Turn your Android tablet into an Android Auto headunit. USB & Wireless
4.22·244 reviews·10,000+ downloads
Headunit Revived turns a tablet into a modern Android Auto headunit, supporting USB and wireless connections along with Self-Mode. Built on an open-source foundation with a sleek Material 3 interface, it introduces auto-optimization, native Wi-Fi Direct, and flexible screen modes. It proudly holds top rankings (#1 ALL, #1 APPLICATION, #1 TRANSPORTATION) and shows growing adoption with 10,000+ total downloads and 2.3K in the last 30 days.
Pros & Cons
Top-ranked in multiple categories (ALL, APPLICATION, TRANSPORTATION)
Flexible connectivity options: USB, Wireless NSD, and Wi‑Fi Direct
Modern Material 3 UI with DPI scaling and Day/Night mode
Pro-level integration with App Shortcuts and Navigation Provider
No explicit screen mirroring or casting features listed in the feature set
Some connections rely on external tools (e.g., Wireless Helper) for automated wireless setup
No explicit Android TV or carplay-like integration mentioned
About Open Headunit
Open Headunit is a maps & navigation app developed by André Rinas.
How many times has Open Headunit been downloaded?
Open Headunit has been downloaded 11 thousand times. In the last 30 days, the app was downloaded 2.3 thousand times. It is ranked #6 in maps & navigation.
What is the rating of Open Headunit?
Open Headunit is rated 4.22 out of 5 stars, based on 240 ratings.
Is Open Headunit free?
Open Headunit costs $3.99 to download. The APK download size is 7.21 MB. The latest version available is 3.2.5. The last update was on August 16, 2026.
What are the requirements for Open Headunit?
The app has a content rating of Everyone. The app has been available on Google Play January 2026.
Description
Open Headunit: The Ultimate Android Auto Receiver for your Tablet!
📢 IMPORTANT REBRANDING & ANDROID AUTO 17.4+ NOTICE:
NEW NAME: "Headunit Revived" is now "Open Headunit"! This is a seamless app update—all your settings, purchases, and features remain 100% intact. ANDROID AUTO 17.4+ WIRELESS & SELF-MODE NOTICE: Starting with Android Auto 17.4, wireless connections (including Wireless Helper) and Self-Mode require the Headunit Server (Port 5277) to be running on your smartphone. Without an active Headunit Server on your phone, wireless connections will fail on Android Auto 17.4+. USB connections remain fully functional.
Breathe new life into your Android tablet or car headunit by transforming it into a fully functional, modern infotainment system. Open Headunit allows you to experience Android Auto on almost any Android device—whether via USB, wirelessly, or using the innovative Self-Mode.
This project is an open-source revival of the original "Headunit" app by Mike Reid, modernized with the latest technologies and a sleek Material 3 interface.
Key Features at a Glance:
🚀 Flexible Connectivity USB: Plug & Play. Supports stable, low-latency connections via USB-OTG. Wi-Fi Direct & Nearby: Modern wireless pairing without needing a shared mobile hotspot. Wireless (NSD): Automatically detects your phone on the same Wi-Fi network (requires Headunit Server on AA 17.4+). Self-Mode: Run Android Auto directly on your phone (local simulation), ideal for large displays or testing.
🎥 High-Performance Video & Audio Hardware acceleration for H.264 and H.265 (HEVC) decoding. Crystal-clear projection up to 1080p, 1440p, and 4K 2160p (on supported hardware). Adjustable FPS (30/60) for smooth navigation and menus. Audio Gain Offsets: Separately adjust volumes for music, navigation prompts, and voice assistant (0% to 200%).
🎨 Modern Design & Customization Material 3 UI: A clean, intuitive interface that fits seamlessly into modern car interiors. Dynamic DPI Scaling: Customize icon and text sizes to fit your exact screen dimensions. Automatic Day/Night Mode: Switching based on time, GPS sunset, or light sensor.
🛠 System Integration for Pro Users App Shortcuts & Automation: Trigger connections via Tasker, MacroDroid, or homescreen shortcuts. System Navigation Provider: Registered as an Android navigation app for seamless launcher integration.
How to use: Install Open Headunit on your tablet/headunit. Wired (USB): Connect your phone via USB-OTG cable and grant permissions. Wireless: Ensure Headunit Server is running on your phone (especially for AA 17.4+) or use our free companion app "Wireless Helper".
Requirements: Tablet/Headunit running Android 4.1 or newer. Smartphone with Android Auto installed. Optional: USB-OTG cable for wired connections. Note: Open Headunit is an open-source project and is not affiliated with Google LLC. Android Auto is a trademark of Google LLC.
Recent changes: - Fixed black screen issues after returning from the background and washed-out frames after dropped frames - Fixed a head unit server socket leak - Improved Car GPS by using the head unit's GPS position when requested and keeping it continuously updated
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Using it mostly as a standalone Android Auto unit directly from phone. App seems to work great, apart from the streaming service randomly turning off after ~10 mins of playing. I did manage to test the USB connection with other phone, and it worked, but I did not manage to make the Wi-Fi working with or without the Wi-Fi Helper (as there is not a clear manual how to use the Wi-Fi helper, then difficult to know where is the fault)
★★★★★Matthew Baildon· May 4, 2026
I was using Head unit Reloaded previously, but it was always unstable and unreliable. So far Head unit Revived seems a lot more stable and easy to set up, fingers crossed it continues to work well. For reference, I'm using a Pixel 8 phone, and I have Head unit Revived installed on an Oneplus Lite Tablet. The USB mode seems to work perfectly, as does connect the tablet to my Pixel 8's wi-fi hotspot with the head unit server activated in the Pixel 8's Android Auto developer settings.
★☆☆☆☆Peter K· Jul 5, 2026
Unable to get it to work. It connects and then does nothing. If I select To Android Auto on the tablet, it disconnects. This is with a Lenovo Tablet and Samsung S24.
★☆☆☆☆T Gilliam· Jul 24, 2026
Excellent for the Kindle Fire if your goal is to reboot the device. The instant you accept the connection for Wi-Fi Direct using the helper app on your phone the Kindle reboots. Both Fire 7 and Fire HD 8. Great work
★☆☆☆☆Sushil Maurya· Apr 9, 2026
Frequent disconnections. Need to connect again and again. I tried all connection methods e.g. Wi-Fi hotspot method, Wi-Fi Direct method etc. Also, I had checked all the settings including Wi-Fi and battery settings. But, the result is same i.e. frequent disconnections. Please resolve the issue.
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Trust & Safety: Permissions include location, network state, Bluetooth, microphone, storage, and foreground service capabilities, which are typical for connectivity, media playback, and device control in car headunit scenarios. The app is open-source and not affiliated with Google LLC; users should review the requested permissions and any data handling details before installation.
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