Google rolls out Android Auto 16.0 with a redesigned media player

Google is rolling out Android Auto 16.0. This release introduces a noticeable refresh to the media player interface: several controls have been repositioned, meaning drivers will need to adjust their habits.

Android Auto updates are usually too minor to attract much attention. However, as reported by 9to5Google, the version currently being distributed includes a meaningful redesign of the media player. It should make the player clearer to use, but it may also disrupt long-established routines.

Android Auto 16.0 changes to the media player interface

According to our colleagues, Google has now pushed Android Auto 16.0 after an extended testing period. One of the biggest updates affects the media player: the new layout moves the Play/Pause button as well as the track controls to the left-hand corner of the display. Android Auto also adds a new wavy progress bar.

While these tweaks can be seen as improvements, they may throw some people off at first, until muscle memory catches up with the new button placement.

A long-awaited update

Android Auto 16.0 may not be available for you yet. Google is applying the changes gradually, so the rollout is deliberately slow. 9to5Google also notes that this revamped media player has been anticipated for quite some time, as Google had already mentioned it during its annual Google I/O conference, held in May.

Google’s 2025 focus: Gemini replacing Google Assistant

It is also worth noting that, even though Android Auto has received visual changes, Google’s priority in 2025 has been migrating its ecosystem away from Google Assistant and towards Gemini. The company is steadily swapping out its older assistant for Gemini to enable more natural interactions, and Google’s automotive platforms are part of that shift. In addition, Google has announced that Google Assistant will be replaced by Gemini in Google Maps navigation as well, with the aim of making turn-by-turn guidance more conversational.