Android Auto to get a major design change, widgets, better music apps

During the Google I/O 2026 event yesterday, Google unveiled what it is planning to introduce with the updated version of Android Auto. It is getting the ability to adopt to any display size and shape, support for widgets, and a new UI design for music player apps.

The updated version of Android Auto will bring the Material 3 Expressive design. It will display fonts and wallpaper from your Galaxy phone to your car’s infotainment display. It will also use smoother animations.

The app row is displayed as a floating bar on the left or right side of the screen, depending on the position of the steering wheel. Moreover, the whole Android Auto UI (including app drawer, notifications, apps, and widgets) sits on top of Google Maps.

It also appears that it can also display AC controls if your car supports it. It will also allow you to place widgets from your phone on the car’s infotainment screen, bringing quicker controls. Some of the widgets that Google showcased includes Clock, Contacts, Google Home, Photos, and Weather.

If your phone supports Gemini Intelligence, related features will also be available on Android Auto.

More importantly, Android Auto now supports video apps. If your car is in parking mode, you can play videos on the car’s infotainment unit screen via YouTube and other video streaming apps. It will support videos in Full HD resolution with a frame rate of up to 60fps in compatible apps. And when you start driving while the video is playing, the audio from the video will continue to play.

This feature is coming first to supported vehicles from the following carmakers:

Android Auto will also bring a major UI redesign to music streaming apps. Tabs will now appear on top of the screen rather than on the side. Google is offering more design templates to developers to give them added flexibility to design their apps. They will also have more visual fidelity and spotlight content. Developers will also get more grid item variations.

Music player apps will also have an adaptive mini player so that you can continue browsing for music while still having music controls available. This new design will soon be offered by multiple music streaming services listed below.

Android Auto will also support Dolby Atmos in supported cars, starting with compatible models from BMW, Genesis, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata, and Volvo. All these features will come to Galaxy phones, but features will depend on the phone’s compatibility and hardware.