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Change the Android Auto launcher from your phone, not from the car’s touchscreen. In Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto > Customize launcher, you can drag compatible app names into a new order and hide entries you do not want to see. Exit and restart Android Auto afterward so the car display loads the new arrangement.
What the Android Auto launcher controls
The Android Auto launcher is the app list shown on your car display when Android Auto is running. Its order is controlled by the Customize launcher page in Android Auto settings on the connected phone. Google’s developer documentation says users can hide apps or drag their names to rearrange the launcher order: Google’s App launcher documentation.
This setting affects the list inside Android Auto. It does not rearrange icons on your phone’s home screen, uninstall anything, or change an app’s data. Hiding an entry only removes that launcher entry; the phone app remains installed and can still be opened normally.
The launcher is not a complete mirror of every app on the phone. It lists apps that have Android Auto support, and some of those may be hidden in Customize launcher. An ordinary phone app cannot be made compatible merely by changing its launcher visibility.
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Before you change the order
- Have the phone connected to the vehicle and Android Auto running or ready to run.
- Use the phone’s Settings app. Rearranging icons directly on the car screen is not the supported method.
- Expect menu names to vary by Android version and phone manufacturer.
- If the documented route is absent, use the Settings search field and search for Android Auto.
- Remember that only Android Auto-compatible apps can appear in the launcher.
Google documents the route as Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto. A manufacturer may place the same page under a differently named connection category, so searching Settings is often faster than trying to match every label exactly.
How to reorder Android Auto apps
- Connect the phone to Android Auto. Use the connection method your vehicle already supports. The important part is that you are changing the settings for the phone used with that vehicle.
- Open Settings on the phone. Do not open the car’s display settings; the launcher arrangement is managed on the phone.
- Open the Android Auto settings page. Follow Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto. If those labels differ, search Settings for Android Auto and open the matching result.
- Tap Customize launcher. This page contains the Android Auto entries and visibility controls.
- Drag app names into the order you want. Press and hold an app name, then move it higher or lower in the list. Put the apps you use most often near the top and less-used entries farther down.
- Exit and restart Android Auto. Google requires Android Auto to be exited and restarted before the new order appears. Reconnecting the phone is a practical way to relaunch it if Android Auto does not restart automatically.
The order you establish on the phone is the order used by the launcher on the car display after Android Auto starts again. If the old order remains visible, close Android Auto completely, disconnect and reconnect if necessary, and check the list again after the next launch.
Reordering and hiding are separate controls
| Action in Customize launcher | What changes | What does not change |
|---|---|---|
| Drag an app name | Its position in the Android Auto launcher | The phone app, its data, and its position on the phone |
| Hide an entry | Whether that entry is shown in the Android Auto launcher | The app is not uninstalled and remains available on the phone |
| Leave an entry shown | The entry remains eligible to appear in the launcher order | Compatibility requirements still apply |
How to hide apps from Android Auto
- Open the phone’s Settings app while using the phone associated with Android Auto.
- Go to Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto, or search Settings for Android Auto.
- Open Customize launcher.
- Use the visibility control for an entry you do not want displayed. The wording and control style can differ by phone, but the result is that the entry is hidden from the Android Auto launcher.
- Exit and restart Android Auto so the car display refreshes.
Hiding is useful when the launcher contains apps you rarely use or when you want a shorter list for easier glance-based selection. It is reversible: return to Customize launcher and enable the entry again, then restart Android Auto.
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Why an app is missing from the launcher
An absent app generally has one of two explanations: it is not compatible with Android Auto, or the phone has temporarily disabled it. Work through these checks in order.
1. Confirm Android Auto compatibility
Android Auto supports apps designed for the platform rather than every app installed on the phone. Google’s guidance identifies categories such as music, messaging, and news, and advises checking with the app developer for app-specific support. See Google’s guide to downloading apps for Android Auto.
Google Play’s compatible-app discovery also depends on being signed in to a Google Account with personalization turned on. If an app does not appear in Android Auto-compatible listings, verify that account condition and then check the app developer’s support information. A normal phone app may work perfectly on the handset while offering no Android Auto interface.
2. Check whether the entry is hidden
Open Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto > Customize launcher. If the app is listed but its visibility control is disabled, enable it and restart Android Auto. If it is not listed at all, customization cannot add it; continue with the compatibility check rather than repeatedly changing the order.
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3. Check Samsung unused-app settings
Google notes that some Samsung phones may temporarily disable apps that have not been used for a while. When that happens, open the missing app on the phone to re-enable it. You can also review the phone’s battery settings and turn off Auto disable unused apps or Put unused apps to sleep, depending on the device. The exact labels can differ between Samsung models and Android versions. Google describes this remedy in its help page for apps missing from the Android Auto launcher.
4. Restart Android Auto after every visibility change
Launcher changes are not guaranteed to appear while the current Android Auto session is still open. Exit Android Auto and start it again. If the vehicle does not relaunch it, disconnect and reconnect the phone using the normal procedure for your car. The official documentation calls for exiting and restarting; it does not prescribe one particular restart technique.
5. Ask the developer when support is unclear
If the app remains absent after it is enabled and the phone is no longer disabling it, contact the app developer about Android Auto support. Launcher customization only controls compatible entries; it cannot turn an unsupported app into an Android Auto app.
Understanding the launcher versus recent apps
Android Auto also has a recent-app area. Google’s overview says this area can show recently used navigation, media, and communication apps, along with one additional app. That behavior is separate from the full launcher list.
The customization documentation explains hiding entries and dragging names to change launcher order, but it does not say that users can directly arrange the recent-app area from Customize launcher. Therefore, changing the launcher order should not be expected to force a particular app into the recent-app strip. The recent area is based on recent use and Android Auto’s system behavior, while the launcher list follows the order you set in phone settings. More background is available in Google’s overview of Android Auto screens and apps.
Working with different Android phones
When the documented menu path matches
On phones that use Google’s standard connection labels, open Settings, choose Connected devices, select Connection preferences, tap Android Auto, and then open Customize launcher. Make the changes, leave the page, and restart Android Auto.
When labels or locations differ
Android versions and manufacturers can rename or reorganize connection menus. Instead of guessing which category contains Android Auto, open Settings search and enter Android Auto. Select the system settings result rather than a web result or an unrelated app listing. Once on the Android Auto page, look for Customize launcher; that page is the control point for order and visibility.
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When Android Auto settings are not shown
Make sure you are using the phone that normally connects to the vehicle and that Android Auto has been set up for that connection. If Android Auto is not available anywhere in Settings, the issue is broader than launcher ordering. Resolve the phone-to-car Android Auto connection first, then repeat the customization steps.
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Android Auto is designed for use while driving, so a short, predictable launcher is easier to scan than a long collection of rarely used entries. Start by deciding which compatible apps you actually need during a drive.
- Keep the navigation app or apps you routinely use near the top.
- Place the music or audio service you use most often immediately after navigation.
- Keep messaging or calling entries you rely on in an easy-to-reach position.
- Hide compatible apps that you never use in the car instead of leaving them scattered through the list.
- Leave less frequent but still useful apps visible farther down, so you can find them without re-enabling them later.
- Restart Android Auto and verify the final order on the car display before driving.
This is an organization method, not a requirement imposed by Android Auto. The launcher will use whatever order you set, provided the entries remain compatible and visible.
Common mistakes and their fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Dragging icons on the car screen has no effect | The launcher is managed from phone settings | Open Android Auto settings on the connected phone and use Customize launcher |
| The new order is not visible immediately | The current Android Auto session has not restarted | Exit and restart Android Auto; reconnect if needed |
| An installed phone app is absent | It may not support Android Auto | Check compatible-app listings and the developer’s support information |
| An app was visible before but disappeared on a Samsung phone | The phone may have disabled an unused app | Open the app on the phone, then review unused-app battery settings |
| An app appears in Customize launcher but not on the car display | Its visibility setting may be off, or Android Auto has not refreshed | Enable the entry, then exit and restart Android Auto |
| The menu labels do not match the instructions | Android version or manufacturer customization | Search Settings for Android Auto instead of relying on the exact category names |
Questions people commonly ask
Can I reorder apps directly on the car touchscreen?
No. The supported control is on the connected phone in Android Auto’s Customize launcher settings. The car display shows the resulting order after Android Auto is restarted.
Does hiding an app uninstall it?
No. Hiding changes whether the entry appears in Android Auto’s launcher. It does not remove the phone app, erase its data, or change its phone home-screen icon. Re-enable the entry in Customize launcher whenever you want it back.
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The launcher lists Android Auto-compatible apps, not every installed Android app. Music, messaging, navigation, and news apps commonly provide Android Auto interfaces, while an ordinary phone-only app may not. Ask the developer whether the missing app supports Android Auto.
Why did my new order not appear?
Android Auto must be exited and restarted before the display is expected to use the new order. Close the session and relaunch it; disconnecting and reconnecting the phone is a practical relaunch method if your vehicle does not restart automatically.
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What if I cannot find Connected devices?
Menu names vary by Android version and manufacturer. Open the Settings app’s search field and enter Android Auto. Use the system settings result, then open Customize launcher from that page.
Can I put an unsupported app in the launcher anyway?
No. Changing visibility or dragging names only affects entries that Android Auto recognizes as compatible. Launcher customization cannot create an Android Auto interface for an unsupported app.
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Google says some Samsung phones temporarily disable apps that have not been used for a while. Open the app on the phone to re-enable it. You can also check battery settings for Auto disable unused apps or Put unused apps to sleep and turn that behavior off if the option is present.
Can I control the recent-app strip with the same order?
Not according to Google’s documented controls. Customize launcher changes the full launcher list. The separate recent-app area reflects recently used navigation, media, and communication apps plus one additional app, so its contents are not directly arranged from that page.
Do I need to buy a special cable, display, or subscription?
No purchase is required for the launcher changes themselves. The work is done with the Android phone already associated with Android Auto and the vehicle’s existing Android Auto connection. Hardware or connection problems should be solved separately from launcher ordering.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What you can and cannot customize
- You can reorder launcher entries: drag app names in Customize launcher.
- You can hide launcher entries: use the page’s visibility controls and restart Android Auto.
- You cannot add unsupported apps: an app must provide Android Auto support.
- You cannot rely on Customize launcher to arrange recent apps: Google documents the recent-app area separately and does not describe a direct sorting control there.
- You do not uninstall apps by hiding them: hiding changes the Android Auto launcher view only.
Quick reference
Path: Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto > Customize launcher.
Alternative: Search the phone’s Settings for Android Auto when menu labels differ.
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Reorder: Drag app names into the desired sequence.
Hide: Turn off an entry’s visibility control in Customize launcher.
Apply: Exit and restart Android Auto, reconnecting the phone if that is the practical way to relaunch it.
Missing app: Check Android Auto compatibility, confirm it is not hidden, and on Samsung phones check whether unused-app battery controls disabled it.
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How do I reorder apps in Android Auto?
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. Exit and restart Android Auto to apply it on the car display.
How do I hide an Android Auto app?
Open Customize launcher in Android Auto settings and turn off the entry’s visibility control. Hiding does not uninstall the phone app. Restart Android Auto afterward.
Why is an app missing even though it is installed?
It may not support Android Auto, it may be hidden in Customize launcher, or a Samsung phone may have temporarily disabled it as unused. Check compatibility, visibility, and Samsung battery settings in that order.
Can I arrange the recent-app row myself?
Google documents ordering for the full launcher, not a direct sorting control for the recent-app area. That area is based on recently used navigation, media, and communication apps plus one additional app.
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What if my Settings menus use different names?
Search the phone’s Settings for Android Auto. Android versions and manufacturers can rename or relocate Connected devices and Connection preferences.
The Bottom Line
Use the connected phone’s Android Auto > Customize launcher page to drag compatible apps into a new order or hide entries. Restart Android Auto before judging the result. If an app is missing, distinguish compatibility from a hidden entry or Samsung’s unused-app battery controls; customization cannot add support that the app does not provide.
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