Android Auto can run sideloaded apps for free with this new tool

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Android Auto can run sideloaded apps for free with this new tool

Oct 30, 2026 — 3:59 PM ET

- Someone has created a tool called UnknownAuto that lets self-built or sideloaded apps run on Android Auto.

- The tool marks the app as “installed from Google Play,” so Android Auto accepts it.

- UnknownAuto is billed as a free, open-source alternative to AA Enabler.

Android Auto can run a large variety of apps, but not every app. The platform refuses to run apps that have been sideloaded. If there was ever an app you wished could run on Android Auto but doesn’t, there may be a solution.

One user, who goes by u/mannumaster on Reddit, says they wanted to build their own app and use it on Android Auto. When they ran into roadblocks, they created a new tool called UnknownAuto. This tool is free, open-sourced, and can work offline. The creator describes it as an alternative to the proprietary AA Enabler.

As mentioned earlier, Android Auto won’t run an app unless it believes it came from Google Play. Sideloaded apps are recorded as not from the Play Store, so the platform ignores the app. UnknownAuto solves this problem by installing an APK the way Android Auto requires, flagging the app as “installed from Google Play.”

AA Enabler uses a similar trick, but the creator points out that AA Enabler is closed-source. It also only allows you to install an app for free once every 30 days. Meanwhile, UnknownAuto allows you to install an unlimited number of sideloaded apps for free.

If you’re interested in giving the tool a try, UnknownAuto is currently available on GitHub. It should be noted that this tool was vibe-coded with the help of Claude.