Android Auto home screen widgets look nearly ready to launch
Source: Android Authority
Andy Walker / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Android Auto currently only has limited taskbar widget support.
- Last year we spotted Google working on new home screen widget support, codenamed “Earth.”
- The rough UI we saw at the time has received a major overhaul, hinting that it’s nearing completion.
Background
Android Auto has been stepping into the spotlight more frequently lately, most recently with its Gemini rollout. Another major upgrade we’ve been tracking concerns efforts to bring support for Android widgets to Auto’s dashboard (previous coverage). While the feature isn’t ready for release yet, recent updates show significant progress.
Recent Progress
When we previewed widget support last fall, the implementation was rough: many widgets didn’t behave correctly, and the setup UI felt cobbled together. Google has since refined the experience.
- Naming: The feature, previously referred to only by its codename “Earth,” is now labeled “Car widgets.”
- Widget picker: The new picker resembles the familiar Android home‑screen widget selector, offering a featured section and a full list of available widgets. Selecting a widget shows a preview of its appearance.
- Search bar: A search field at the top allows users to quickly find specific widgets, mirroring the phone experience.
These changes are visible in Android Auto version 16.8.161804-release.daily.
Outlook
There’s no official timeline for when Google will announce or roll out the widget support. However, with Google I/O just a few weeks away, it could be a prime venue to showcase new Auto features.
Additional Tweak: Weather Card Icons
We also noticed a subtle visual update to the weather card icons:
AssembleDebug / Android Authority
These new icons, like the dashboard widget support, are not live yet but could be introduced at any time.
⚠️ An APK teardown helps predict future features based on work‑in‑progress code, but predicted features may not reach a public release.