Google Confirms 5 Android Auto Media Updates, Squiggly Player Stays
Google recaps five recent Android Auto media updates, including universal media controls, a redesigned player, and improved autoplay.
Google has recapped five recent Android Auto updates for media apps in a Reddit post by its Android Community Engagement Manager. The post confirms that the ability to control media from any app, including browser audio streams and niche media apps, is now available.
The redesigned media app player for apps like Spotify, YouTube Music and Pocket Casts is also confirmed. The in-app UI will start to change for some apps in the next few months. Google further confirmed that the squiggly line media player design is here to stay.
Android Auto now allows swiping between active media sessions from the dashboard widget. Autoplay has been improved so recently unused media apps are no longer selected, with a pop-up to turn off autoplay and a fix for autoplay starting when disabled.
These updates follow earlier rollouts. In March 2025, the ability to control media from any app was noticed rolling out for YouTube. In May 2025, Google announced the in-app UI for media apps on Android Auto would change. In July 2025, the redesigned media app player started rolling out more broadly.
The recap was shared by 9to5google.com, which reported on the Reddit post.
Quick answers
What Android Auto media updates did Google confirm?
Google confirmed five updates: control media from any app, a redesigned media app player, swiping between active media sessions, improved autoplay, and that the squiggly line media player design is here to stay.
When will the redesigned media app player roll out?
The in-app UI will start to change for some apps in the next few months.
How has autoplay changed on Android Auto?
Autoplay now avoids selecting recently unused media apps, includes a pop-up to turn off autoplay, and fixes autoplay starting when disabled.