Android Auto 16.9 Beta: Prepares for Widgets and Gemini

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Android Auto 16.9 Beta Update: Widgets, Gemini, and More

Android Auto 16.9 Beta: Prepares for Widgets and Gemini

Google’s Android Auto 16.9 beta brings behind-the-scenes updates, preparing for widgets, Gemini integration, and climate controls. Discover what’s coming.

2026-05-10T19:55:35+03:00

Google has updated Android Auto again. Version 16.9 beta is now available to testers, and can be installed manually via an APK file. You don’t need to be part of the beta program—the update installs over the current version without removing the app.On the surface, this update seems unexciting. Android Auto 16.9 beta brings no visible interface changes, so most drivers probably won’t notice anything different after installation. But this is one of those cases where what matters isn’t what you see today, but what Google is preparing behind the scenes.The main feature everyone is waiting for is widgets. In the previous beta 16.8, traces of active development were already spotted: a settings menu and support for popular use cases like weather and calendar. If Google follows through to release, the car screen will become much more useful. You won’t have to open a separate app just to check your next meeting or the forecast.Another important development is Gemini. After the beta program reopened, some users noticed that Gemini had already replaced Google Assistant. But there’s no guarantee that installing the beta will give you new features right away. Google often rolls out features gradually, based on accounts, regions, and server-side settings.The update also mentions a new wavy progress bar in media apps, updated weather icons, radio station controls, and climate control integration. The last one is especially…

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