The topic 4 useful Android Auto apps that made the cut after I purged my home screen is currently the subject of lively discussion — readers and analysts are keeping a close eye on developments.
This is taking place in a dynamic environment: companies’ decisions and competitors’ reactions can quickly change the picture.
Part of it is because of my job here at XDA, where I’m always testing a new Android Auto app, whether it’s sideloaded apps like Fermata Auto or something from the Play Store that I don’t end up using for very long, like Apple Music. It’s also just an example of digital housecleaning I keep meaning to get to, but that I just never seem to carve out the time to make it happen. Why is there even a Play Books Android Auto app? Do I really need all of these random navigation apps I’ve been testing out? Definitely not.
With that in mind, this week, I culled all the apps I don’t use from my Android Auto launcher and created a streamlined setup that makes it easier to find and launch the select apps I actually use.
While I culled my list to very specific Android Auto apps I actually use all the time, there are a few I kept around that aren’t on this list, including side-loaded app Fermata Auto and Customize (I also can’t uninstall Google Maps).
After selecting the apps I decided to keep around, I changed their launcher order by going to Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Preferences > Android Auto (scroll to the bottom) > Customize Launcher. I then dragged and dropped icons around and prioritized the apps I use the most frequently.
Look, I’ve tried other streaming music platforms, including, most notably Apple Music, but I always find myself returning to Spotify because I have years’ worth of curated playlists. I’m also fond of the AI-powered DJ, though its quality has dropped significantly over the past few months (why does it keep playing the same songs over and over?).
On top of playlists, it’s also the platform I know best in terms of its user interface, which is essential for Android Auto. I always want to keep my eyes on the road as much as possible and not on a confusing, unfamiliar UI. Beyond the reasons I’ve already mentioned, this is a big part of why Spotify survived my Android Auto app purge.
It’s not hyperbole to say that for as long as podcasts have been a thing, I’ve only ever used Pocket Casts (okay… and at one point, I primarily listened to podcasts on an iPod Classic). The app’s UI is straightforward and simple, and most importantly for me, it’s multi-platform. Whether I’m using my iPhone 17 Pro, my Pixel 10 Pro, a Windows 11 or Mac desktop, and of course, Android Auto, all the podcasts I listen to are synced, including even the playback position.
This means that I can start listening to IGN’s Game Scoop! on my iPhone, switch to my Pixel 10 Pro, then jump in the car and continue from the same spot. I could, of course, just use Spotify to listen to podcasts as well as music, but I’ve always appreciated the versatility Pocket Casts offers, so I’ve remained loyal to the platform, even on Android Auto.
I have an awful sense of direction, so every time I get in my car, I use Waze. The map platform has saved me so much time over the years, thanks to its crowdsourced traffic features, such as marking road closures, traffic, and vehicles on the side of the road. I rely on Waze so much at this point that it’s difficult to imagine a time in my life when I wasn’t using it. Its UI is simple and easy to follow, and I know its menu system extremely well. I also appreciate the in-car Halo Master Chief navigation voice, of course.
With that in mind, there’s no way the Google-owned map platform wasn’t making the cut as I pared back my Android Auto launcher. Of course, sometimes I’ll boot up Google Maps for specific purposes, like really short trips, for example, but Waze has been my go-to in-car app for well over a decade now.
I have an at-home charger for my Ioniq 5 and usually charge overnight, so it’s rare that I need to charge on the go. But it does happen, especially if I’m going on a lengthy, multi-hour drive to my parents’ house or somewhere else relatively far away. There are countless apps that show where nearby EV chargers are located, including Google Maps, but PlugShare has been my go-to since I first got my electric vehicle because it’s crowdsourced.
This means I can look up nearby chargers and see exactly how fast they are and whether they are even working. This is especially useful in my area of southern Ontario, Canada, where most chargers only support 50kWh and, in many cases, aren’t even working. PlugShare is also a great tool for planning road trips where you know you’ll need to stop to charge at some point, allowing you to select a specific charger and then a backup or two in case that charger has issues.