Where to find Android Auto settings

Android Auto settings live in two places depending on what you want to change. Most settings are in the Android Auto app itself — the one you use to launch Android Auto on your car's screen. A smaller set of settings are in your phone's main Settings app, under Apps or Connected devices, because they control how your phone talks to your car rather than how Android Auto behaves.

The Android Auto app is pre-installed on most Android phones running version 6.0 or later. If you don't see it on your home screen, swipe up to open your app drawer and search for "Android Auto". Once you open it, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner to reach the settings menu.

If you're looking for settings that control which apps appear, how notifications work, or whether Android Auto starts automatically, those are in the Android Auto app. If you're trying to disconnect your phone from your car, reset Android Auto, or manage permissions, check your phone's Settings app instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Android Auto settings are split between the Android Auto app (for display and app behavior) and your phone's Settings app (for permissions and connection management).
  • You can customize which apps appear on your home screen, change the wallpaper, and adjust notification settings directly in the Android Auto app menu.
  • To disconnect your phone from Android Auto entirely or reset it to factory defaults, go to your phone's Settings app and find the Android Auto entry under Apps.
  • If Android Auto won't start or behaves strangely, clearing the app's cache and data from your phone's Settings app often fixes the problem without losing your saved preferences.

Changing display and home screen settings in Android Auto

Open the Android Auto app and tap the menu icon in the top left. Select "Settings". From here you can change your wallpaper by tapping "Display" and choosing a new background image. You can also toggle dark mode on or off in this same menu — dark mode is easier on your eyes at night and saves battery on phones with OLED screens.

To change which apps appear on your Android Auto home screen, go back to the Settings menu and tap "Apps". You'll see a list of every app that can run on Android Auto. Toggle the switch next to each app name to show or hide it. Only apps that Android Auto supports will appear here — you can't add apps that aren't designed for car use, because they won't work safely while you're driving.

If you want to reorder the apps on your home screen, tap and hold an app name in the list and drag it up or down. The order in the list matches the order they appear when you swipe through your home screen in the car.

Managing notifications and Do Not Disturb

Android Auto can read notifications aloud while you drive, but you can control which apps are allowed to send them. In the Android Auto app, go to Settings and tap "Notifications". You'll see a list of apps that can send alerts. Toggle each one on or off depending on whether you want to hear from it while driving.

If you want Android Auto to block all notifications during certain hours — for example, between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. — tap "Do Not Disturb" in the Settings menu. You can set a schedule, choose whether to allow calls from your contacts, and decide whether to let alarms still sound. Do Not Disturb in Android Auto is separate from your phone's Do Not Disturb setting, so you can have different rules in each place.

Controlling voice assistant and microphone settings

Android Auto uses your phone's default voice assistant — usually Google Assistant. To change which assistant handles voice commands in Android Auto, you need to change your phone's default assistant in the main Settings app. Go to Settings, search for "voice input" or "assistant", and select your preferred assistant.

If you want to disable voice commands in Android Auto entirely, open the Android Auto app, go to Settings, and look for "Voice" or "Voice Control". You can toggle voice set up on or off here. Keep in mind that disabling voice means you'll have to use the touchscreen to control Android Auto, which is less safe while driving.

To check which microphone Android Auto is using or to test it, go to Settings in the Android Auto app and tap "Voice". If voice commands aren't working, your phone's microphone may be blocked. Check your phone's Settings app under Apps, find Android Auto, tap Permissions, and make sure Microphone is turned on.

Disconnecting your phone from Android Auto

If you want to stop using Android Auto on a specific car or remove your phone from Android Auto entirely, the process depends on what you're trying to do. To disconnect from just one car, open the Android Auto app, tap the menu icon, go to Settings, and look for "Connected cars" or "Devices". Tap the car you want to remove and select "Forget" or "Disconnect".

To fully reset Android Auto and remove all saved settings, go to your phone's main Settings app. Search for "Android Auto" or navigate to Apps, find Android Auto in the list, and tap it. Select "Storage" and then "Clear Cache" to remove temporary files, or "Clear Data" to erase all your settings and start fresh. Clearing data will remove your customized home screen, saved preferences, and connection history.

Fixing Android Auto when settings won't save or load

Sometimes Android Auto settings don't stick — you change something and it reverts the next time you use it. The fastest fix is to clear the app's cache. Go to your phone's Settings app, find Android Auto in your Apps list, tap it, select "Storage", and tap "Clear Cache". This removes temporary files without erasing your settings.

If clearing the cache doesn't work, try clearing the app's data instead. Go to the same location and tap "Clear Data" instead of "Clear Cache". This will reset Android Auto to its factory state, so you'll need to customize your home screen and settings again, but it fixes most problems where the app is behaving strangely or freezing.

If Android Auto still won't start after clearing data, restart your phone and try again. If it still fails, uninstall Android Auto updates by going to Settings, finding Android Auto, tapping the menu icon (three dots), and selecting "Uninstall updates". This rolls the app back to the factory version that came with your phone.

Adjusting Android Auto permissions in your phone's Settings

Android Auto needs permission to access your contacts, messages, location, and microphone to work properly. If a feature isn't working — for example, if Android Auto can't read your text messages — the permission may be turned off. Go to your phone's Settings app, find Android Auto in your Apps list, tap it, and select "Permissions".

You'll see a list of permissions Android Auto has requested: Contacts, SMS, Location, Microphone, and others. Tap each one and make sure it's set to "Allow" or "Allow only while using the app". If a permission is set to "Don't allow" or "Deny", tap it and change it to "Allow".

Some phones also have a "Nearby devices" permission that Android Auto needs to connect to your car's Bluetooth system. If you're having trouble connecting to your car, make sure this permission is turned on as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different launcher or home screen with Android Auto?

No. Android Auto has its own interface that you can't replace with a third-party launcher. You can customize which apps appear and their order, but you can't change the overall layout or design of the home screen itself. The interface is locked this way for safety — it keeps you from accidentally launching apps that aren't designed for driving.

What happens if I clear Android Auto data — will I lose my saved addresses or contacts?

No. Clearing Android Auto data only removes settings within the Android Auto app itself, like your home screen layout and notification preferences. Your phone's contacts, saved addresses in Google Maps, and text message history stay on your phone. You'll just need to set up your Android Auto home screen again.

Why does Android Auto start automatically when I connect to my car?

Android Auto is set to launch automatically when your phone detects a Bluetooth connection to your car. You can turn this off in the Android Auto app Settings menu — look for "Launch" or "Auto-launch" and toggle it off. After that, you'll need to open the Android Auto app manually each time you get in your car.

Can I change the voice that reads my notifications?

The voice comes from your phone's text-to-speech settings, not from Android Auto itself. Go to your phone's Settings app, search for "Text-to-speech", and you'll find options to change the voice, speed, and language. Changes you make there will affect how notifications sound in Android Auto.

How do I stop Android Auto from showing my location to other apps?

Go to your phone's Settings app, find Android Auto in your Apps list, tap Permissions, and turn off Location. This stops Android Auto from accessing your location data. Keep in mind that some features — like navigation and local search — won't work without location permission.