Google's in-car infotainment system is finalizing details to bring all the new features announced at the 2026 Android Show. Some of these have already begun to arrive, such as the much-anticipated icon redesign. We'll tell you all the details and updates you can expect soon.
Android Auto has been making headlines for some time now due to the changes it's undergoing in its functionality. However, all of these are thanks to the excellent work being done by third-party developers, such as Fermata. As we reported yesterday, the company hasn't just offered compatibility with YouTube and Plex; it has also recently added apps that bring IPTV to Android Auto to make our waits more enjoyable. Now, Google's app is reportedly preparing to introduce all the changes it promised in the past, such as native YouTube compatibility. While all this is happening, one of the major changes it's working on, and which is about to arrive, has been leaked in the last few hours.
A change of color that doesn't go unnoticed
The first thing to keep in mind is that the new icon we're about to explain isn't yet visible to all users. It was discovered by Android Authority after analyzing the code of the latest released version, which is presumably the one that will soon arrive on our smartphones. In Android Auto version 17.6.663424, a new icon has been detected that differs slightly in design, but its main change is in color. From now on, Android Auto will abandon the classic blue and adopt Android's signature green. We don't know if this change aims to make Android Auto a more consistent system with Android or if it's a nod to new forms of mobility, such as electric vehicles, the rise of bicycles as a means of urban transport, or the use of scooters. They all share a common denominator: a reduced impact on the planet.
In addition to the color change, the icon has also undergone subtle adjustments to its shape. The corners are more rounded, the indentation between the white symbol and the green background is more pronounced, and the gradients have been replaced with solid colors. These details make the logo much more in line with the design language seen in other Android applications. The white arrow, reminiscent of a paper swallow, also features smoother curves, giving it a more fluid and modern feel.
Have any other changes been detected in the features? As we explained, the main change we noticed was aesthetic, primarily in the logo. However, the study conducted by the aforementioned media outlet did not detect any other variations in terms of functions or features. It seems that Google is not yet implementing these changes in any beta version and is waiting to have the complete package before launching it to the market. It had been a long time since we saw a logo change from Android Auto, which demonstrates the good work the company is doing to keep its ecosystem of applications up-to-date.
For now, we'll have to wait to see it on our devices. The update is being rolled out gradually, so it will appear on users' phones in the coming days. This small change is just a taste of a much more comprehensive overhaul promised by Google, which will include smoother elements, widget support, and video playback. Users have been requesting these features for some time, and it seems they're finally just around the corner.
In short, the new green Android Auto icon is a breath of fresh air after years of the same old blue triangle. While it might cause some confusion at first when searching for the app on your phone's screen, it does integrate visually with the rest of the Android system much better. And most importantly, this change suggests that Google is actively working on a complete interface redesign, which could arrive sooner than we expect. We'll have to keep an eye on future updates to see if all the promises are kept.
