Android typically nails switching to dark mode when the sun goes down, but Android Auto, including the app drawer and various music players, often stays blindingly white long after dusk. This happens because Android Auto relies on the device's OS telling it when to switch. This implementation has been reported broken for years on end, but on the bright side (pun intended), you can trigger dark mode based on your vehicle's lights instead. This system relies on a physical ambient light sensor or the headlight toggle to trigger the UI theme by default. If your vehicle doesn't have automatic headl
4 ways I stopped fighting Android Auto and started customizing it instead… I'd even go so far as to say I prefer the Android version on my Pixel 10 Pro to iOS 18's Liquid Glass, which is more than a bit of a mess at times. Additionally, I know that as soon as the latest version of Android drops, I'll have access to it on my Pixel, since it's Google's flagship smartphone. …
… Android Auto requires Android 6.0 Marshmallow or higher to run on a phone. Google updated the minimum requirements over the years, and Marshmallow became the baseline that stuck for the phone-based version of the app. Not quite. Android Auto requires Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later. …