Android Auto is set to pick up a few updates in the coming months, and Google has just teased another one with some changes to how media apps can look and work.
Media apps on Android Auto have largely used the same core layout for years now. There’s not much variance between apps, which is both a good and bad thing. On one hand, the consistency means it’s really easy to know where to go while behind the wheel, lessening distractions. On the other, it means that apps struggle to fit into their specific needs at times.
At I/O 2025 earlier this week, Google introduced two new changes to media apps on Android Auto.
The first change is to the browsing interface in media apps. The new “SectionedItemTemplate” will allow apps to show different sections in the browsing UI, with Google’s example showing “Recent search” above a list of albums.
The other change is the to “MediaPlaybackTemplate,” which is used as the “Now Playing” screen. It appears that Google is going to grant developers more flexibility in layout here, with the demo shown putting the media controls in the bottom right corner instead of the center, and in a different order than usual – although that might become the standard at some point. The UI isn’t drastically different or any harder to understand, but it’s a different layout than we usually see on Android Auto, which is actually a bit refreshing.
Google is also allowing developers to build “richer and more complete experiences” for media apps using the “Car App Library.” This could make it easier to navigate some apps, as most media apps on Android Auto are shells of their smartphone counterpart in terms of functionality. This category is just in beta for now, though.
It’s unclear when we’ll see these changes start to show up in Android Auto apps, but it’s something to look forward to.
Google says that Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music will be adopting these new upgrades.
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