Google started rolling out Android Auto 11.8 a few days ago, but in keeping with the company’s typical approach, the new version comes without a changelog. This means it’s impossible to tell what’s new in this version without first downloading and dissecting the update. It was by doing exactly that that we are going to tell you what you can find in this new version and believe me that some things are interesting.
Android Auto 11.8 arrives with this big change!
Although Android Auto 11.8 didn’t seem to include any major changes at first, it looks like the new version comes with some big new features.
The long-awaited revision of the Settings menu, which Google promised many years ago, began to be made available to users with the launch of Android Auto 11.8. However, the new look is not tied to the latest version. Therefore, installing Android Auto 11.8 will not enable the new Settings screen design on your device. Google uses a server-controlled rollout, which means some users will have to wait longer than others to get the new look.
The Settings screen now uses the Material You design, aligning with the rest of the operating system.
The biggest change is undoubtedly the support for a dark theme, so if you use Android in dark mode, the Android Auto settings screen can now follow the same visual style.
It’s not clear why it took Google so long to bring this long-awaited facelift to the Android Auto settings screen. You probably forgot about this part of the application, mainly because you shouldn’t use it very often. After configuring Android Auto, you rarely go to the settings interface, as the car’s interface is the one you normally interact with.
However, creating more consistency across Android is definitely a good thing. Especially considering that the previous Android Auto Settings interface didn’t have a dark mode. Still, the developer options use the previous visual style with a clear theme.
Android Auto 11.8 is now reaching users around the world via the Google Play Store. However, the process may take several weeks to complete, so you may have to wait some time before you see the new version. You can always download and install version 11.8 manually using the standalone APK installer.
