As summer approaches, many of us are ready for our long-awaited road trips, the epitome of the season’s charm. It’s important to make sure your vehicle is in tip-top shape before you hit the road. This includes checking oil levels, inspecting tires, and making sure all the necessary paperwork is in the glove compartment. Along with these preparations, modern drivers should also pay attention to their Android Auto installation. Android Auto has become an indispensable tool, offering entertainment, navigation, and safety features that enhance the driving experience. This article covers essential tips for optimizing Android Auto before your road trip and ensuring a smooth and enjoyable drive.
Preparing for a Safe and Enjoyable Summer Road Trip: Optimizing Android Auto for the Road
Prioritize Essential Apps for Quick Access
One of the most useful, yet often underused, features of Android Auto is the ability to customize the app menu. Android Auto provides a customized version of your mobile apps, focusing on those that are compatible with the system. However, the default layout may not always prioritize the apps you use most. To save time and reduce distractions while driving, it is recommended that you rearrange your app menu and hide unnecessary apps.
Customizing your app order can only be done on your mobile device. Start by going to the Settings menu, then search for “Additional App Settings.” From there, go to “Customize App Menu” and select “Sort App Menu.” This option lets you untick apps you don’t need and choose between alphabetical or custom order for the rest. It’s usually more practical to choose a custom order. For example, placing Google Maps, Waze, TomTom, Radarbot, and messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram at the top can make them easy to access. Similarly, if you like listening to music while driving, make sure apps like Spotify or Prime Music are prominently placed.
Increase Safety with Fast Access to Emergency Services
Minimizing distractions while driving is essential for safety, and Android Auto offers a variety of features to help with this. Voice commands are particularly useful, allowing you to operate many functions hands-free. While Google Assistant is generally reliable, there are times when it may not respond as quickly as you’d like. Consider setting up a shortcut to call 112 (the European emergency number) to get instant access to emergency services.
This feature isn’t available by default, so you’ll need to configure it manually. Go back to the Android Auto settings on your phone and select “Customize Apps Menu.” From there, select “Add Shortcut to Apps Menu,” then “Utility Action.” Next, type “Call 911” and give it a name or emoji (for example, a police car icon). Save your settings and place this emergency shortcut at the top of your app menu for easy access.
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Protect Your Privacy While Traveling
People often share their rides with family or friends, but this can sometimes lead to privacy concerns, especially when it comes to notifications on your Android Auto screen. It’s common for passengers to look at your screen, and while this is harmless, it’s understandable to want to keep certain information private.
Android Auto lets you customize how notifications are displayed, which can be especially useful when traveling with others. While notifications are a personal preference and some drivers prefer to keep them enabled to stay informed, there is one setting worth adjusting depending on your traveling companions. Specifically, you can control whether the first line of incoming messages appears on the screen.
To manage this setting, go to the “Android Auto” section of your phone's settings and find the notification block. There you'll find the option to show or hide the first line of the conversation. If you're traveling with people who might be tempted to read your messages, it's wise to disable this feature. When traveling alone or with a trusted friend, you may want to leave the feature enabled.
Simplify Android Auto Launching
Launching Android Auto can be a bit of a pain sometimes, especially if your phone is locked when you get in the car. Depending on your car and phone model, Android Auto may only activate when your phone is unlocked, which can cause delays and frustration — especially if you're in a hurry.
To avoid this inconvenience, you can make a setting that will allow Android Auto to start even when your phone is locked. This small change can save time and provide a smoother driving experience. To enable this feature, open the Android Auto app on your phone and go to the “General” section. From there, simply turn on the option that says “Start Android Auto when phone is locked.”
Enjoy Uninterrupted Entertainment
Long drives provide the perfect opportunity to listen to your favorite podcasts, re-listen to nostalgic music, or discover new tunes. But nothing ruins the flow more than having your media stop when you get out of the car for a break or to refuel. Luckily, Android Auto offers a solution that keeps your entertainment running smoothly without any additional input from you.
In the “General” section of Android Auto's settings, there's an option labeled “Automatically Start Music.” Make sure it's turned on so your music or podcasts will continue playing when you start the car again. This feature lets you focus on the road and enjoy your journey without interruption.
Conclusion: A Smooth Journey with Android Auto
By taking the time to optimize your Android Auto settings before you head out on a summer road trip, you can significantly improve your driving experience. From organizing your most-used apps to providing quick access to emergency services, these tweaks not only improve convenience, they also contribute to safer driving. You can also make your journey more enjoyable for everyone involved by protecting privacy and ensuring constant entertainment. With Android Auto properly configured, you’ll be ready to hit the road with confidence and peace of mind knowing your digital co-pilot is set up to support every mile of your journey.