It has ceased to be an exclusive for a few to reach a large part of Android Auto users: the Coolwalk interface is already found in many cars. With a better design, it adapts to all types of screens and it even works on vertical consoles. What if you wanted to return to the classic Android Auto interface? We tell you the means and what you need to achieve it.
Analyzing a platform like Android Auto in depth ends up making you want to delve into its internal functioning, how Google activates or not the various functions that land. Because nothing else, but you have to be patient with the company: More than a year has passed since I was able to try Coolwalk until it reached the first users.. Thanks to knowing where to touch, I know more than one trick with the new interface. Even how to remove it; even if it’s not really easy.
First up: Here’s how Google enables Android Auto features
All Google apps allow features to be enabled and disabled from company servers. It is something similar to what happens in WhatsApp: the applications include a large number of new features that are not visible because, when checking with the servers after opening these applications, receive the answer that it is not yet the time. And it can be manipulated, both in one way and another.
Android Auto works entirely on the Android phone that we connect to the car. The vehicle lacks software beyond screen projection: everything is done by smartphone. And the Android Auto app receives instructions from Google Play Services, the framework that supports and configures all Google apps.
In Google Play Services, there is an XML file called “Flags” which details every option in Google apps, including Android Auto. Once in said file, the Coolwalk activation order appears, command associated with the Google account with which Android Auto is used, there is no turning back: Coolwalk will be visible in the car whenever the phone is connected to it; wired or via wireless Android Auto. Therefore, to remove the Coolwalk interface, you must deactivate the Google command associated with the account; process that can be done in several ways, usually with only one requirement: having ROOT access.
Leaving the Android Auto beta
Did you manage to enter the experimental version of Android Auto? It was difficult for me, but I managed to do it with a handy desktop extension for Google Chrome. Since Coolwalk was mostly prevalent throughout the beta, if you want to go back to the previous interface, you have to exit it first.
- Open the Google Play store on your Android, the one you connect to the car.
- Search for “Android Auto” and enter its file.
- Go down to the beta zone and click on “Quit”: you will have left the experimental version.
- Uninstall Android Auto updates by entering your mobile settings, finding the car app in the “Apps” section.
- Update from Google Play, restart your mobile and connect it to the car. Most likely you will recover the old interface.
Go back to a previous version of Android Auto
As with the beta release, downgrading your Android Auto does not guarantee a Coolwalk downgradebut it can help you. And it is a process that is carried out without too many complications:
- Make sure you’ve left the beta first (if you were).
- Open your mobile settings and go to “Applications”.
- Locate “Android Auto” and enter its menu.
- Two things can happen here: you can uninstall the application, in which case continue, or you must uninstall the updates because Android Auto is a system application on your mobile: click on the three dots at the top right and press ” Uninstall updates “.
- Go to Apk Mirror and install a fairly old version of Android Auto. Keep in mind that you can’t go back as far as you want: pick one below 8.8, you’ll have to try it.
- Please restart the mobile before connecting it to the car.
Change the account with which you use your Android Auto
I have already mentioned that Coolwalk is associated with Google Play services and your Google account. If you have been activated for a specific account try to choose another one to use your mobile with the car. And it’s not in the beta.
Restore Google Play Services
If with the above, Coolwalk continues to appear in your car, it’s time to move on to more drastic methods. The main one is to reset your Google Play services: since activating Coolwalk is done with a configuration XML flag, if you delete said XML, you have to recover the old interface. At least for a moment.
- Go to your Android settings and enter “Applications”.
- Go to “All apps”, click on the top three menu points and then on “Show system”. The texts change according to the mobile and the manufacturer.
- Write in the search engine “google play services” and enter its menu.
- Go to “Storage” and click on “Erase all data”. You’ll delete a lot of personal information on your phone, but it won’t go away: Google Play Services will retrieve all information from its servers.
- Restart and connect the mobile to the car.
Bigger words: forcing the old interface with ROOT
That you did the above and Coolwalk insists on continuing to date you? Once Google extends activation, it is difficult for the device to refuse to obey it, The time will come when there will be no choice but to quit. Although there is one last step: unsubscribe Coolwalk from Google Play Services “Flags”.
The manual process is quite complex, to simplify it, use a very complete application if you want to customize your Android Auto to the limit: AA AIO Tweaker. It was updated in February 2023 including, precisely, the disable Android Auto Coolwalk.
As already indicated, you can only use this application if you have rooted the mobile with which you connect to the car. Follow the steps if you meet this requirement.
- Go to the AA AIO Tweaker GitHub and download the latest version.
- Install the file. Play Protect is probably telling you that it’s not secure, but it’s not: it’s completely clean. Apart from the fact that the code is free, I passed the APK through Virus Total.
- Once AA AIO Tweaker is installed, open the app and scroll down to “Force Coolwalk Layout“. Click here.
- Now click “Restart to apply” and when you connect your Android to the car, Android Auto will recover its previous design.
Surely you need to perform the process from time to time: maybe Google insists on activating Coolwalk from its servers. You will only have to repeat the steps.
In Xataka Android | My stupid car now has Android Auto
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