My 4 Favorite Android Auto Settings Are Seriously Useful - But Hidden By Default

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• You tin customize your Android Auto done developer mode.
• This mode is usually for developers and app creators.
• It's easy to access, and you tin make important improvements.

For astir users, Android Auto is simply an easy measurement to grip navigation, music, and messages while driving. But if you're consenting to tinker a bit, you'll find respective settings that tin wholly alteration nan look and functionality of your car's infotainment system. 

Just for illustration your Android phone, Android Auto has its ain developer mode that lets you entree settings not intended for mundane users. And for illustration your phone's version, you tin really make immoderate important improvements. It's not difficult to access, and it only takes a minute. 

Also: I've utilized Android Auto for years, and these 5 changes solved my biggest issues

Here's really to dive in. 

The Android Auto app doesn't look among your regular apps, truthful you'll request to spell done your settings to find it. 

• From Settings, hunt for Android Auto. 
• Tap it, past prime "Additional settings successful nan app." 
• Scroll down until you spot Version, past pat it 10 times. 
• Choose OK. 

Once you person that enabled, present are immoderate of nan biggest changes you tin make.

The champion Android Auto developer mounting changes

1. Force Day/Night Mode

This is my favourite developer setting, and nan 1 astir drivers could usage immediately. By default, Android Auto automatically switches betwixt time and nighttime mode. Depending connected your car, this mightiness beryllium triggered by nan clip of day, ambient lighting, aliases your headlights.

Also: Android telephone slow? I changed 2 developer settings for an instant velocity boost

With this setting, you tin permanently group it to time aliases night, aliases usage "Phone controlled," which follows your phone's strategy settings (like scheduled acheronian mode, sunrise-to-sunset theme, aliases always-on acheronian mode). If you've ever been disappointment erstwhile your Android Auto representation switches to acheronian mode connected a cloudy time aliases changes backmost and distant arsenic you participate a tunnel, if you find acheronian mode difficult to spot aliases time mode excessively bright, aliases if you simply for illustration 1 complete nan other, this is an easy measurement to person consistency.

You tin alteration this action for Maps successful nan accepted settings, but successful developer settings, you tin tweak it for nan full interface.

2. Video resolution

This is particularly useful if you person a ample show successful your car. Usually, Android Auto negotiates pinch your car to find a solution that's acceptable while redeeming bandwidth. This intends it's not ever moving astatine its highest imaginable resolution. 

Also: Google will fto you watch YouTube videos connected Android Auto now - is your car supported?

The options you person will dangle connected your phone, but you tin click done each 1 to spot really it looks. If you spell excessively high, particularly connected an older car, nan surface whitethorn look worse aliases spell wholly black, but you tin easy move back.

Once you take your caller resolution, you'll apt announcement an contiguous upgrade successful sharpness connected everything from your icons to your inheritance creation to your maps. 

3. Wireless Android Auto

If you only usage Android Auto occasionally, you mightiness want to cheque this 1 out. By default, erstwhile you person Android Auto group up, it connects automatically whenever you commencement your car (if your car supports wireless connectivity). That's convenient, but it drains your phone's artillery moreover if you're not utilizing Android Auto.

When you uncheck nan Wireless Android Auto box, you'll only link erstwhile you plug successful nan cable. If nan only clip you usage Android Auto is for navigation connected a agelong roadworthy trip, you'd beryllium amended disconnected redeeming your phone's artillery by not having it link each nan time.

4. Unknown sources

The Android Auto balanced of sideloading, selecting nan "Unknown sources" characteristic lets you instal apps that aren't officially sanctioned by Google. 

Also: This basal Android characteristic is 'absolutely not' going away, says Google - but it is changing

Usually, your Android Auto apps are constricted to mainstream options. But by utilizing chartless apps, you tin instal niche media players that fto you play section contented aliases moreover play YouTube videos (official support is connected nan way, by nan way), apps that reflector your full phone, apps that show your car's diagnostics, including OBD-II information and motor metrics, and improved smart location power apps. 

For example, I've had occurrence utilizing AA Browser arsenic a web browser, CarTube and CarStream to watch YouTube videos connected my car's screen, Fermata Auto to play locally stored videos, and Widgets for Auto to instal civilization Android telephone widgets for illustration weather, a calendar, and smart location toggles.