Driving with a screen and an infotainment system like Android Auto is, in my experience, something easier and safer than carrying a cell phone and holder (especially if we use it intensively). The key is in its interface, simplified and adapted to this scenario and the applications available. However, Android Auto needs to improve personalization: without root, there are options but they are rather rare (with root things change).
But it is not because there are few things to modify to our taste that they are trivial. In fact, and although Google unfortunately does not allow us to personalize and define the icons of the applications that appear in the lower bar (intended to display the most important applications when we turn it on then those that we use), there has something that can be done that I think is very important: change the order of apps. This makes a difference in terms of functionality and security.
The Android Auto menu only shows the apps I use and prioritizes my favorites
Changing this setting only takes a few minutes and yet when I get into the cars of people around me with Android Auto, it continues to surprise me that not only did they not bother with it, they didn’t. Were not even aware of this possibility. This, yes, It cannot be changed on the car screen but can be changed from the app of the phone’s Android Auto, which in turn is somewhat hidden, since it does not appear on the home screen, but rather in the settings (I use the search engine here)
Once in the main screen of Android Auto we press ‘Additional app settings‘ and we slide down on this screen until we reach the screen section, where ‘ appearsCustomize the app menu‘. Here we are interested in the second option, that of ‘Sort the apps menu‘.
However, my recommendation is, while we’re at it, to uncheck the checkboxes that appear marked by default in the apps compatible with Android Auto and that will appear on the car’s screen, such as “Gamesnacks” or “News” which I have never used while driving.
I only leave the apps that really serve me, like Google Maps, Waze, TomTom, Radarbot or messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram and of course, I don’t miss Spotify or Prime Music when I travel. The idea is Only leave apps you actually use on Android Auto.
Then, the applications to be presented can be ordered, how? By pressing ‘Sort the apps menu‘ Two options are displayed: alphabetical or custom order. I choose the second: I want my favorite applications and the ones I use the most to appear at the top, so I drag them to the upper area.
This way, as soon as I enter the Android Auto menu, I find them without having to search thinking of the alphabet or sorting out the ones that don’t make sense to me. This way I find them faster and get lost less, which, as I mentioned in the intro, impacts user experience and security.
Home | Eva Rodriguez de Luis
By | ADSL Zone
In Xataka Android | Six Important Android Auto Settings I Recommend Setting Up ASAP
