Android Auto’s split screen is the one feature I use on every single drive
Android Auto’s split screen is the one feature I use on every single drive
https://www.xda-developers.com/android-auto-split-screen-one-feature-i-use-on-every-single-drive/
Publish Date: 2026-06-04 11:33:00
Source Domain: www.xda-developers.com
I didn’t get the chance to use Android Auto before its dynamic “Coolwalk” multitasking system became a thing a few years ago, but based on my understanding of how multitasking used to work with the in-car infotainment platform, it seems like I didn’t miss much.
Coolwalk first appeared in 2022 as a substantial redesign for Android Auto. At the time, Google billed it as a more dynamic take on the in-car phone projection operating system. While I’m not always inclined to agree with a tech giant’s marketing department, this is probably the best way to describe how Android Auto multitasking currently works.
Instead of a dedicated split-screen toggle as in earlier versions of Android Auto, Coolwalk automatically displays multiple apps side by side with minimal user input. In the context of an in-car operating system, this makes a lot of sense — when I’m behind the wheel, I want to concentrate on the road, not drag-and-drop or tap a button to create my own split-app display.
On top of side-by-side multitasking, a third split can appear for key notifications like texts, messages from other apps, or incoming calls, as long as you allow them to appear in Android Auto. In-car multitasking actions like this need to be automatic and optimized for a vehicle’s display, and that’s exactly what Android Auto does.
Android Auto’s Coolwalk multitasking system just makes sense
It’s simple, intuitive, and you really don’t need to even think about it
For example, with Android Auto’s current multitasking system, you can open up Waze (my favorite navigation app), and then pop open Spotify. Waze continues to dominate the screen, as it should, clearly displaying its map and other community-sourced features. At the same time, Spotify occupies part of the display, allowing you to view which song is playing and change tracks. Sometimes I’ll jump to…
