Thanks! I think I found it online but whichever apk I download throws an error message ‘this app is not compatible with your phone’ when trying to install it. I’ll keep looking for one that works 👍🏻.

I looked for this ‘android remote app’ but a lot of options came up when searching for it. Would you be able to tell me the name of the developer please, or send me a direct download link? Thanks in advance!

I will try out KDE Connect, thank you!

Thanks for the input, everyone! It is greatly appreciated.

My use case is that I am trying to help a young man with an intellectual disability to operate his TV. He keeps breaking his physical remote controls and whilst I try and source a new one, I am looking for a remote control app to install on my personal phone so I can at least turn the TV on for him.

I will try out KDE Connect and will also look into the Android Remote App (although no longer maintained). If this all fails, I will look into a hardware solution.

Thanks again!

Yes, no problem at all. It’s a TCL P735 tv running the Google TV OS.

I did find non-FOSS remote options in the playstore but they are all riddled with ads and are asking for too many unnecessary permission imo.

TIA

Android Auto is the Android equivalent to Apple CarPlay. I.e., it mirrors your Android phone screen onto your car display.

I use Secure Camera by GrapheneOS on my Samsung A53, together with Simple Gallery. Working well enough for me!

No problem at all! You will need to enable developer options in the Android Auto app on your phone. Find the AA app, then scroll to the bottom where it says “version and permission info”. Tap on that section about 7 times until you see a message saying that you have enabled developer options. Then go to the three dots in the right top corner and you will now see developer settings listed there. Open this and enable “unknown sources”. All your non-Google-playstore apps should now show up in your Android Auto, permitted they support AA that is (Metro music player does). Good luck!!

Ow cool, didn’t realise I could use Jellyfin for this purpose also. Will try it out, cheers!

Thank you! Trying out Metro now.

I am trying out Metro now and it looks great. I had to enable developer options in Android Auto and then “allow apps from unknown sources”. Metro then works very will in Android Auto. Good luck!

Thank you! I’ll try out VLC.

Thank you! I’ll try out VLC for playing my offline music.

Yes, unfortunately I haven’t been able to find a foss alternative for Android Auto. If someone happens to know one, I am open to recommendations.

Thanks for the input!

Check out RethinkDNS+Firewall on FDroid.

Gboard with its access to the internet blocked via RethinkDNS.