I want somebody instructed me about these 5 Android Auto settings sooner

Up till about two months in the past, I had been driving a 2003 PT Cruiser for almost a decade. That automotive and I went via so many phases of life collectively, however sadly, a busted transmission and a $4,000+ restore invoice ended our time collectively earlier this yr.

That meant it was time to purchase a brand new automotive. I ended up with a 2022 Hyundai Tucson, and as you would possibly count on, there’s a giant technological shift when shopping for a automotive that’s nearly 20 years newer. I now have cruise management, heated seats, and — after all — Android Auto.

I mainly went into studying Android Auto blind, and after simply a few months, I don’t understand how I lived with out it for thus lengthy. Nonetheless, my introduction to the platform would have been even higher if somebody had first instructed me about these 5 settings.

By default, the underside bar in Android Auto serves as a taskbar in your apps. It’s nice should you incessantly swap between a number of functions, however there’s one other approach to make use of the taskbar that I discover rather more useful.

In your Android cellphone, open the Settings app, faucet the search bar/icon on the high of the web page, and sort “Android Auto” to search out and entry Android Auto settings in your cellphone (choose the one that claims “Use apps in your car display screen”). When you’re on the Android Auto settings web page, scroll right down to the Show part, then faucet the toggle subsequent to Taskbar widgets.

As soon as that is enabled, your taskbar will now show miniature widgets as an alternative of your app icons, relying on what you’re doing. For instance, when you have music enjoying however open the Google Maps app, you’ll see a mini music participant widget within the taskbar with fast entry to playback controls. Alternatively, when you have your music app in full-screen, you’ll see Maps turn-by-turn instructions within the taskbar.

This will likely sound like a small change, but it surely’s been one in all my favourite Android Auto settings thus far. It’s such a sensible solution to allow multitasking within the automotive, and I don’t plan to ever flip off these taskbar widgets.

The Android Auto launcher is probably not as customizable because the launcher in your Android cellphone, however that doesn’t imply it has zero customization. The truth is, there’s an entire web page devoted to it.

Staying on the identical Android Auto settings web page (you’ll use it for all the suggestions on this article), scroll down till you see the Show part we had been simply at. Proper above the Taskbar widgets setting, faucet Customise launcher.

This takes you to a brand new web page the place you may utterly customise the looks of your Android Auto app drawer. You possibly can rearrange the order through which apps seem by shifting the handles on the left. Moreover, tapping the checkbox for any apps you don’t wish to see will cover them from the app drawer. It is probably not essentially the most groundbreaking customization ever, however I’ll take what I can get.

As I’m certain most individuals do, I incessantly have navigation and media playback operating once I’m within the automotive. By default, Android Auto shows your maps/navigation app on the left aspect (closest to the driving force) and no matter media app you’re utilizing to the fitting.

This format is okay, however particularly in case your automotive has a big cabin or a giant infotainment display screen, having your media controls on the fitting could make them simply out of attain. Fortunately, Android Auto enables you to change this.

From the Android Auto settings web page in your cellphone, scroll to the underside till you see the Superior part. Beneath this, faucet Change format after which faucet Media nearer to driver. Now, your navigation and media apps swap positions on the house display screen, placing your music or podcast controls nearer to you.

Talking of media playback, Android Auto is configured by default to routinely play no matter you had been final listening to in your cellphone proper whenever you flip in your automotive. I normally don’t thoughts this, however there are situations the place I’d desire to decide on what I’m listening to earlier than Android Auto routinely begins enjoying one thing I don’t need.

As soon as once more, there’s a setting to right this. Return to the Android Auto settings in your cellphone, and on the high of the web page, there’s a piece known as Startup. Right here, faucet the toggle subsequent to Begin music routinely to disable the characteristic.

Now, whenever you get in your automotive, Android Auto received’t blast you with a music or podcast until you manually begin it first. You’re welcome.

I do know some individuals can’t stand Gemini, however there are occasions the place the AI may be genuinely useful — particularly the extra you make it give you the results you want. And consider it or not, there’s a fairly intelligent approach to make use of Gemini within the automotive.

From the identical Customise launcher web page we had been on earlier, faucet Add a shortcut to the launcher after which faucet A Gemini motion from the pop-up. From right here, you may kind within the command you wish to give Gemini and add a reputation for it.

The great thing about Gemini actions is that you may configure a number of issues to occur with simply the press of a button. For instance, I created an motion known as “Driving residence” that does all the following: Begins turn-by-turn instructions again to my home, units the air conditioner to 70 levels, activates the lounge lights, and performs one in all my go-to playlists on Apple Music.

Gemini actions seem in your app drawer, and you may prepare them alongside your different apps utilizing the identical steps above to customise your launcher. When you put a while into creating a number of multi-step Gemini actions, they’ll show to be extraordinarily highly effective.