6 Android Auto settings you did not know you wanted to alter

The entire level of Android Auto is to boost your driving expertise with out the constraints of a cellphone mount, or the expense of shopping for a brand new automobile with preloaded tech like (the confusingly named) Android Automotive. It isn’t fairly as polished as Apple CarPlay, although, so it is not unusual for individuals to run into points that make it slightly extra troublesome than it ought to be. Hopefully, the hole will proceed to slender in coming years.

Within the meantime, you possibly can remedy a few of Android Auto’s present points with a number of settings tweaks. I would strongly advocate attempting some or all of those earlier than you hit the street — there is no sense driving with a suboptimal expertise, particularly in the event you’ve spent upwards of $1,000 on a brand new flagship cellphone from Google or Samsung.

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1 Allow developer settings

Unlock Android Auto’s full potential

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You possibly can’t totally enhance Android Auto’s usability with out enabling developer settings. Relying in your model of Android, even some seemingly easy issues could also be behind this barrier, handled as in the event that they had been a harmful experiment. Don’t be concerned — so long as you perceive the choices you are toggling, all the pieces ought to maintain working effective.

On most Android telephones, the steps seem like this:

1. In your cellphone, discover and open Android Auto.
2. Scroll all the way down to Model, and faucet it 10 instances.
3. Faucet OK within the pop-up affirmation window.

To entry developer settings at any time, open Android Auto once more and faucet the triple-dot menu (or a visible equal) within the top-right nook.

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2 Power Day or Evening Modes

Save your eyesight

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There is a good likelihood your cellphone is about to flip Android Auto from Day to Evening Mode and again robotically, however that is not supreme for everybody. Some individuals would possibly discover Day Mode blinding at any hour, as an example, or just want Evening Mode’s aesthetic. You possibly can change how maps seem fairly simply:

1. Discover and launch Android Auto in your cellphone.
2. Search for the Maps part, then faucet Day/Evening mode for maps.
3. Select Day, Evening, or Automated.

In case you’ve acquired developer settings on, you possibly can alter the complete Android Auto interface:

1. In Android Auto in your cellphone, faucet the triple-dot menu and choose Developer settings.
2. Hit Day/Evening.
3. Decide Automotive-controlled, Telephone-controlled, Day, or Evening. Remember that if you would like the phone-controlled possibility, you may must maintain your cellphone out the place it might register ambient mild situations.

1:04

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3 Make music and podcasts resume robotically

Save your self hassle throughout frequent stops

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One of many issues I get pleasure from about CarPlay is that it resumes media playback everytime you begin your automobile — until it has been some time since an related app was working. Sometimes, I am going to begin a playlist or podcast shortly earlier than I get within the driver’s seat simply to take advantage of this.

You may get the same expertise with Android Auto in the event you be sure that the precise setting is energetic:

1. Discover and open Android Auto in your cellphone.
2. Underneath the Startup part, flip the Begin music robotically toggle.

This might doubtlessly be annoying, in fact — in the event you’re leaving the fitness center together with your partner, you won’t wish to allow them to know that you simply raise weights to the Backstreet Boys.

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4 Launch Android Auto with out unlocking your cellphone

Why is not this the default?

I’d’ve put this greater on my checklist, besides that it is useless simple — comply with the steps from the final part, however flip the Begin Android Auto whereas locked toggle as a substitute. Voilà, no extra fingerprint, passcode, or facial recognition wanted.

There is no actual catch to this, both, until you are involved about somebody launching Android Auto in your cellphone once you’re not there.

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5 Repair the sorting of your apps

Transfer unused apps to the again

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Usually, Android Auto pushes the apps you utilize most to the entrance of the homescreen, but when that is not your bag, there are alternate sorting choices obtainable. It’s also possible to select which apps seem in any respect, say in the event you do not notably care about Discord chats once you’re driving.

1. Open Android Auto.
2. Within the Show part, choose Customise launcher.
3. Faucet Launcher sorting to decide on a special possibility, reminiscent of A-Z.
4. Select Customized order if you wish to handle issues your self. Drag and drop apps to place them in a special order, and use the checkboxes to pick out which apps seem.

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6 Conceal undesirable messaging notifications

Catch up once you’re protected and sound

Common chat notifications aren’t an enormous deal once you’re at residence or work, however when Android Auto is working, they will doubtlessly intrude together with your driving. You have acquired a number of toggles obtainable throughout the Android Auto settings in your cellphone:

• Present message notifications will flip all message alerts on or off (in Auto solely).
• Present group conversations impacts group chats, not one-on-one conversations.
• Present first line of messages can be utilized to preview incoming content material.
• Play message chime will be disabled if you wish to get rid of audio distractions.

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