Google Working On Android Auto ‘Minimize App’ Button

Google appears to be working on a new Android Auto feature that will let the app run in the background when users are accessing other apps. This feature is called the “Minimize app” button and it will be available to users of the Android app in the future.

Over the weekend, XDA-Developers shared what some users found when they accessed the Android Auto app recently. Apparently, some users are seeing a new entry in the the settings menu of the app. It’s labeled “Minimize app” and it does what it says upon pressing it.

Tapping the “Minimize app” button will close the Android Auto app and turn it into a floating action button that can be moved around the screen. The presence of the floating action button means the app is still running in the background and performing certain necessary tasks. Clicking it at any time will reopen the app.

At present, users are forced to close the Android Auto app when they need to access other apps. It’s a bit of a hassle to exit the service and then relaunch it again once drivers need to use it, so this “Minimize app” button will come in handy. It will also eliminate the instances when GPS navigation and music playback are interrupted when the app is closed, according to 9To5Google.

The new button currently works on version 3.3.582064 of Android Auto that’s available on the Google Play Store. There’s no information yet on the official release of the feature to all Android Auto users. It’s possible that it could be launched in the coming weeks. And it’s also possible that it could take some time before it arrives since Google typically tests new Android Auto features for a long time before they are released.

Android Auto is not the same with Android Automotive, which is the independent Android-based operating system that runs on dedicated car hardware and is capable of controlling HVAC as well as other in-vehicle systems. Android Auto is basically an extension of the Android smartphone experience available on compatible head units.

The Android Auto app is capable of running on the smartphone itself without the need of connecting it to an infotainment system. What this means is smartphones can already serve as the infotainment systems with the Android Auto app. But then again users will need to mount their handsets if they want to enjoy the full Android Auto experience.