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Android Auto: How to Remove Unwanted Apps and Customize Your Experience

Marco Lancaster

February 27, 2025

Android Auto makes driving easier by putting useful apps on your car’s screen with a simple, familiar interface. It works with almost any phone, including affordable Android models. But like any system, it can get cluttered with apps you don’t use, making the menu messy (via).

Fortunately, the process of removing unwanted bloatware is not hard! Android offers flexibility as an operating system, and fortunately, this flexibility has been brought to Android Auto. It’s quite simple to remove the bloatware and make your experience better. You can quickly remove unwanted apps and adjust the layout to fit your needs. This guide will show you the best ways to clean up your Android-powered system. Therefore,  you can keep only the apps that matter most and better fit what you expect from an infotainment system in your vehicle.

How to Remove, Organize, and Add Shortcuts in Android Auto

You can clean up Android Auto, rearrange apps, and add shortcuts directly from your phone—no car connection is needed. This makes it easier to customize your experience before you start driving. Follow these steps to manage your launcher:

=”360″>Step 1: Open Android Auto Settings

The location of Android Auto settings depends on your phone:

• Samsung phones: Go to Settings > Connected devices > Android Auto.
• Google Pixel phones: Navigate to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto.
• If you can’t find it, open Settings, tap the search icon and type Android Auto.

Step 2: Customize the Launcher

Tap Customize launcher under the General section.

Step 3: Remove Unwanted Apps

Locate the app you want to remove and either:

• Uncheck the box next to its name
• Tap the red cross to delete it

Step 4: Reorder Apps for Quick Access

To change the app order:

• Press and hold the handle beside an app’s icon
• Drag it to the desired position
• This automatically switches sorting from A-Z to a Custom order

Step 5: Add Shortcuts for Calls and Assistant Actions

Add a Contact Shortcut

• Tap Add shortcut to the launcher at the top of the screen
• Select Call a Contact and choose a person from the list
• The shortcut will appear on the main launcher, allowing you to tap it to call them while driving

Add a Google Assistant Shortcut

• Tap Add shortcut to the launcher at the top
• Choose An Assistant action
• In the Assistant command field, enter the command just as you would say it to Google Assistant (e.g., “Navigate home” or “Play my workout playlist”)
• Tap Save to add it to the launcher

<p>Once set up, your Android Auto interface will be cleaner, more organized, and more useful, with quick access to the apps and shortcuts you need while driving.

Some System Apps Can’t Be Removed, Only Disabled

=”0″ data-end=”241″>Android Auto includes many Google apps like Calendar, Messages, Phone, News, and Maps. It also supports third-party apps such as GameSnacks, Discord, YouTube Music, and Samsung apps. However, not all of these apps are useful while driving.

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For a distraction-free experience, you might prefer a cleaner display by disabling text-heavy apps like Messages, Discord, WhatsApp, and News. While most apps can be uninstalled, system apps require manual disabling through the app settings.

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To disable system apps on =”26″ data-end=”42″>Android Auto, follow these steps:

1. On Your Android Phone

-end=”339″>2. Using Android Auto Settings

This method hides them from the launcher, but fully disabling them requires going through App Settings as described above.

Hiding Unwanted Apps Won’t Remove Them From Smartphones

Hiding an app from the Android Auto launcher doesn’t remove it from your phone; it only hides the shortcut. To completely remove an app from both your phone and Android Auto, uninstall it from your device as you would with any other app.

Hiding Apps from Your Car’s Infotainment Screen

If you want to adjust your launcher directly from your car:

However, full customization is only available through your phone’s Android Auto settings.

Conclusion – Customize your Android Auto Experience

a-end=”338″>Android Auto offers a convenient way to access apps while driving, but not all apps are necessary or useful on the road. Removing an app from the Android Auto launcher only hides it, without uninstalling it from your phone. If you want to permanently remove an app, you must uninstall it directly from your device.

For better control over your in-car experience, you can customize the Android Auto launcher through your phone’s settings by disabling or hiding unwanted apps. While your car’s infotainment system allows some customization, it doesn’t provide full control over app visibility.

Disabling unnecessary apps helps reduce distractions, making it easier to focus on driving. Apps like Messages, Discord, WhatsApp, and News can clutter your screen with notifications, which may not be ideal while on the road. By disabling or uninstalling them, you can keep your display clean and distraction-free. Of course, you can simply avoid this if you find these apps useful and can’t live without their notifications.

Managing Android Auto apps comes down to personal preference. Whether you prefer a minimal interface with only navigation and music apps or want full access to all available features, Android Auto allows you to tailor the experience to your needs. Taking the time to configure your app settings ensures a safer and more enjoyable driving experience.

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