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Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n
Android Auto is a Google product I use every day, and every day it does a brilliant job of annoying me. OK, I\u2019ll admit, I wouldn\u2019t use it if it didn\u2019t add some value to my time on the road, but that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s a finished, immaculate product. Google still has a long way to go to get its premier in-car phone mirroring product to that pinnacle.<\/p>\n
Seeing that Google is in a fixing mood, what else could it change in Android Auto to bring it closer to perfection? Here\u2019s my humble pitch list and wishlist.<\/p>\n
What would you like to see Google address in Android Auto?<\/p>\n
40 votes<\/p>\n
I want a graphical option to adjust the navigation volume level.<\/p>\n
30%<\/p>\n
I want more shortcut options in the app drawer.<\/p>\n
5%<\/p>\n
I want Google to give me more customizations and control over UI elements.<\/p>\n
30%<\/p>\n
I want a more reliable voice assistant that understands my commands.<\/p>\n
13%<\/p>\n
I want a passenger mode to allow passengers to control Android Auto.<\/p>\n
10%<\/p>\n
I want Google to implement its own version of Apple CarPlay widgets.<\/p>\n
3%<\/p>\n
I want something else (elaborate in the comments).<\/p>\n
10%<\/p>\n
Simplify navigation volume controls<\/p>\n
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Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n
As a control surface on my car\u2019s dashboard, Android Auto should make basic tasks easy to find and quick to execute. This isn\u2019t always the case in reality, and one task it complicates is adjusting Android Auto\u2019s navigation voice and alert volume.<\/p>\n
I can only adjust these levels when Google Maps<\/a>, Waze, or my mapping app of the day is actively issuing directions or alerts. At that moment, turning the volume knob (or button) up or down will change this volume exclusively. However, there\u2019s a small problem I\u2019ve experienced many times before. Suppose I turn the volume down too forcefully \u2014 when it\u2019s talking over my partner, for example \u2014 and I accidentally mute it. As I can\u2019t hear any navigation instructions, returning it to an audible level while driving becomes nearly impossible.<\/p>\n Yes, Google Maps provides a navigation sample volume feature that lets me listen to a dummy command and adjust the sound levels accordingly. However, this solution involves far more steps than a simple button tap.<\/p>\n Thankfully, the fix isn\u2019t too challenging. Google could easily add a dedicated volume button (or even use the existing unmuted button) on Google Maps\u2019 settings menu or sidebar that incrementally cycles through volume levels, giving drivers a quick way to increase, decrease, or restore the audio to a sensible level.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t want to miss the best from Android Authority?<\/p>\n Make smarter use of shortcuts in the app drawer<\/p>\n Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n In August, we uncovered Google\u2019s plans to increase the number of apps available<\/a> on the Android Auto launcher screen. Depending on your display size, this could mean showing every supported app available without needing to scroll through them. That\u2019s very useful for those with large, wide displays, and I\u2019m all for this change. But I think that Google could and should go a step further.<\/p>\n Unlike my Android launcher<\/a>, I don\u2019t spend much time on the Android Auto home screen. In the car, I want as direct access as possible to features within apps. I don\u2019t want to trawl through layers of screens or menu items to get where I want to go. As the general operation of my phone isn\u2019t a matter of safety, I can freely scroll and navigate through apps at my leisure. With Android Auto, time and attention are of the essence, which places greater emphasis on the shortcuts displayed.<\/p>\n To help drivers access the exact items they\u2019re looking for with a single tap, Google could allow the creation of custom shortcuts that point to specific features, content, or intents within apps. These can then be pinned to the launcher screen. While you can create shortcuts using Google Assistant, bypassing the unreliable helper would make such a feature more reliable and predictable.<\/p>\n Instead of opening Spotify and navigating to a playlist before taking off, what if I could set that playlist as a shortcut on Auto’s app drawer?<\/p>\n Need an example of how this feature could be useful? Well, I have several Spotify<\/a> driving playlists, but I\u2019ve been loving the recommendations on Oyster recently. Instead of opening Spotify and navigating to this playlist before taking off, what if I could set Oyster as a shortcut on Auto\u2019s app drawer? Opening it would require a single tap, cutting several seconds off the process. There are countless other examples where heading directly to a function within an app would be useful. Specific locations in Google Maps, fuel stations in Fuelio, radio stations in Radiotime, or WhatsApp contacts with actions could improve the system\u2019s responsiveness.<\/p>\n Give users more control over core UI elements<\/p>\n Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n I think this is the perfect time to discuss Android Auto\u2019s inconsistent and changeable UI<\/a>. Google has recently been implementing scatterbrained changes to the platform\u2019s interface, making it more difficult to access certain features or obfuscating useful information.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been a victim of this just this week. I\u2019m unsure if it was a Google Maps update, an Android Auto update, or a server-side change, but Maps is suddenly drawing roads in a much darker gray, which muddies traffic congestion colors. It\u2019s become so distracting that I\u2019ve tried using dark mode exclusively and even considered switching to Waze. Each has its own set of drawbacks. While accessibility should be the cornerstone of Android Auto\u2019s philosophy, Google\u2019s changes actively go against this ideal.<\/p>\n So, the solution? Relinquish more UI control to users.<\/p>\n At present, Google controls core aspects of Auto\u2019s appearance, but what Google decides isn\u2019t always best for you or me.\u00a0I should be free to select whether Google Maps displays a full-sized search bar, an icon, or the full dropdown menu. I want to choose the color of the roads in Maps or the saturation levels of traffic congestion. If I want a thicker seek bar, larger album art, or the Like icon in my Spotify interface, I should be allowed these options. Simple tasks, like manually switching between dark and light modes, should be an existing option within Android Auto\u2019s interface, not only the phone app\u2019s settings menu.<\/p>\n Apps like OsmAnd<\/a> offer me a broad array of customization. It\u2019s time Google does the same.<\/p>\n Fix those pesky voice command inconsistencies<\/p>\n Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n Of course, none of these problems would be as pronounced if Google fixed Android Auto\u2019s shaky voice operation. We demonstrated Gemini running on Android Auto<\/a> in March. Google itself confirmed its plans to roll out the next-generation assistant to cars in May. It\u2019s now October, and I still haven\u2019t seen traces of Gemini in my car. This is coming from an Android 16 Samsung user, too.<\/p>\n Assistant just doesn\u2019t cut it anymore, and it has progressively worsened in the past year. When asked to navigate to a location, it routinely responds, \u201cSorry, I didn\u2019t understand that.\u201d Responding to a WhatsApp message? Google Assistant completely butchers my utterances. Ironically, the only commands that seem to fire off regularly for me are creating a task in Google Tasks or making a note in Google Keep. Both are useful but have little bearing on the overall driving experience.<\/p>\n None of Auto’s functional and graphical problems would be as pronounced if Google fixed its shaky voice operation.<\/p>\n I\u2019m unsure if Gemini will fix the issues we\u2019ve experienced with Assistant, but surely it\u2019s a step in the right direction. I\u2019m particularly excited for Gemini Live integration, a feature I\u2019ve used as a virtual secretary for verbal thought dumps and a cooking assistant<\/a>. It understands my intentions and prompts despite my accent and replies with thoughtful, emotive responses. It would be a far more natural way to talk to Android Auto, almost akin to chatting with a passenger.<\/p>\n But, like so many other promised Google features across its various platforms, there\u2019s no word on when Gemini or Gemini Live will be available on Android Auto.<\/p>\n Implement a passenger mode<\/p>\n Calvin Wankhede \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n Android Auto is primarily built for drivers, and this means implementing several distraction protections. As one example, Google locks some interface features, like destination search via keyboard, when the car is in motion. However, as voice controls are so poor, the display is usually the only way to get anything done. I don\u2019t use the screen in these situations and typically ask my partner to fiddle with Android Auto on my behalf. But, since Google doesn\u2019t realize she\u2019s in the passenger seat and not the one behind the wheel, necessary functionality remains locked for her, too. Ironically, I can access and change Google Maps\u2019 various settings while in motion, but typing in a destination isn\u2019t an option.<\/p>\n So, how do we solve this? I pitched a passenger mode for Android Auto<\/a> that would allow others in the car to connect to my Android Auto instance and control music, change the destination, and more from their device. This collaborative feature would make it easier for the driver to delegate tasks or allow family or friends in the rear seat to select the playlist they want.<\/p>\n I still think such a feature has merit. A far simpler, immediate solution could utilize a shortcut button on the passenger\u2019s side of the screen that unlocks core interface elements while the car is in motion, like Google Maps\u2019 search bar and the keyboard. After a period, Auto could relock these features, requiring the passenger to re-enable them. This would also dissuade drivers from readily abusing such a feature.<\/p>\n Again, this would not be a problem if Android Auto\u2019s voice control system weren\u2019t such a mess.<\/p>\n Reinvent Apple\u2019s CarPlay widget system<\/p>\n Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n Finally, let\u2019s end this Android Auto article by discussing Apple CarPlay<\/a>. With iOS 26, CarPlay users can select from several widgets that\u2019ll impart valuable information on the vehicle\u2019s screen. This can be anything from a month calendar to the lyrics of the currently playing song to a weather forecast.<\/p>\n I really like the idea of widgets on the vehicle screen. While they should theoretically be distracting, this system does best by making pertinent information accessible without active intervention. I also appreciate that Apple is willing to hand over control to users here. I can pick the widgets I want to appear, giving me complete discretion over what is displayed and what isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n Wouldn\u2019t a similar feature on Android Auto be brilliant?<\/p>\n I really like the idea of widgets on the vehicle screen.<\/p>\n There\u2019s physical room for this, too. Android Auto\u2019s default layout uses three content boxes. The larger one houses the mapping app, and one of the two smaller boxes includes the music app. On some devices, the third box displays the current temperature and weather conditions, or shortcuts to frequently accessed destinations. But this box could be better used to display a rotating cast of user-picked widgets.<\/p>\n How would this be helpful? Well, consider the possibilities. This feature could display the current weather, the weather at the destination, a forecast, distance details to the next fuel stop or large town, a drive time ticker, a countdown, sunrise and sunset details, forthcoming traffic issues, and any other pertinent information the user chooses. Google wouldn\u2019t need to open up Android\u2019s widget library either; it could create its own Android Auto-specific widgets.<\/p>\n![\"google](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png\"\/ "\\"google"){kind=icon}
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