This annoying Android Auto display issue grinds my gears — here’s how I fixed it

Source: Android Authority

I rely on Android’s Extra Dim accessibility feature almost every night. Introduced in Android 12, it allows me to lower my phone’s screen brightness below its minimum setting. Paired with Dark mode, this makes viewing content in low light much kinder to my eyes.

There’s a small problem, though. Extra Dim isn’t like Dark mode — I cannot schedule it to turn on and off, which means I’m forced to manually deactivate it. This is surprisingly easy to forget.

While I could probably deal with Extra Dim active throughout the day, it really becomes a problem when I connect to Android Auto.

Do you use Extra Dim on your Android phone?

Android Auto mirrors my smartphone in the car, so if Extra Dim is active on my phone, it’s also active on the car’s display. In bright sunlight with glare and sunglasses on, I need the brightest screen possible. Extra Dim works against this, and older forum posts show it’s been an issue for drivers for years.

Deactivating Extra Dim can only be done through the phone, not Android Auto. That means either stopping on the side of the road to change the setting—or driving with a dimmed screen—both of which are unsafe.

Using Modes and Routines to deactivate Extra Dim for Android Auto

Modes and Routines, the automation tool that ships with Samsung phones, lets me trigger various settings under specific conditions, providing a hands‑free fix for the Extra Dim problem.

I’ve created routines for force‑updating apps on the Play Store, activating NFC when Google Wallet opens, and disabling mobile data when Wi‑Fi is connected. It’s incredibly useful.

In short, I use a Driving mode that triggers when I connect my phone to Android Auto and automatically turns Extra Dim off.

Setup steps

1. Open Modes and Routines.
2. Tap the Modes tab and select Driving.
3. Under Turn on automatically, add:
   • Android Auto: Connected
   • Bluetooth device: Connected to [car name]
     This ensures the mode triggers when the phone connects to Android Auto or the car’s Bluetooth.
4. Under Other actions, add: Extra Dim: Off.

You can add additional triggers or actions, but be sure Extra Dim: Off remains in the “Other actions” list.

Now, whenever I start my car and the phone connects to Android Auto, Extra Dim is automatically deactivated.

I’ve also added a trigger to re‑enable Extra Dim when the phone’s Sleep Mode is active (10 pm – 5 am). If I drive during that window, Driving Mode takes precedence and keeps Extra Dim off.

Google could introduce a schedule for Extra Dim or make Android Auto ignore the feature, but for now, Samsung’s Modes and Routines provide the most reliable workaround for this Android Auto display annoyance.