{"id":182452,"date":"2025-08-28T12:54:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T12:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/182452\/"},"modified":"2025-08-28T12:54:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T12:54:11","slug":"please-google-stop-fixing-what-isnt-broken-in-android-autos-interface","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/182452\/","title":{"rendered":"Please Google, stop fixing what isn\u2019t broken in Android Auto\u2019s interface"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"android<\/p>\n

Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

In early August, more users received Google\u2019s updated music player redesign for Android Auto<\/a>. Many questioned why core elements were altered without any functional purpose. The album art box was made smaller, the seek bar was thinned and narrowed, important text was compressed, and the background was no longer drawn from the art. Thankfully, I haven\u2019t received this UI update yet, but I already dislike it. It made me realize an important Android Auto issue: its user interface and user experience suffer with each change Google rolls out.<\/p>\n

Google\u2019s design goal for Android Auto, at least as stated in its marketing material<\/a>, is to keep drivers \u201cfocused on the road.\u201d But what does this really mean? As a driver, a functional, human-centric, practical, and reliable interface would foster focus in the car. There\u2019s a reason why certain in-car elements remain standard across most vehicles. The less time a driver spends searching for or looking at a UI element, the more concentration and focus is paid to the road. Therefore, a user interface environment should support these needs, right? I\u2019d argue that recent Android Auto updates and several existing UI issues have not.<\/p>\n

Should Android Auto let you customize its UI even more?<\/p>\n

33 votes<\/p>\n

Yes, I want Google to give me more control of my experience.<\/p>\n

88%<\/p>\n

No, the current level of customization is fine.<\/p>\n

12%<\/p>\n

Google says focus on the road, but Android Auto is determined to distract me<\/p>\n

\"android<\/p>\n

Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

I view Android Auto as an extension of my dashboard\u2019s controls, and I expect it to support me while driving and accomplish tasks quickly, effectively, and reliably. This includes helping me navigate, making my music easily accessible, and simplifying responses to texts and calls if necessary. While it can and does allow me to complete these tasks, it\u2019s not without struggle.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t want to miss the best from Android Authority?<\/strong><\/p>\n

As I established in the intro, Google regularly makes distracting and disruptive UI changes to Android Auto, shuffling around design elements, changing long-established functionality of core apps, and adding non-essential visual flourishes that favor aesthetics over function. It does all this without addressing the fundamental issues or existing UI problems.<\/p>\n

\"Android<\/p>\n

Take the recent media player changes, for instance, which contradict its design goal of \u201cfocus\u201d first. Shrinking the album art and minimizing textual info means drivers must divert their gaze from the road longer to see what track is playing or how much time is left. Smaller control surfaces are more difficult to target and control. These tweaks aren\u2019t practical or driver-centric, especially for those who don\u2019t travel with a passenger.<\/p>\n

There have been other questionable UI alterations, too. Recently, Google rolled out its Material You visual design<\/a> to the system, but this hasn\u2019t been without issue. Many users have noticed washed-out, overly contrasted text on duller backgrounds. While some car displays remain relatively legible even with these changes, others are much harder to use. Icons are trickier to identify due to glowing halo effects around them, while higher contrast washes out text and roads on mapping apps. There\u2019s currently no option to revert these changes or disable Material You color sampling until these problems are addressed. While it\u2019s positive that the UI now adheres to a more recent design language, this change compromises Android Auto\u2019s legibility and fidelity for aesthetics.<\/p>\n

Google regularly makes distracting and disruptive UI changes to Android Auto, without addressing existing issues.<\/p>\n

A more recent change affects Google\u2019s major driving app. Waze on Android Auto rolled out an annoying view shift<\/a> whenever a route heads towards a roundabout or a major intersection. This means drivers are caught off guard by an unannounced change to a core interface behavior before entering potentially dangerous traffic furniture. Users panned the change, and there\u2019s still no way to revert to the original functionality.<\/p>\n

Beyond these recent changes, Google has yet to address longer-standing UI annoyances. Perhaps the most annoying for me is Google Maps\u2019 massive search bar<\/a>, which occupies a valuable chunk of the map. This functionally useless search bar cannot be minimized into a smaller icon and starts expanding every time I open the app.<\/p>\n

Assistant\u2019s unreliability only casts more light on the UX issues<\/p>\n

\"raspberry<\/p>\n

Calvin Wankhede \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

You could argue that I shouldn\u2019t use or even look at my Android Auto screen while driving. While I consider it a part of my dashboard and fair game in certain situations, I\u2019ll agree with you for argument\u2019s sake. Google provides a tertiary control method with an assistant. That sounds great on paper, but it unfortunately has its own set of problems in practice.<\/p>\n

Ironically, while Assistant is still surprisingly good for adding groceries to my shopping list, setting reminders, or opening apps on Auto, it struggles with driving-related tasks. This is especially evident when using it to control Google Maps.<\/p>\n

Assistant is surprisingly good in Android Auto, until you request a driving-related task.<\/p>\n

Several weeks ago, I was driving home from a vacation along a narrow country road and craved reassurance that I was heading the right way. I triggered Assistant using the button on my steering wheel and said, \u201cNavigate home,\u201d but Maps didn\u2019t choose my saved home location. My partner also tried, but with the same result. Eventually, she used the screen, but since we\u2019d navigated to other places during our trip, my home address wasn\u2019t immediately available in the search\u2019s drop-down menu. She had to trawl through saved locations in my unorganized lists manually. This process took the best part of five minutes, by which time I was already on the main road home.<\/p>\n

Both voice controls and Google Maps\u2019 UI failed us that day, and it isn\u2019t the only time, either. If Google doesn\u2019t want drivers to use the screen while driving, a core hands-free control method like Assistant should work reliably.<\/p>\n

The core problem with Android Auto: Google decides how you drive<\/p>\n

\"android<\/p>\n

Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Look, I\u2019m aware that software design is propelled by innovation, and I quite like the direction that Android is heading in with Material 3 Expressive<\/a>, but Auto is not a smartphone interface. It doesn\u2019t benefit from the \u201cmove fast and break things\u201d design philosophy. It\u2019s a car control interface, and changes to it can be distracting and dangerous.<\/p>\n

Google insists on deciding how drivers use Android Auto, but as the driver, I should be the one to determine what setup works for me. There\u2019s a reason why car manufacturers allow drivers to reposition their seats, steering columns, and mirrors.<\/p>\n

Google insists on deciding how drivers use Android Auto, but as the driver, I should be the one to determine what setup works for me.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, Auto\u2019s interface isn\u2019t a static piece of equipment in the car, and its issues aren\u2019t insurmountable. Google could snap its fingers and revise its strategy, and relinquish more UI customization and controls to the driver overnight. Here are a few quick-fire examples:<\/p>\n