Headunit Server" built into Android Auto (Port 5277).

⚠️ Important Limitation: This method may fail if you are using a Phone Hotspot that assigns IPs in the 10.x.x.x range (Carrier-Grade NAT range). In this scenario, the Android Auto Headunit Server on the phone often blocks incoming connections or binds to the wrong interface. If you encounter connection timeouts or handshake failures in this mode, please use Method 1 (Wireless Launcher).

  1. Enable Developer Mode:
    • Open Android Auto settings on your phone.
    • Scroll down to the "Version" section.
    • Tap on "Version" 10 times until Developer Mode is enabled.
  2. Start Server:
    • In Android Auto settings, tap the three-dot menu (top right).
    • Select Start Headunit Server.
  3. Connect from Head Unit:
    • Open HeadUnit Revived.
    • Tap the WiFi button.
    • Click Scan. If your phone is found (e.g., Gateway IP 192.168.x.1), click it to connect.
    • Or: manually add your phone's IP address via "Add new" button.

3. Self-Mode (Same Device)

If you want to run Android Auto on the same device where HeadUnit Revived is installed (e.g., using the tablet as both phone and screen):

  1. Open HeadUnit Revived.
  2. Tap the Self Mode button (or "To Android Auto").
  3. The app will connect to itself via localhost (127.0.0.1).

Troubleshooting

  • Black Screen: If the screen remains black, try enabling Force Software Decoding in Settings -> Video.
  • Lag / Stuttering: Ensure you are using a 5GHz WiFi connection. 2.4GHz is often too slow. Lower the resolution or FPS limit if necessary.
  • Connection Fails (Hotspot): If you use a Phone Hotspot and cannot connect manually (Method 2), verify if your IP is 10.x.x.x. If so, switch to Method 1 (Wireless Launcher).
  • Firewall/VPN: Ensure no local VPN or Firewall app on the phone is blocking Port 5277 or 5288.

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