Android Auto Just Got a Whole Lot Smoother with These Simple Google Maps Tweaks
When using Google Maps on Android Auto, it's easy to overlook the default settings and their impact on navigation. Parth, a technology analyst and writer for Android Police, decided to take a closer look at his Google Maps settings and made some tweaks that significantly improved his experience.
One of the first changes he made was creating shortcuts for frequently visited locations in Google Maps. By setting up these shortcuts, he could quickly access common destinations like home, work, and favorite restaurants without having to type in addresses or scroll through recent searches.
Parth also set up Gemini Actions on his Android Auto dashboard, which allowed him to turn common voice commands into one-tap shortcuts. This included finding nearby restaurants, fuel stations, and sending ETAs to contacts via WhatsApp. By pinning these actions to the dashboard, he could quickly access them with a single tap.
In addition to these changes, Parth also customized his Google Maps settings by selecting an engine type for his vehicle. He chose petrol as his engine type, which allowed Google Maps to estimate more fuel-efficient routes based on his car's characteristics.