These 4 Android Auto settings made my daily commute less distracting - where to find them

Source: ZDNet

Android Auto is designed to help keep your hands off your phone and your eyes on the road, but that doesn’t mean it’s totally distraction‑free. Getting preoccupied with your car’s screen can be just as dangerous as glancing at your phone.

Also: I saw the future of Android Auto, and now Google has me dreading my own car

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Android Auto has several safety features you should use.
• Using split‑screen and voice controls keeps you focused.
• Turning on Do Not Disturb was the single biggest help.

Fortunately, Android Auto has several built‑in safety features to make your daily drive a little safer while still letting you control navigation, music, and more. I’ve used these options myself, and while I don’t necessarily enjoy them all, they have helped me stay more focused on my drive.

When convenience equals safety

Here’s a look at four safety features you should be using if you’re not already.

1. Automatically launch Android Auto

This is foremost a convenience option, but it’s also a safety setting. If you don’t have Android Auto set to automatically connect and launch, you should. Manually launching Android Auto while driving takes your eyes off the road; auto‑launch ensures maps and music are ready immediately.

2. Split‑screen view

If you’re using navigation and playing music or a podcast, take advantage of Android Auto’s split‑screen mode. Instead of bouncing back and forth between apps, split‑screen lets you see all important information at once.

Also: I tested Gemini on Android Auto and now I can’t stop talking to it: 5 tasks it nails

To enable split‑screen, tap the multi‑window icon in the bottom left. By default, navigation appears closer to the driver and media on the opposite side, but you can swap positions in settings. This is especially useful on wide landscape displays.

3. Voice controls

Even though I have an array of Alexa devices at home, I was never a fan of voice controls in the car—reaching for a button felt easier than dealing with an assistant that didn’t understand me. The more I use voice controls, especially with Gemini, the easier it is to avoid reaching for the display.

4. Do Not Disturb

This mode is the least fun to enable, but it has the biggest impact on cutting out distractions. With Do Not Disturb turned on, I stop receiving frequent notifications from social media, texts, and more. Calls from preset contacts still come through, but 95 % of digital noise is gone.

Also: Android Auto runs faster and smoother now thanks to my 4 easy tweaks

Set it up by going to your phone’s settings and searching “Driving.” You can configure Do Not Disturb to engage only when connected to your vehicle’s Bluetooth, so it won’t activate in other cars.