Google rolled out a healthy helping of updates to Android Auto recently, breathing delightfully fresh air into a stale OS.Gemini Intelligence was the highlight of this update, porting agentic AI capabilities over to compatible cars.Gemini can read your messages, emails, and more, give you context in natural language, and basically let you do almost everything you can on your smartphone with Gemini.
While Gemini on the go is certainly the star of the show, you might have missed a slightly older announcement from May 2026 that also included plenty of other interesting features.Add How-To Geek on Google Add as Preferred Source Follow on Google Discover Apart from the Gemini update, Android Auto now lets you do a lot more and has gotten a facelift.Google focused heavily on making the UI more usable, aesthetically and functionally.
Third-party apps fit various car screens much better now, automatically adjusting to the screen resolution.Material 3 Expressive brings a unified, cohesive color scheme to the OS.Out of everything that's new, three powerful new features in particular stand out.
Let me put them on your radar in case you missed them.Smooth park-to-drive YouTube transitions You don't have to do a thing A revamped version of YouTube is available on Android Auto now.This isn't just a visual overhaul — though you will appreciate the improved new UI with Material 3 Expressive theming.
The YouTube app fits really well on varying screen sizes thanks to better optimization.You can watch full-sized YouTube videos while the car is parked.The really cool part is when you start to drive, YouTube automatically detects it and goes into audio-only mode, so your video essentially becomes a podcast.
The video playback continues in the background, transitioning seamlessly.The only catch is that you need to be a YouTube Premium user to access this feature.Flexible widgets View at a glance Close Google lets you add a ton of widgets to Android Auto, with many more options than before.
Material 3 Expressive automatically applies the local Android Auto theme to your widgets, automatically applying the colors of the wallpaper or the system to the tiles.The sizes adjust to fit the screen too, with improved optimization for various car screen sizes.Plus, these widgets are visible all the time, even when you drive, so you can view them at a glance.
Think outside the box.Besides the usual Spotify or WhatsApp shortcuts, you can add the clock, your favorite photos, assorted Android Auto apps, or even contacts.You can add specific Google Home shortcuts, Google-expanded compatible third-party apps for Android Auto as well, so you can experiment with widgets quite a bit.
To see every app available on Android Auto, you can check out the comprehensive list here.Related Video Apps Are Coming to Your Car Screen With Android Auto Keep your eyes on the road.Posts 1 By Joe Fedewa High-quality audio and video playback Music for your ears and a sight for sore eyes That smooth video-to-audio transition pairs perfectly with this next underrated update.
Whether you use Bluetooth or a USB cable to connect to Android Auto, your auditory experience is going to be elevated.At long last, Google finally added support for spatial sound using Dolby Atmos in compatible Android Auto cars.Time to make the most of your high-end car stereo! Video playback is also vastly improved, with supported Android Auto screens getting full HD resolution video playback at 60fps.
The combination of both updates is sure to transform your media consumption experience into something with a more premium feel.Is your car eligible for these new Android Auto updates? More on compatible models Much like Google Pixel phones are always first in line for the latest Android features, cars that have Google built-in are eligible to get all these updates first.Google has already specified that the new features will come to BMW, Genesis, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata and Volvo cars first, with all other compatible models scheduled to get them in the future.
This includes cars with first- and third-party Android Auto systems.Google ensures compatibility with over 500 car models.You can find the full list of compatible Android Auto cars here.
Can't find your aftermarket Android Auto screen on the list? Don't worry.You might still have an eligible system.Pioneer and Kenwood units have confirmed compatibility, but when in doubt, be sure to check the manufacturer's website for relevant information.
As for connection, any Android phone easily pairs with Android Auto.If it's smartphone compatibility you're concerned about, I have good news.As long as you have an Android phone running Android 11 or higher, it has native Android Auto support.
Regardless of the Android Auto version, your phone connects smoothly via Bluetooth or a compatible Android Auto cable.Take note that iPhones are incompatible with Android Auto.
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