In my experience, driving with a screen and an infotainment system like Android Auto is easier and safer than carrying a phone and a holder (especially if you’re driving it heavily). The key is in the interface, which has been simplified and adapted to this scenario and the apps available. But, Android Auto needs to improve customization: there are options without root but they are quite few (things change with root).

But just because there’s little to change to our taste doesn’t mean they’re unimportant. Actually, although unfortunately Google does not allow us to customize and adjust the icons of the applications that appear in the bottom bar (it aims to show the most important applications when we open them and then the ones we use), one thing that can be done, in my opinion, is very important: change the order of applications. This makes a difference in terms of functionality and security.

Android Auto menu only shows the apps I use and prioritizes my favorites

It only takes a few minutes to change this setting, and yet I continue to be surprised when I get into people’s cars with Android Auto around me and they don’t even bother with it, or are even aware of the possibility. Yes, absolutely. Cannot be changed from the vehicle screen but can be changed from the app the phone’s Android Auto is a bit hidden in that it doesn’t appear on the home screen, but instead appears in the settings (I’m using the search engine here)

After entering the main Android Auto screen, we tap ‘Additional application settingsWe scroll down this screen until we reach the part of the screen where the phrase ‘ and ‘ appearsCustomize the app menu‘. There we are interested in the second option: ‘Sort application menu‘.

But my advice, since we’re at it, is to uncheck the checkboxes that are marked by default in Android Auto compatible apps and will appear on the car screen, such as ‘Game Meal’ or ‘News’. I’ve never used it behind the wheel..

I only leave the apps that really serve me, such as Google Maps, Waze, TomTom, Radarbot, or messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, and of course I don’t miss Spotify or Prime Music during my trips. The idea is that Leave only apps you actually use in Android Auto.

You can order the apps to be shown later by tapping on ‘how?’Sort app menu‘ two options are displayed: alphabetical or custom sorting. I choose the second one: I want my favorite apps and the ones I use most to appear at the top, so I drag them to the top area.

So, as soon as I enter the Android Auto menu, I find them without thinking about the alphabet or listing the ones that seem ridiculous to me. This way I find them faster and get lost less; As I mentioned in the introduction, affects the user experience and safety.

Cover | Eva Rodríguez de Luis

via | ADSL Zone

Xataka on Android | Six important Android Auto settings I recommend configuring as soon as possible