Android Auto missing from App Store on Pixel 4?

nexustexas

I’ve been using GrapheneOS on both a Pixel 6 and a Pixel 4, and loving the experience overall — huge thanks to the team for this amazing project!

On my Pixel 6, I installed Android Auto and it’s working great — no issues so far and really nice to have that integration while driving. However, on my Pixel 4 (also running GrapheneOS), Android Auto doesn’t appear in the App Store at all. I’m wondering if this is expected behavior — is it just due to the age of the device, or is there another reason why Android Auto might be unavailable on the Pixel 4? Installing Android Auto via Aurora doesn't work as it needs to be a system app.

Would be great to get it working on both devices if possible. Appreciate any insights, and once again, thank you to everyone involved in GrapheneOS!

Dumdum

nexustexas
Your Pixel 4 is using a version of the App Store that doesn't have Android Auto added to it. You also wouldn't have an updated GmsCompat that I believe it depends on, which if that's the case, it wouldn't matter if it was available or not.

pxlkng

nexustexas

Pixel 4 is EOL and not a secure device anymore. You should not use it for anything sensitive.
It is not supported anymore and will not get any updates, features or fixes. Android Auto not being available is probably related to this.

Aurora Store is not recommended and should be avoided. It has security issues and no privacy benefit over sandboxed Play Services. It does not avoid Google or its tracking and only cripples your security and privacy instead.
You should get Play Store apps solely from the official Play Store with sandboxed Play Services.

Android Auto cannot be installed from other sources than the GOS App Store for compatibility reasons, iirc, not because it would need to be a system app. It is never a system app on GrapheneOS. Normals apps also cannot just be elevated to a system app.
Android Auto is confined to the normal app sandbox like everything else on GrapheneOS and only can access what you grant it via the toggles and permissions.

nexustexas

@Dumdum Thank you for your reply.
Interestingly, I have the same version of App Store (v30) on Pixel 4 and 6. Also GmsCompatConfig seems the same version (158).