Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsChange Android Auto’s widget layout by opening the car display’s app drawer, selecting Settings, choosing Change layout, and setting Navigation or Media closer to the driver. The option changes the placement of major dashboard areas; it does not provide free-form drag-and-drop control over every widget, card, or app pane.
The setting is useful when Android Auto media appears on the side you would rather reserve for navigation, or when audio controls are more important than map proximity. The menu may differ by Android Auto release, phone, vehicle head unit, screen, and staged rollout.
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Key takeaways
- The Android Auto layout path is app drawer → Settings → Change layout on the car’s Android Auto display.
- Change layout normally offers two choices: put Navigation or Media closer to the driver.
- The setting changes the placement of the main dashboard areas; it is not a free-form drag-and-drop editor for every Android Auto widget.
- The secondary dashboard area is system-managed, so Android Auto generally does not let you replace it with a second simultaneous navigation app.
- If Change layout is missing, the cause may be the Android Auto version, vehicle display, connected phone, or staged feature availability rather than a faulty head unit.
How do I change Android Auto’s widget layout?
To change Android Auto’s widget layout, connect your phone to the vehicle, put the vehicle in Park, open the Android Auto app drawer on the car display, select Settings, tap Change layout, and choose whether Navigation or Media should be closer to the driver. Return to the dashboard to check the result. The menu is documented in the original Android Auto layout walkthrough from 9to5Google.
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- Park the vehicle. Do not change the setting while driving.
- Connect the phone so Android Auto is active on the vehicle’s display.
- Tap the app drawer button, usually represented by a grid of dots.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Change layout.
- Select Navigation closer to driver or the corresponding media-oriented option.
- Return to the Android Auto dashboard and confirm that the preferred area is nearest the driver.
The exact wording and location can vary by Android Auto release, connected phone, vehicle head unit, and feature rollout. In some installations, a related control may also be visible in the phone-side Android Auto settings.
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What does Android Auto’s Change layout setting actually change?
Android Auto’s Change layout setting swaps the relative placement of the navigation area and the secondary dashboard area. The setting determines which major content area is closest to the driver; it does not give you unrestricted control over every card or widget.
| Layout choice | Content closest to driver | What remains system-managed | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navigation closer to driver | Map and navigation area | Media controls, suggestions, and other contextual cards | Drivers who want the map in the most accessible position |
| Media closer to driver | Media-oriented dashboard area | Navigation placement, card proportions, and available dashboard content | Drivers who frequently control audio while navigating |
Android Auto can show navigation, media controls, suggested destinations, and other contextual information, but the vehicle host determines how those cards fit the available screen. Wide, tall, and otherwise nonstandard displays may present different proportions or card combinations. Google’s Android for Cars documentation describes host and template restrictions that limit how car apps can present content; those restrictions help explain why Android Auto is not a general-purpose widget grid.
Can I freely move Android Auto widgets or choose any app for the side pane?
No. Android Auto’s dashboard is generally system-managed and category-constrained. The available control changes the position of the major navigation and media areas, but it does not promise arbitrary drag-and-drop ordering or let you assign any app to any pane.
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A media app such as Spotify may appear in the secondary area when audio is active, while navigation and contextual cards are arranged according to Android Auto and the vehicle host’s rules. The documented Android Auto layout option should therefore be described as a two-choice placement setting, not as a complete dashboard editor.
The secondary area also is not a second independent navigation display. An Android Auto Community discussion describes the secondary section as unavailable for a second simultaneous navigation app; because that discussion is community content, it is useful corroboration rather than a formal product specification. Google’s Android for Cars template restrictions provide the more authoritative context for why car-app layouts are constrained.
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Can I show two navigation apps at once?
Android Auto’s Change layout setting does not add a second simultaneous navigation provider. The available evidence supports a constrained dashboard model in which the active navigation experience occupies the navigation role, while the secondary area is commonly used for media or contextual information.
Changing the layout can move navigation closer to the driver or move the media-oriented area closer to the driver. It does not turn the secondary pane into another map display or guarantee that two navigation apps will remain visible at the same time. See the Android Auto Community discussion about the secondary screen area for an example of this limitation.
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Why is Android Auto media on the wrong side?
Android Auto media may be on the side nearest the driver because the dashboard is using the Media closer to driver layout choice. Open the car display’s Android Auto app drawer, go to Settings → Change layout, and select Navigation closer to driver if you want the map nearest the driver.
If the position does not change after selecting the option, return to the dashboard, disconnect and reconnect the phone, and check whether the vehicle’s display applies its own layout behavior. Android Auto experiences depend partly on the vehicle host and screen, so two vehicles can expose different proportions or dashboard cards even when they use the same phone.
Where is Change layout in Android Auto?
The most direct location is the Android Auto Settings screen on the car display: tap the app drawer, open Settings, and look for Change layout. The original feature coverage also reported access through Android Auto settings on the phone, but the car-side menu is the primary path to try while Android Auto is connected.
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Use this checklist if the option is not visible:
- Confirm that Android Auto is actively connected to the vehicle display.
- Put the vehicle in Park.
- Check the car-screen Android Auto Settings menu.
- Check the phone-side Android Auto settings as well.
- Update Android Auto-related Google components where updates are available.
- Disconnect and reconnect the phone.
- Check again after the reconnection.
Google’s Android Auto setup documentation is the appropriate reference for connection and setup requirements. A missing Change layout control is not, by itself, proof of a hardware failure. Android Auto features can depend on the phone, software release, vehicle head unit, screen, and staged rollout.
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Taskbar widgets, where available, is not a universal editor for the entire Android Auto dashboard. The control affects taskbar or widget behavior, while Change layout controls which major dashboard area is nearer the driver.
Taskbar widget behavior is version- and device-dependent. Toggling the control should not be treated as a guarantee that a particular app, card, or map will appear in a specific position on every vehicle.
Is the newer Android Auto widget system the same as Change layout?
No. The older Change layout option controls the placement of major dashboard panes, while Google’s newer Android for Cars work describes broader glanceable widgets, personal shortcuts, weather, and other at-a-glance information.
Google’s May 19, 2026 Android for Cars developer announcement says investments made in mobile widgets are intended to become available to Android Auto users during 2026. Google describes the direction this way: You can customize even further with widgets, which let you see the things that matter to you at a glance, even while actively navigating.
Read the Google Android for Cars announcement for the rollout context.
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The broader widget initiative should not be confused with proof that every Android Auto installation currently has the same widget picker or customization controls. A feature announced or rolling out in 2026 may appear at different times depending on the installation and vehicle host. Google’s Android for Cars App Library documentation also explains the host-dependent environment in which car apps operate.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Android Auto layout should you choose?
Choose Navigation closer to driver when map visibility and easier access to navigation are more important. Choose Media closer to driver when frequent audio changes are your priority. Neither choice changes the number of navigation apps Android Auto can display or provides full control over the dashboard’s cards.
| Your priority | Recommended choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the map nearest the driver | Navigation closer to driver | The navigation area receives the preferred position. |
| Adjusting music or podcasts frequently | Media closer to driver | The media-oriented area receives the preferred position. |
| Creating a custom app-by-app dashboard | Neither option provides this | Android Auto and the vehicle host manage available cards and pane behavior. |
| Showing two navigation maps | Neither option provides this | Change layout changes proximity, not the number of simultaneous navigation panes. |
What should you expect after changing the layout?
After saving the choice, Android Auto should return to a dashboard where the selected major area is closer to the driver. The exact split, card size, and secondary content can still vary with the vehicle screen and host implementation. The setting does not guarantee identical results across cars, phones, or Android Auto releases.
Android Auto’s menus and widget capabilities are moderately volatile because releases, staged rollouts, connected phones, and vehicle displays can change the available controls. If this article is published after September 13, 2026, the procedure and rollout wording should be rechecked against current Google documentation and the Android Auto installation being described.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Change layout in Android Auto?
Android Auto’s Change layout setting is normally found on the connected car display under app drawer → Settings → Change layout. Some releases may also expose a related option in the phone-side Android Auto settings.
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Can Android Auto show two navigation apps at the same time?
Android Auto’s Change layout setting does not generally allow two navigation apps to remain visible at once. The setting changes which major dashboard area is closer to the driver; it does not create a second navigation pane.
Are Taskbar widgets the same as Android Auto Change layout?
Taskbar widgets and Change layout serve different purposes. Taskbar widgets affects taskbar or widget behavior where available, while Change layout chooses whether Navigation or Media is closer to the driver.
Why can’t I see Change layout in Android Auto?
A missing Change layout option can result from the Android Auto release, connected phone, vehicle head unit, screen, or staged feature availability. Confirm that Android Auto is connected, put the vehicle in Park, check both car-side and phone-side settings, update relevant Google components, and reconnect the phone.
The Bottom Line
Use app drawer → Settings → Change layout on the connected car display, then choose whether Navigation or Media is closer to the driver. Android Auto does not currently treat this control as a free-form widget editor: the vehicle and Android Auto manage the dashboard’s cards, proportions, and available panes.
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