Why is it that from Android Auto with Roon Arc via my Google Pixel 8 Pro am I only able to access albums that I have recently played on some other endpoint in my home with Roon? I’ve had this issue since the start and always thought I’d figure it out on my own, but I am finally gonna reach with a support query. Thank you.
Describe your network setup
Roon Rock Server is a NUC Intel® NUC 13 Pro Kit NUC13ANKi5 --> NETGEAR 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS116NA) --> Verizon FIOS CR1000A Gateway 2023 Model. Music Source Storage Folders location: Synology NAS Model DS2419+. The NAS is physically connected to the Netgear switch then to the Verizon FIOS CR1000A router. Storage is from folders accessed via the Synology NAS with 16,500 FLAC or ALAC Albums playable.
Roon Rock Server Roon ARC 1.69.369 Build 100369
Roon Remote This PC Roon version 2.55 (build 1559) production (64bit)
Roon Server NUC Rock Server (192.168.1.xxx) Roon Server version 2.55 (build 1559) production
Thank you for taking the time to share your inquiry here.
From your description, it sounds like ARC/Android Auto is only showing your “Recently Played” items rather than allowing full library browsing.
This is unfortunately expected with the current ARC implementation for Android Auto/CarPlay. Android Auto places stricter limits on how media apps can present content while driving. To meet those safety and interface rules, ARC’s Android Auto integration currently surfaces a limited subset of your library, with a focus on Recently Played items for quick access.
Do you have any issues playing content if you use voice control? What is the make/model of head unit you’re using for Android Auto?
Thanks for the prompt response Connor! Yes, that explains why when you say only recently. I have never triedusing my voice. I’ll look up the proper syntax in your guide & tyy. I have a spanking new 2025 BMW X3 which is why I delayed so long asking this question. I waited until I upgraded from my 2019 Acura RDX as I thought it could be the head unit’s SW.
If voice commands work I can easily live with that. It’s probably a lot to ask to have a library of my size - 16K Albums at my fingertips over Mobile Broadband. Thanks again!
You’re right — the distraction-prevention safety features built into Android Auto can sometimes conflict with what users expect based on the standard mobile app experience. This can lead to some frustrating inconsistencies, like limited scrolling or restricted search access.
In some cases, the head unit’s UI enforces additional limits on the number of items displayed, so an A–Z list of albums, for example, might cut off around M or N. Many Android Auto integrations instead simplify browsing to categories like Recently Added or Recently Played to comply with Google’s driver safety guidelines.
When using Android Auto with your BMW X3 and Pixel phone, Google Assistant is the precise service that handles voice and control commands for ARC. Here’s a quick guide from Google — you’ll find Roon ARC under the “Entertainment” or “Music” section of Assistant integrations.
Please let us know if we can provide any additional resources to help get ARC and Android Auto working smoothly.
I have tried using voice commands with Google Assistant with mixed results. Is there a specific syntax that works best to choose selections from Roon ARC? I can easily go to ARC from other audio sources, but as far as saying, “Hey Google, play Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run”, when ARC is displayed the result is going to one of the services like YouTube Music, which I do not want. Of course I want the version from my NAS accessible through ARC. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
To be sure I have this right, the correct syntax would be “Hey Google, play Jungleland from Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run using Roon ARC”?
Will try later today.
No good. If I say: “Hey Google, play Jungleland from Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run using Roon ARC”? it plays some random live Jungleland on YouTube Music. I’ve also tried a few variations. There must be a syntax that limits searching to only Roon ARC. I’ll try uninstalling YouTube Music next time I get in the car. Any ideas appreciated.
It still fails from inside the ARC app when I tell it to play something with Roon ARC. So due to the limitation with Android Auto, we can only have access to a select group of albums or playlists in Roon ARC at any given time. Not happy, but that’s been the behaviour all along anyway. I just hoped I was wrong.
Thanks for lettting us know those results. We’re checking with the team to see if there’s any other limitations that could be impacting the voice playback, we will revert to you once we have discussed. Thanks in advance for your patience!
Please before closing this ticket, advise of suggested syntax of commands for pulling an album via Arc, NOT recently played in Roon home endpoints. Every time I try it pulls from YouTube music, not Arc.
While full library voice search is currently limited, there is one practical workaround some users have found helpful:
Before starting the drive, open Roon ARC on your phone and:
Search and start playing the album/track you want from your full library.
Then connect the phone to Android Auto.
Once ARC is already actively playing, Android Auto will continue that session, and you can then use simple commands like:
“Hey Google, pause”
“Hey Google, skip”
“Hey Google, play next track”
This doesn’t solve full voice-based library navigation, but it does let you choose anything from your library before driving and control playback safely during the drive.
Thank you Vadim. Ok, I did what you said, and no surprise the album I selected shows in ARC immediately upon starting Android Auto. Of course this is nothing new. Starting a track or album will always show up by default if started in ARC prior.
When I try to play a particular track from the album started prior to engaging Android Auto, it directed me to install YOUTube Music (which I had uninstalled the day before).
So in my view what most people with a large library will have to do is setup playlists or start albums they want to hear prior to their auto trip
Once ARC is actively playing, the pause and skip track work, but play next track failed.
Please, if I am missing something, let me know.
This ultimately comes down to the fact that ARC doesn’t have fully integrated Google Assistant integration. YouTube Music and other apps are natively integrated with Google Assistant for Android Auto; from the head unit’s perspective, there’s no way to flag ARC as the default app for media playback under the current implementation.
The team is aware of this limitation and actively working to expand ARC’s compatibility with Google Assistant.
I recommend creating a post in Feedback > Feature Suggestions that outlines your desired interaction with ARC through Google Assistant. Our senior development and product teams will certainly take this feedback into account since this work is ongoing.