10 Android Auto Life Hacks Every User Should Know
Android Auto isn’t perfect, but it’s a powerful and highly customizable in-car infotainment system with a wealth of hidden features and settings. If you’re using Android Auto in your car, here are some top tips and tricks for getting the most out of its navigation, entertainment, and communication capabilities.
Customize the notifications you receive while driving.
Having too many notifications on your Android Auto screen while driving can be distracting (and potentially dangerous), but you also don’t want to miss important and urgent calls and messages. You can customize which alerts appear—and how—while driving, and even disable message notifications entirely. You can make changes like disabling group chat notifications while driving, customizing your phone’s display behavior when connected to Android Auto, and even customizing how your phone recognizes you while driving. This will depend on the type of Android device you have, so follow Lifehacker’s guide to managing notifications in Android Auto, especially if you have a Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy.
Use the Customize Launcher feature to rearrange apps.
If your default Android Auto menu is filled with apps you never use, you can rearrange or remove them and replace them with ones you use every time you drive, such as your favorite maps, music, and messaging apps. This will make the interface less distracting and eliminate the need to scroll to find the app you need. On your phone, go to Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Settings > Android Auto > Customize Launcher . Uncheck the apps you don’t need and drag them to rearrange them.
Customize your shortcuts with Custom Assistant.
Another way to customize the launcher is by programming shortcuts . These use custom commands for actions and scenarios , such as navigating to the nearest gas station, sending a message, calling a contact, or starting a series of home automations during a trip. Once programmed, these one-tap shortcuts are added to the Android Auto home screen and can be rearranged using the steps described above. To create a shortcut, go to Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Settings > Android Auto > Launcher Setup on your phone and tap Add Shortcut to Launcher . Then, select an Assistant action, enter the command, and tap Save . You can also test the shortcut directly from this screen.
Move media controls to the driver’s side for easier access.
In Android Auto, media is placed on the right side of the display, so you have to reach across the entire screen to control music apps. However, you can move media to the left (driver) side, making it slightly easier to access. You can also position maps on the driver’s side if desired. Go to Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Options > Android Auto , where you can set the media or navigation display to be closer to the driver. These options can also be found in your Android Auto device’s settings under Display .
Customize your Android Auto wallpaper.
Unlike Apple CarPlay, which doesn’t support user-added wallpapers without a third-party app, Android Auto lets you add a photo to the screen—though it’s limited to the same wallpaper as your phone. To set an image as your Android Auto background, go to Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Settings > Android Auto on your phone and select “Use phone wallpaper in Android Auto.” Open the image, tap the three dots, and select “Use as” > “Photos as Wallpaper.”
Choose your preferred digital assistant
Google began rolling out Gemini to Android Auto late last year, and while the update aims to expand the capabilities of conversational AI in your car, it hasn’t gone smoothly. Some users report that Gemini talks too much and makes too many mistakes, ultimately becoming more distracting than helpful. While this will likely improve with future updates, you can revert to the classic Google Assistant. To do so, go to Android Auto settings on your phone, then “Manage digital assistants” > “Digital assistants from Google” > “Google Assistant.” Note that this will apply globally, not just to Android Auto.
Please install AA browser to play videos.
Android Auto doesn’t come with a web browser by default, but you can add one yourself. For example, you can use the open-source AA Browser , which allows you to search Google or play videos on the Android Auto screen. Of course, you should only stream content when you’re safely parked—AA Browser will automatically disable if your car is moving. To do this, you need to enable developer mode on your Android phone and open the Android Auto Apps Downloader (AAAD) APK file, which provides access to a number of apps not included in the Play Store. Once installed, you can launch AA Browser from the main app drawer in the Android Auto interface.
Add wireless capabilities to your wired Android Auto.
Connecting your phone to Android Auto every time you get in your car can be inconvenient, especially when there’s a wireless version of Android Auto. A wired connection certainly has its advantages (which I’ll cover in the next guide), but if you want to add wireless capabilities to your wired device, you’ll need an adapter. Adapters from AAWireless and Carlinkit are frequently recommended by both users and testers .
Turn off Android Auto wireless connectivity to save your phone’s battery.
On the other hand, there are situations when you need to rely on Android Auto’s wired connection and prevent your phone from attempting a wireless connection. Google removed this toggle from the main settings a few years ago, but there’s a workaround in your device’s developer settings. To enable Android Auto developer mode on your Android phone, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Show all apps > Android Auto > Advanced > Additional in-app settings , scroll down to the “App info” section , and tap “Version” 10 times > “Version and permissions information .” Tap “OK” when the dialog appears, then tap the three-dot menu and uncheck “Connect Android Auto wirelessly.”
Change this setting to improve your screen resolution.
While in Developer Mode, check your default video resolution and DPI settings (also in the three-dot menu > Developer Options ). If the screen image is blurry, low-resolution, or scaling incorrectly, you can increase the resolution for a sharper image and smaller app icons, making better use of space. Note that the effect of these changes depends on the display type , as some older systems have limited resolution.