This sideloaded Android Auto app is my favorite way to watch YouTube and browse the web in my car

When it comes to sideloaded Android Auto apps, I'm always after two key features: YouTube and web browsing support. I've spent a fair amount of time with apps that add that functionality to Google's in-car platform, including Fermata Auto and Screen2Auto.

While both sideloaded apps run okay, they're still pretty unreliable and frequently crash. With that in mind, when I came across a new app on Reddit called Xtream Player that I hadn't heard of before, I decided it was worth trying. The sideloaded Android Auto app offers a wide variety of features, including connecting to self-hosted platforms like Plex, accessing folders on your phone, viewing images, and even playing internet radio.

While I connected to a random radio station in Afghanistan and another in Antarctica for a few minutes just for fun, the core functionality I'm interested in is YouTube support and web browsing, which is why I keep coming back to Xtream Player — these features just work. Navigating YouTube and browsing the web is straight up more reliable than any other sideloaded app I've used, swipe navigation and the on-screen keyboard are impressively responsive, and you can even easily sign in to your YouTube account to access your subscriptions, recommendations, and viewing history.

Xtream Player is better than other sideloaded Android Auto YouTube and web browsing apps, but the experience isn't perfect

Like most sideloaded Android Auto apps, the UI could use some work

There are a few odd user interface design choices, like the main menu of Xtream Player being accessed from different areas of the UI, but I've come to expect issues like this with sideloaded Android Auto apps.

I was also forced to turn off a feature that disables video while driving because it didn't seem to be working properly. A pop-up kept appearing when I tried to load up YouTube while parked. That said, I respect the developer behind Xtream Player for attempting to implement this feature, because no one should be watching YouTube or browsing the internet while driving. You can turn this feature off by navigating to Settings > Media > Video Settings > Video In Motion, which I was forced to do to get the pop-up to go away.

It's worth noting that there's a somewhat complicated history surrounding Xtream Player. Fermata Xtream was originally a fork of the open-source, sideloaded Android Auto app Fermata Auto. It was very similar to the standard version of Fermata Auto, but includes a few additional features like IPTV support.

Then malebuffy, the developer behind the project, announced plans to wind it down on Android Auto's subreddit, citing undisclosed reasons. However, they're back with Xtream Player, a project they claim features "new code" and isn't connected to Fermata Auto.

Like most sideloaded Android Auto apps, it takes some work to get Xtreme Player running

You'll need to give the app ample access to your phone

Getting Xtream Player up and running takes quite a bit of effort. Before even getting your hands on the APK, you first need to turn on Android's Developer Mode and then Android Auto's Developer Mode, which requires several steps.

First up, make sure you have Android's Developer Mode enabled:

• Open the Settings app on your Android device
• Tap About Phone.
• Open Software Information (with my Pixel 10 Pro, this option is on the main About Phone screen).
• Find your phone's Build Number, and tap it seven times in a row.
• If you've done this correctly, you'll see a message stating Developer Mode Enabled (you'll see a notification that you have only three taps left when you're close).

Next, it's time to turn on Android Auto's Developer Mode:

• Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
• Navigate to Connected Devices (it's the second option).
• Tap on Android Auto (on my Pixel 10 Pro, I also need to tap Connection Preferences first).
• Scroll down and tap Version until Developer Settings are enabled (you'll see a notification that you have only three taps left when you're close).

Next up, you'll need to install AAEnabler to get the app to appear in your Android Auto Launcher, unless you use the Unknown Sources route (I haven't tried this particular Android Auto sideloading method with Xtream Player, so I can't verify it works). You can also buy the premium license for Xtream Player through AA Enabler, but you don't need to (it gives you access to Jellyfin support and faster Plex remote access).

Now, download the free version of Xtream Player, Open AAEnabler, and tap the blue Install App button (you'll need to go to your device's Downloads folder to find the Xtream Player APK you've already downloaded). Lastly, to use some of Xtream Player's features, you'll need to enable a series of somewhat intimidating permissions. As always, it's up to you whether you're comfortable giving a sideloaded app this level of access to your device.

Head to Settings > Apps > Xtream Player > Three Dots > Allow Restricted Settings. This settings option will sometimes pop up on your phone when you're running Xtream Player in Android Auto, but not always. Additionally, if you want to get FS Xtream Mirror to work, an app that lets you mirror your phone on your Android Auto display, you'll need to navigate to Apps > DS Xtream Mirror > Allow Display Over Other Apps.

I've never been able to get screen mirroring apps to run on my Pixel 10 Pro, but you might have more success than me. I removed FS Xtream Mirror from my Android Auto Launcher by navigating to Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Preferences > Android Auto > Customize Launcher > unchecking FS Xtream Mirror).

If you follow all the steps above, you should now have Xtream Player running on your Android Auto display.

Xtream Player