If you use Android Auto in your vehicle, you’ve probably come across a situation where you’ve tried to use the app only to receive an error message that it can’t be used while driving.
This should happen much less often in the future, as Android Auto now clearly marks apps that are “just parked”, letting you know before you launch them.
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In the latest update, version 11.4, these apps get a little “P” at the top of the icon, letting you know they’re unavailable while on the move. Before, you wouldn’t know until you actually touch the app icon.
Why are there apps on the car dashboard that cannot be used while driving? Google answers this on the developer support page. While Android Auto is designed mainly for music, messaging and navigation apps, there are browsers and games meant for use only when the vehicle is not in motion – say, while you’re charging an electric vehicle or sitting in a school pickup line.
Perhaps the most famous of these apps is Google’s own GameSnacks, which offers “snack-sized in-car games” that are designed to be played on the in-vehicle infotainment screen.
And because Google knows it’s probably not a good idea for a driver to launch a game app while driving on the road, certain apps are locked unless the car is in park. This of course also prevents passengers from using them while the car is moving and prevents drivers from opening them quickly at traffic lights.
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While this isn’t a huge change, it’s definitely useful and can help you keep your eyes on the road a little longer.