These guidelines describe how to structure a media app so it meets design requirements and works across all vehicles that support Android Automotive OS.

Find out what’s new on the site, or scroll down to get started with Car UI design, media apps, or notifications.

Note:
These guidelines do not describe how to prepare an app for use with the Android Auto app. For those details, consult Android Auto.

Car UI design resources

Use these resources to help you design vehicle-optimized UIs:

Key terms & concepts: Definitions and background information
Design for driving: Safety-oriented UI design principles for cars
Visual foundations: Vehicle-optimized approaches to color, typography, and more

Here are some starting points for preparing your app to work with the media template:

How media apps work: How media apps work with the media template
Who does what: The roles of car makers and app developers in implementing media apps in cars
Design tasks: Six main tasks for structuring your media app
Checklist: Check that you’ve provided all the necessary design elements

Here are some starting points for understanding the notification experience:

Car vs phone: Differences between notifications in cars and those on phones
How car notifications work: How users encounter and interact with notifications in the car
Design considerations: Four ways that app developers can influence notification design