Android Auto‘s light theme is making a comeback, again. Google’s automotive platform did have a light theme in the past, but the company removed it for a while. It appears that was a concise decision to improve its implementation, as new evidence shows notable progress.
Android Auto gets a better light theme implementation from Google
Google originally removed light theme support from Android Auto in 2019 as part of a major redesign. The feature was spotted in development again back in 2023, but it was clearly a work in progress. Users reported various problems and UI inconsistencies. Most notably, only the navigation bar and suggestion cards switched to proper light mode, while the rest of the interface stubbornly stayed dark.
The inconsistent look made the feature feel unfinished and unusable, and Google knew it. The company went back to the drawing board and reworked the light theme for Android Auto. Now, it appears to have made significant progress. A recent APK teardown by Android Authority reveals that the light theme is being applied more consistently across Android Auto’s interface.
This time around, everything from settings and media apps to navigation and other UI elements switches to light mode. Color transitions are also more dynamic and better aligned with system settings. While this update isn’t available publicly yet, the publication didn’t report any major issues. It looks like Google is close to finally rolling out a proper light theme for Android Auto, much to the delight of many drivers around the world.
While dark mode remains popular for night driving, a proper light mode can improve visibility during bright daylight. It’s also about giving more choices to users, as not everyone has the same taste. We will keep a close eye on these developments and let you know when we have more information. Meanwhile, keep Android Auto updated so you don’t miss out on the latest features.
