This seemed impossible a couple of years ago, but Google has significantly accelerated the Android Auto release pace, with new updates landing every few days.
Android Auto 12.3 is now on the Google Play Store for users not enrolled in the beta program, albeit the rollout still happens with a phased approach. Google enables the update in stages for users getting automatic updates, so depending on multiple factors, your device could get Android Auto 12.3 today, later this week, or in a couple of weeks.
The good news is that anyone can download Android Auto 12.3 stable today by sideloading the APK on their Android devices.
The first step is downloading the APK file on your smartphone. Navigate to the file’s location, tap it to initiate the update, and follow the on-screen wizard to complete the process. If this is the first time you sideload an app on your phone, you might be prompted to enable special permissions.
Google didn’t share any release notes for Android Auto 12.3, so if you want to know if the company included anything new, the only way to determine it is to install this stable build on your smartphone. I already installed the beta and the stable builds on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and didn’t notice any big change, so the focus has likely been on under-the-hood refinements.
Google rarely shares new information on what’s included in Android Auto updates unless there’s something notable, so it’s safe to assume the company only ironed out bugs previously reported by users. It’s our mission to determine what bugs are no longer around, and as long-time users certainly know, there are many such glitches that require urgent attention from Google.
One of the most widespread problems currently haunting Android Auto users is breaking message notifications when the phone is connected to the head unit. Users reported the glitch earlier this year, shortly after Google released Android Auto 11.8 to the production channel, but it has yet to ship a patch. Users discovered various workarounds, including one that involves resetting permissions for all apps installed on the device. However, most users still expect a fix from Google despite the search giant remaining tight-lipped on the status of its investigation.
As usual, if you download and install Android Auto 12.3 on your smartphone and notice something new, please let me know in the box after the jump. The same thing applies to new bugs and issues, as it’s not a secret that Android Auto updates sometimes introduce even more glitches for an otherwise unreliable experience.