May 18, 2026, 11:35 a.m. ET
Android Auto’s latest refresh makes the in-car software system feel more personal and customizable for drivers.
The system’s new experience includes several features that are completely novel and haven’t been possible with older iterations. American drivers use Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for navigation, music and podcast streaming. The systems have become wildly popular across the globe and many automakers manufacture vehicles with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay because of the strong demand.
Here’s how millions of drivers can benefit from the latest Android Auto refresh.
All infotainment screens aren’t designed equally, and previous iterations of Android Auto fit awkwardly on some smaller touchscreen systems. Now, thanks to the latest update, Android Auto is “tailored to fit and look great on any screen, whether it’s an ultrawide rectangle, a circle or a unique shape,” according to Google’s The Keyword blog.
This improvement is great for cars with smaller or unconventional infotainment screens, but it’s just one of the many ways that the software system is becoming more personal to its users. Android Auto now lets drivers customize their screens using widgets from their smartphones allowing you to conveniently check the weather, call a favorite contact and more from the primary display screen.
Drivers can also customize screens with wallpapers, animations and fonts, bringing more of your phone’s favorite personalization features to your car’s infotainment system screen.
Edge-to-edge Google Maps is here, allowing drivers to expand the Maps app across the entire infotainment screen for an improved navigation experience. This also helps drivers who have smaller infotainment screens because the navigation app’s display can take up more space, increasing visibility of the map as active trips progress.
Google Maps has also been updated to display “a vivid 3D view that shows buildings, overpasses and terrain,” says The Keyword blog. The Maps update also highlights stop signs, traffic lights and lanes for a more accurate and helpful navigation experience.
Native video streaming is one of the most requested Android Auto features, and it’s arriving in supported cars later this year. Vehicles that can host the feature will allow occupants to stream 60 fps (frames per second) full high-definition video through apps like YouTube when parked (or when charging for electric vehicles).
This is a gamechanger for electric vehicle owners who regularly sit in their cars for extended periods of time during charging sessions. Video streaming is already supported for some vehicles with built-in apps, but this is the first time drivers will be able to stream videos with the Android Auto system instead of a third-party workaround aimed to bypass safety limitations.
In-car software systems like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay give drivers the sense of familiarity they get from using their smartphone. They make navigation and entertainment features easy to access via one convenient display window. The latest Android Auto refresh benefits all drivers who rely on the software for their daily driving experiences.
Charles Singh is an Autos Connect Reporter for The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at CSingh@Gannett.com.
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