Stay organized with collections
Save and categorize content based on your preferences.
Settings for the car screen are not essential on Android Auto, as the app is
projected from a phone that already has its own settings experience. However, if
settings are created as described, they can potentially work for both AAOS
and Android.
When designing car screen settings using Android for Cars App
Library templates, follow these steps:
Select essential settings: Include only the settings necessary for using
the app while driving.
Organize settings for easy navigation: Use the
List template
and aim to display all settings on one screen.
Design dialogs and error flows: Utilize templates like the
Message template.
Ensure usability: Check that your settings meet the
UX requirements for the
Android for Cars App Library.
As you design your settings flow, keep in mind these requirements and
recommendations:
Settings examples
In AAOS, the app bar in the media app template includes an option for a Settings
control, which users can select to bring up an overlay with your app settings
screen.
Example Settings overlay on AAOS (landscape)Example Settings overlay on Android Auto
Example Settings overlay on AAOS (portrait)
Settings requirements
Requirement level
Requirements
SHOULD
App developers should:
Keep settings simple and easy to navigate
Include only settings that are necessary for app use (such as
account info, app preferences, and sign-in/sign-out) or relevant to
listening to media in the car (for example, turning off explicit
content)
Make all settings accessible from a single screen, if possible
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-04-16 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eDesign a settings experience for your car screen app, focusing on essential settings and error handling flows.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eUtilize Android for Cars App Library templates, such as the List and Message templates, to build a user-friendly settings interface.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003ePrioritize simplicity and ease of navigation, including only necessary settings and minimizing the use of dialogs.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eEnsure your settings experience adheres to the UX requirements of the Android for Cars App Library for optimal usability.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eIn AAOS, leverage the app bar's Settings control for easy access to your app settings screen.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# Create settings (optional)\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nSettings for the car screen are not essential on Android Auto, as the app is\nprojected from a phone that already has its own settings experience. However, if\nsettings are created as described, they can potentially work for both AAOS\nand Android.\n\nWhen designing car screen settings using Android for Cars App\nLibrary templates, follow these steps:\n\n- **Select essential settings:** Include only the settings necessary for using the app while driving.\n- **Organize settings for easy navigation:** Use the [List template](/cars/design/create-apps/apps-for-drivers/templates/list-template) and aim to display all settings on one screen.\n- **Design dialogs and error flows:** Utilize templates like the [Message template](/cars/design/create-apps/apps-for-drivers/templates/message-template).\n- **Ensure usability:** Check that your settings meet the [UX requirements](/cars/design/create-apps/ux-requirements/overview) for the Android for Cars App Library.\n\nTo learn more about designing with the templates, see\n[Build apps with templates](/cars/design/create-apps/apps-for-drivers/build-with-templates).\n| **Note:** To implement a settings function in your app, you need to declare a Settings activity in your app's manifest file. For details, see [Add a Settings activity](https://developer.android.com/training/cars/media/automotive-os#settings-activity).\n\nAs you design your settings flow, keep in mind these requirements and\nrecommendations:\n\nSettings examples\n-----------------\n\nIn AAOS, the app bar in the media app template includes an option for a Settings\ncontrol, which users can select to bring up an overlay with your app settings\nscreen.\nExample Settings overlay on AAOS (landscape) Example Settings overlay on Android Auto \nExample Settings overlay on AAOS (portrait)\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nSettings requirements\n---------------------\n\n| Requirement level | Requirements |\n|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|\n| **SHOULD** | App developers should: - Keep settings simple and easy to navigate - Include only settings that are necessary for app use (such as account info, app preferences, and sign-in/sign-out) or relevant to listening to media in the car (for example, turning off explicit content) - Make all settings accessible from a single screen, if possible - Avoid use of dialogs beyond simple confirmation |"]]
