Although linking your Android smartphone to your car’s infotainment system via Android Auto might be a routine habit, you might not have ventured far past the pre-set configurations for the system’s display. You likely simply wish to reach your destination, rather than delve into menus and setting panels to customize the Android Auto functionality.

Nevertheless, it’s beneficial to acquaint oneself with a few crucial Android Auto adjustments that can simplify your driving experience. One such feature allows the inclusion of Assistant quick access buttons on the Android Auto application display; thus, any command you can instruct Google Assistant to perform can be assigned to a control on your dashboard.

Google is presently undergoing the transition of all its applications and gadgets to Gemini, moving away from Google Assistant. However, at present, the Assistant quick access option persists in Android Auto. It is expected that once the Gemini transition is fully accomplished, the novel AI conversational agent will assume an identical function on Android Auto.

The potential applications for these quick access buttons are numerous and diverse. By activating a control on your dashboard, you can receive navigational guidance to your residence regardless of your current location, initiate one of your Spotify playlists, unlatch the garage door, deactivate the illumination at home, or listen to your arriving SMS communications. These are merely a handful of instances; if something functions as a Google Assistant verbal instruction, it can be utilized as a quick access button.

Establish an Android Auto Quick Access Link

The precise location of the Android Auto startup choices will be contingent upon your Android phone’s brand and version, but they will be found within the device’s configuration menus. On Google Pixel phones, from Settings, you select Paired gadgets > Connectivity options > Android Auto.

Upon accessing the Android Auto sections, opt for Customize Launcher. This screen allows you to select which of your phone’s applications appear on the Android Auto display interface. However, naturally, not every application will be congruous—it will primarily consist of navigation and entertainment applications listed here.

Select Add a shortcut to the Launcher > An Assistant action, and you can fashion your personalized quick link. First, enter your command (the instruction you would articulate verbally), assign it a designation, and then select Create shortcut.

If you’re presently linked to Android Auto, you can also utilize the Test shortcut button to verify its proper operation. Should you not be inside your car, you are nonetheless capable of fashioning quick access buttons; you must merely trust you’ve phrased them accurately.

Your recently established quick link is appended to the roster on the Customize Launcher screen. You can then employ the grip icon, located immediately beside the quick link item, to alter its placement in the application sequence. Android Auto enables the generation of numerous quick access buttons, and you can consolidate them collectively for convenient retrieval.