Google is bringing “Ok Google” support to Android Auto

Google has started adding hotword support to Android Auto. This allows users of Android Auto to activate the voice control of the operating system after saying ‘Ok Google’.

Google already demonstrated the “Ok Google” support for Android Auto at its I/O conference in May, but it took a long time for this feature to actually come to users. On Reddit discovered users that the distribution of the update has now begun. Those who have the latest build of Android Auto in combination with the most recent version of the Google app are eligible for the update.

Android Auto already had support for voice control, but to activate it the user had to press a button on the screen or on the steering wheel. Other Google services, such as Maps, Android Wear, the Home assistant and the Google apps on iOS and Android, already support activating voice control with the “Ok Google” command. Why it took a relatively long time before the hotword activation also came to Android Auto is not known.