New Android automatic update: Google releases version 12.3 for all users

Version 12.3 is living proof. The beta was released to testers earlier this week, and now Google is promoting the update to the stable channel, starting to roll out to production devices.

Android Auto 12.3 is available now in the Google Play Store for users who haven’t signed up for the beta program, though the rollout is still in a phased manner. Google is enabling the update in stages for users who receive automatic updates, so depending on a number of factors, your device could receive Android Auto 12.3 today, later this week, or in a few weeks.

The good news is that everyone can get the stable version of Android Auto 12.3 today by downloading the APK file on their Android devices.

The first step is to download the APK file to your smartphone. Navigate to the file location, tap it to start the update, and follow the on-screen wizard to complete the process. If this is your first time loading the app on your phone, you may be asked to enable special permissions.

Google hasn’t shared any release information for Android Auto 12.3, so if you want to know if the company has added anything new, the only way to find out is to install this stable build on your smartphone. I’ve already installed the beta and stable builds on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and haven’t noticed any major changes, so the focus is likely on improvements under the hood.

Google rarely shares new information about what’s in an Android Auto update unless it’s something worth noting, so you can assume the company has merely fixed bugs that users have reported earlier. Our mission is to identify which bugs are gone, and as longtime users are sure to know, there are plenty of them that need Google’s urgent attention.

One of the most common problems that Android Auto users are currently facing is interruption of message notifications when the phone is connected to the head unit. Users reported the bug earlier this year, shortly after Google released Android Auto 11.8 to the production channel, but has yet to provide a fix. Users have discovered various workarounds, including one that involves resetting permissions for all apps installed on the device. However, most users are still waiting for a fix from Google, even though the search giant remains tight-lipped about the status of its investigation.

As usual, if you download and install Android Auto 12.3 on your smartphone and notice something new, let us know in the popup after the jump. The same goes for new bugs and issues, as it’s no secret that Android Auto updates sometimes introduce even more glitches, which otherwise make it unreliable.