Android Auto’s Hidden Widgets Will Change Your Car Dashboard Forever
Google tests Android Auto ‘Earth’ widgets. Add weather, clock, music, and more directly to your car dashboard for easier, safer access.
image for illustrative purpose
Google appears to be working on a major Android Auto update that will let users pin widgets from their phones directly onto their car’s display. The feature, currently known internally as “Earth,” is being tested in early builds and shows signs of bringing home screen widgets—like weather, clock, and media controls—into the Android Auto interface.
The development, spotted in version 5.6.154404-release.daily (beta), hints at a more flexible and personalized in-car experience. The feature adds a new “Customize Earth” section within settings, opening a widget management page labeled “Widget Companion.” Here, users can add, delete, or resize widgets and see how they’ll appear on the car’s main screen.
How It Works
Once permissions are granted, users can tap a plus (+) button in the Widget Companion interface to select from a list of supported apps. Apps that already have widgets—like Spotify, Google Clock, and Pixel Weather—can be linked to Android Auto. After a widget is chosen, it appears on the car dashboard, occupying roughly 35–40% of the screen space, with the rest of the interface retaining standard navigation and media functions.
A scale slider lets users adjust widget size, though placement remains fixed for now. Currently, Android Auto supports only one widget at a time. Selecting a new one automatically removes the previous widget.
In early tests, the Pixel Weather widget worked best, displaying real-time weather updates when location access was enabled. The Clock app’s Stopwatch widget also functioned smoothly. However, other widgets such as Gemini and Spotify faced compatibility issues. Some widgets, when tapped, tried to open their full mobile apps—something Android Auto’s restricted environment doesn’t permit yet.
Widgets that don’t require deep app access appear to perform better, while others still show a message saying “This can’t be accessed on your Android Auto at this time.”
The ‘Earth’ feature remains experimental, and Google hasn’t confirmed when it might roll out publicly. These changes suggest Android Auto may soon support more extensive personalization, similar to Android phones.
As this feature continues to evolve, users could eventually customize their driving screens with quick-glance information like calendar entries, reminders, or music playback tools—all without touching their phones.
