A small new feature spotted in recent days in Android Auto: a discreet button to exit the Google interface and return directly to the car's system's home screen. The idea is simple: rather than looking for the back icon in the app drawer, a simple tap on this new button at the top of the screen allows you to switch to the vehicle's native system.
A hidden shortcut but useful
This is particularly useful in some cars, notably Toyota or Lexus, which don't offer a physical button or touch option to properly exit Android Auto. Until now, drivers had to dig through the Android Auto menu, which is neither fast nor very practical when driving.
The new button is located at the top right of the screen, next to the time and battery. It's not immediately obvious, and its icon – a downward arrow – is confusing. You might think it opens a drop-down menu, but it actually takes you back to the car's interface. In short, a little visual tweaking wouldn't hurt.
The problem is that this button doesn't appear for everyone. Several users on Reddit have reported its presence – then its disappearance – on models of all kinds, like certain Toyotas, Hyundais, and even Lexuses. For others, nothing at all, despite an up-to-date Android Auto and a recent smartphone. One user says he saw it for a month on his Hyundai, before it disappeared. Another, with a Galaxy S22 Ultra and Android Auto 14.1, sees nothing at all. In short, it's a case of luck.
It seems that Google is activating this button remotely, without warning, via a server-side change. No official announcement has been made, and the Android Auto support page remains silent on the subject. The result: a very uneven experience, which has angered some users deprived of this very practical function.
Another consequence: the button has taken the place of the weather display, which some had hoped to see return since the interface redesign. Google had promised to rework this display, but in the meantime, the space has been occupied by this new shortcut. It's not certain that the weather will make its big comeback anytime soon.
In the end, a simple function but one that is controversial, especially when it isn't there for everyone. Perhaps Google will reveal more at its I/O conference in May.
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