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You change the Android Auto launcher from the Android Auto settings on your phone, not by dragging icons on the car’s touchscreen. Open Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto, select Customize launcher, then drag app names into a new order or hide entries you do not want shown. Exit and restart Android Auto so the updated launcher loads on the car display. Menu names can vary by Android version and phone maker; if the route differs, search Settings for Android Auto.
What Android Auto launcher customization actually changes
The launcher is the screen or app list you use to open Android Auto-compatible navigation, media, communication and other supported apps. Its order is controlled by a list on the connected phone. The car display reflects that list after Android Auto is restarted.
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Google’s app-launcher documentation describes two controls in Customize launcher: you can choose entries to hide and drag app names to rearrange their order. Hiding an entry only removes it from the Android Auto launcher; it does not uninstall the Android app from your phone or disable the app elsewhere on the device. See Google’s Android Auto app-launcher documentation.
| Control | Where you use it | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Drag an app name | Phone: Customize launcher | Changes the app’s position in the Android Auto launcher |
| Hide an entry | Phone: Customize launcher | Stops that entry appearing in the launcher without uninstalling the phone app |
| Open or close an app | Car display or phone, depending on the app | Does not by itself define the launcher’s permanent order |
Customization is therefore a presentation setting, not an app-management or feature-unlocking setting. It does not grant an app Android Auto support, change the app’s permissions, alter your account sign-in, or make a phone-only interface safe to use on the vehicle screen. It only determines which supported launcher entries are visible and the sequence in which they are listed.
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Before you start
- Use the Android phone that is paired with the vehicle and normally runs Android Auto.
- Make sure Android Auto is available on that phone and that you can connect to the car, either wirelessly or with the setup your vehicle uses.
- Expect the labels to differ slightly on some Android versions and manufacturers. The documented Google route is Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto.
- If you cannot find one of those menus, open the Settings app and search for Android Auto. Search is often faster than looking through manufacturer-specific menu groupings.
- Decide which apps you want easiest to reach while parked or driving. Reordering changes the launcher list, while hiding removes an entry from that list.
- Make changes while parked. The launcher is intended for the vehicle interface, and checking the result before driving avoids trying to troubleshoot a display while the car is moving.
If more than one phone is paired with the vehicle, identify which one is supplying the current Android Auto session. Editing another paired phone changes that phone’s settings, not necessarily the launcher you see in the car.
How to reorder Android Auto apps
- Open Settings on the phone connected to Android Auto. Use the phone that is paired with the vehicle, rather than a spare device that is not currently used for the connection.
- Open the Android Auto settings. Follow Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto. If your phone uses different categories, type Android Auto into the Settings search field and open the matching result.
- Tap Customize launcher. This page contains the entries Android Auto can present in its launcher and the controls for their visibility and order.
- Drag app names into the order you want. Press and hold an app name, move it up or down the list, and release it at the desired position. Arrange the complete list, not icons on the vehicle’s touchscreen; the phone list is the source of the launcher order.
- Exit and restart Android Auto. Google’s instructions require Android Auto to be exited and restarted before the changed order appears on the car display. Reconnecting to the vehicle is a practical way to relaunch it if Android Auto does not reopen automatically, but Google does not prescribe one particular restart method.
After the relaunch, open the Android Auto launcher on the car display and check the list. If the old order remains, confirm that you edited the settings on the phone actually used by the vehicle, then perform the exit-and-restart step again. Do not create a second order by dragging icons on the car screen; the documented customization control is the phone’s Customize launcher page.
How to place an app exactly where you want it
Start with the apps you use most often and move each name toward the top of the list. If the page shows both apps and other launcher options, treat every visible entry as part of the list: moving one item can shift the positions of the items below it. Release the name only when the insertion position is clear, then review the whole list before leaving Settings.
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How to hide an app from the launcher
- Open the phone’s Settings app.
- Go to Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto, or search Settings for Android Auto.
- Open Customize launcher.
- Use the visibility control for the app or option you do not want displayed. The exact checkbox, switch or selection style can vary with the phone’s Android skin.
- Exit and restart Android Auto, then inspect the launcher on the vehicle display.
Hiding is a launcher-level choice. The underlying app remains installed on the phone, and you can return to Customize launcher later to show it again. If an app is not listed on this page at all, hiding is not the reason it is absent; use the compatibility checks below.
Hiding also does not stop an app from receiving phone notifications, using storage, or appearing elsewhere on the phone. It simply keeps that launcher entry out of the Android Auto app list. If you later need the app in the car, return to the same page, enable its visibility, and restart Android Auto again.
Why an app is missing from Android Auto
An absent app normally falls into one of two categories: it is not an Android Auto-compatible app, or the phone has temporarily disabled it. First determine whether the app appears anywhere in Customize launcher; that separates a visibility choice from a support or phone-state problem.
| What you observe | Likely explanation | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The app is listed in Customize launcher but not on the car screen | It is hidden, or Android Auto has not been restarted since the change | Set the entry to show, then use the documented exit-and-restart procedure |
| The app is not listed in Customize launcher | The app may not support Android Auto | Check whether the developer offers Android Auto support; launcher settings cannot add unsupported functionality |
| The app used to appear on a Samsung phone and then vanished | Samsung battery management may have temporarily disabled an app that has not been used for a while | Open the app on the phone, or review Samsung’s unused-app battery settings |
| The app is compatible but cannot be found in Google Play’s Android Auto discovery | Google Play’s personalized compatible-app view has account requirements | Sign in to a Google Account and turn on personalization, then search again |
Check Android Auto compatibility first
Android Auto does not mirror every app installed on the phone. The launcher contains apps built to support Android Auto’s in-car experience. Google gives music, messaging and news apps as examples of supported categories and advises users to ask the app developer about app-specific support. Read Google’s instructions for downloading Android Auto apps.
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If an app developer has not implemented Android Auto support, rearranging the launcher cannot make the app appear. Installing the regular phone version, granting it permissions or placing it near the top of the list does not convert it into an Android Auto app. The practical next step is to check the developer’s support information for Android Auto availability and any stated device or region limits.
Google Play’s compatible-app discovery is personalized. Google says you must be signed in to a Google Account with personalization turned on for that discovery experience. This requirement affects how compatible apps are surfaced in Play; it does not guarantee that every installed app will be offered in the launcher.
Compatibility is different from visibility. A supported app can be hidden in Customize launcher, while an unsupported app will not become supported merely because it is installed. Check the app’s own listing or developer support page for Android Auto statements rather than relying on whether its phone icon exists.
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Samsung phones: check unused-app battery controls
Google identifies a Samsung-specific cause for an app that disappears: the phone may temporarily disable apps that have not been used for some time. When that happens, Android Auto cannot present the disabled app until the phone enables it again.
- Open the missing app on the phone. Google’s stated remedy is to launch the app, which re-enables it.
- Review battery settings if the problem returns. Samsung devices may expose controls named Auto disable unused apps or Put unused apps to sleep. Turn off the relevant unused-app behavior if you need that app available consistently.
- Recheck Android Auto. Return to Customize launcher and verify that the app is shown, then use the exit-and-restart procedure so the vehicle display loads the current state.
Samsung’s exact wording and location can differ by model, One UI release and Android version. Look for the unused-app or sleeping-app controls in the phone’s battery settings rather than assuming every Samsung device uses the same path. Google’s troubleshooting guidance is available at Find an app that is not on the Android Auto app launcher.
This battery behavior is temporary disabling, not the same as hiding an entry yourself. If opening the app restores it, revisit battery settings if you want to prevent the phone from putting it to sleep again. If the app remains absent after it is enabled, return to the compatibility and launcher-visibility checks.
Launcher order versus the recent-app area
Android Auto also has a recent-app area. Google describes it as showing recently used navigation, media and communication apps plus one additional app. That area is based on recent use, not simply the permanent order you create in Customize launcher.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe official customization documentation covers hiding launcher entries and dragging names to reorder them. It does not state that the recent-app area can be manually arranged from that page. Therefore, changing an app’s launcher position should not be expected to pin it into the recent-app row or determine which recently used apps appear there. For an overview of Android Auto screens and app areas, see Google’s Android Auto screens and apps help page.
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This distinction explains why two parts of the car interface can look different after a reorder. The full launcher follows the sequence saved in Customize launcher; the recent area reflects recent navigation, media and communication use plus one more app. There is no documented control in the launcher page for manually setting that recent sequence.
Troubleshooting when the new order does not appear
The phone path is different
Use Settings search for Android Auto. Phone manufacturers reorganize Settings categories, and the documented Connected devices > Connection preferences route is not guaranteed to be labeled identically on every device.
You changed the wrong phone
Android Auto customization is stored in the settings of the phone that supplies the vehicle connection. If several phones are paired with the car, switch to the phone currently used for Android Auto and repeat the change there.
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The list changed on the phone but not in the car
Check that the drag operation placed the name where intended, then exit and restart Android Auto. The vehicle display does not necessarily refresh while the current Android Auto session remains open.
The app is shown in settings but cannot be opened in the car
Confirm that Android Auto has been relaunched after the visibility change. If it still fails, distinguish a launcher-refresh issue from an app-support issue: an entry that appears in Customize launcher is recognized by the phone’s Android Auto settings, but app-specific behavior can still depend on the developer’s implementation and current app version.
The app is absent everywhere
If it is not in Customize launcher, do not keep rearranging the list. Check Android Auto compatibility and the developer’s support information. On a Samsung phone, also check whether unused-app battery management disabled it.
The order keeps reverting
First verify that the change was made on the phone currently connected to the vehicle. Then reopen Customize launcher to see whether the phone retained the new sequence. If it did, exit and restart Android Auto; the car may simply be displaying an older session. If the phone itself no longer shows the order, repeat the drag operation carefully and allow the settings page to finish saving before leaving it.
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Review every visibility control in Customize launcher. An entry can be supported and still intentionally hidden. If it is not present in the page at all, treat that as a compatibility or phone-state question instead of a sorting problem.
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A practical way to organize the launcher
Place the apps you reach most often near the top of the launcher and move occasional-use entries lower. Keep only genuinely useful entries visible so the list is shorter to scan, but hide an app only when you are comfortable opening it on the phone or restoring it later through Customize launcher. Because the launcher is intended for use through the vehicle interface, make changes while parked and confirm the result before driving.
A sensible order can separate navigation, media and communication apps according to your routine, but the setting does not create categories or change what each app can do. It simply puts the supported names in the sequence you choose. If your needs change, you can return to the same page and reorder or reveal entries without reinstalling anything.
Remember that reordering does not change an app’s compatibility, permissions, account sign-in or behavior inside Android Auto. It changes the sequence in which supported entries are presented. Recent apps remain governed by recent use, and Samsung’s unused-app management can affect whether an otherwise compatible app is available at all.
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Can I reorder Android Auto apps directly on the car touchscreen?
No. Google documents the customization controls in the phone’s Customize launcher settings. Change the order there, then exit and restart Android Auto so the car display loads it.
Does hiding an app uninstall it?
No. Hiding removes the launcher entry only. The app remains installed on the phone and can be shown again from Customize launcher.
Why is an installed app missing from the launcher?
Android Auto lists compatible apps, not every installed phone app. Check whether the developer supports Android Auto. On Samsung phones, also open the app and review unused-app battery settings because the phone may have temporarily disabled it.
Do I have to restart the phone?
Google says to exit and restart Android Auto for launcher changes to appear. It does not require a full phone reboot or specify one particular restart method. Reconnecting to the car is a practical way to relaunch Android Auto.
Why does my Settings menu not match the documented path?
Android versions and phone manufacturers can use different labels or groupings. Search the Settings app for Android Auto and open the matching result.
Can I manually arrange the recent-app row?
Google’s documented launcher controls cover hiding entries and changing their order. The recent-app area is described separately as showing recently used navigation, media and communication apps plus one additional app; the documentation does not provide a manual arrangement control for it.
What should I do if a Samsung app disappears again?
Open the app on the phone to re-enable it. If it keeps happening, look in battery settings for Auto disable unused apps or Put unused apps to sleep and turn off the relevant behavior. Labels vary by Samsung model and software version.
Key points
- Use the phone’s Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto > Customize launcher page.
- Drag names to reorder supported apps and use the visibility controls to hide entries.
- Exit and restart Android Auto before judging the result on the car display.
- If an app is missing, check compatibility first; launcher customization cannot add unsupported apps.
- On Samsung phones, open an app that was disabled as unused and review Auto disable unused apps or Put unused apps to sleep settings.
- The recent-app area is separate from the manually ordered launcher list.
- Google’s relevant documentation includes the App launcher page, Android Auto Help pages on missing apps, screens and apps, and downloading compatible apps, checked October 13, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I reorder Android Auto apps?
On the connected phone, open Settings, go to Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto > Customize launcher, and drag app names into the order you want.
How do I hide an Android Auto app?
Open Customize launcher in Android Auto settings and turn off the entry’s visibility control. Hiding removes it from the launcher but does not uninstall the phone app.
Why does a compatible app not appear in my car?
Check Customize launcher, restart Android Auto, and on Samsung phones open the app and review unused-app battery settings. If it is not listed at all, confirm that the developer supports Android Auto.
Can I change the recent-app row?
The documented Customize launcher controls change the full launcher list. The recent-app area is based on recently used apps, and Google does not document a manual ordering control for that row.
The Bottom Line
To customize Android Auto, use the connected phone’s Customize launcher page—not the car touchscreen. Drag supported app names to reorder them, hide entries you do not need, then exit and restart Android Auto. If an app is missing, check Android Auto compatibility; on Samsung phones, also check whether unused-app battery management temporarily disabled it.
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