Prateek Tanmay
2 min readMay 28, 2026 03:14 PM IST
Android Auto is rolling out a small but highly useful update that makes switching between media apps significantly less frustrating for drivers.
The latest beta version of Android Auto now supports multiple swipeable media cards directly on the dashboard, allowing users to quickly cycle through active audio apps without having to reopen them individually.
The feature first surfaced during an APK teardown in late 2025, but it is now beginning to work in Android Auto beta version 17.0.162144-release.daily.
Previously, Android Auto only displayed one active media app at a time. For example, if a user switched from Spotify to YouTube Music, the Spotify media controls would disappear entirely from the dashboard. Returning to Spotify required reopening the app and manually resuming playback before its controls reappeared.
With the new update, Android Auto keeps multiple recent media sessions active simultaneously as separate cards that users can swipe through directly from the dashboard interface.
This means drivers can now move more seamlessly between apps such as Spotify, YouTube Music, Pocket Casts, Audible, podcasts, audiobooks, and other audio services while driving.
The update focuses primarily on convenience and reducing distractions by cutting down the number of taps needed to switch between entertainment apps.
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At the moment, the feature appears limited to beta users, and there is no confirmation yet about when it will arrive on the stable public release channel. However, since the functionality is already active in beta, a wider rollout is expected in the near future.
The update is part of Google’s continued efforts to refine Android Auto’s dashboard experience as more drivers rely on connected infotainment systems for navigation, communication, and media playback during daily commutes.
