3 simple Android Auto Automations that helped me stop wasting time in my driveway
3 simple Android Auto Automations that helped me stop wasting time in my driveway
Publish Date: 2026-06-18 14:30:00
Source Domain: www.xda-developers.com
Since switching from CarPlay to Android Auto as my primary in-car infotainment system in my Ioniq 5 EV, I’ve experimented with several things, including sideloading video and web browsing apps, improving my app setup for long drives, and various ways to maintain a more consistent wired connection.
Naturally, next it was time to better optimize my experience with various Android Automations. These days, when I get in the car, I’m usually juggling several bags, a coffee, and in most cases, also my one-year-old son, so making sure everything is ready to roll as soon as I get in the vehicle is essential.
After looking into Google’s Automations, I’ve concluded they’re an absolute mess since Gemini’s launch. Most no longer work, and if you’re trying to create a completely custom Automation, good luck, because adding Ask Google is extremely broken, especially when you switch to the old layout in the Home app (don’t believe all the articles out there that claim Automations still work — they’re very outdated).
Switching back to Google Assistant from Gemini doesn’t solve the problem either. I also wouldn’t really consider that a real option, since Gemini is undeniably better at pretty much everything else. Hopefully, the situation improves when Google’s Agentic Gemini Intelligence platform and its refreshed Android Auto launch later this year. I also expect Gemini for Home to become far more capable in the coming months. Still, until then, Google Home and Android ecosystem users are stuck in an in-between era where nothing really works the way it’s supposed to.
With all of that out of the way, I’ve been able to pull together a few straightforward Google Home Automations that made getting in and out of my car a smoother experience. None of these Automations are game-changing, but I’ve appreciated the small amount of convenience they add to my life.
