Android Auto 18 is rolling out to everyone through the Google Play Store. Don't expect a new look in your car just yet: the update itself is mostly bug fixes. What's interesting is what's hidden inside. The app already contains code for “Cielo,” which looks like the codename for Google's next big Android Auto redesign. Here's what changes now, what's still switched off and how to get the update.
Android Auto 18 Moves From Beta to Everyone
Android Auto 18.0 started as a beta for testers on October 13, 9to5Google reported. A few days later, Google began rolling out the stable version gradually through the Play Store, Android Sage reported on October 18.
The rollout happens in stages, so it may take a while to reach your phone. Once it does, it installs like any other app update.
What Changes Right Now
Not much you'll notice. The only change listed for Android Auto 18 is “bug fixes,” and the update adds no new features for drivers yet, T3 reported.
Most of the work is under the hood. The update adds Google Sans Flex, a variable font, and removes more than 200 older resources, including old dialpad layouts and parts of the current interface, Android Authority found in the beta.
The Hidden Cielo Code
The biggest find is an asset called “cielo_launcher,” spotted in an APK teardown of the beta, according to 9to5Google. “Launcher” suggests Cielo would replace Coolwalk, the codename for the dashboard redesign Google introduced in 2023. References to Cielo have shown up in Android Auto's flags since at least version 15.7 in November 2025. The word means “sky” in Italian and Spanish.
Other hidden pieces point the same way:
- Cielo animations. The stable release includes new enter and exit transitions for Cielo, but they're locked behind server-side flags, so you can't turn them on, Android Sage reported.
- Gemini personalization. New text prepares onboarding for Gemini in the car, including access to data from apps like Gmail and Google Calendar, according to Android Authority. How permissions would work isn't clear yet.
- Work profile controls. New icons show an active or paused work profile. Android Sage also found a Quick Settings toggle for work notifications.
- New Quick Settings styles. Android Authority found two new layouts for different screen sizes, and Android Sage spotted Samsung-styled icons for battery saver, dark mode and Do Not Disturb.
None of these features are confirmed for release, and code found in a teardown doesn't always ship.
More on This Topic: How to Get the Latest Android Auto Update Instantly and Fix Major Issues
What the Redesign Could Look Like
Google already showed what's coming. In May, at The Android Show: I/O Edition, it announced a full Android Auto redesign, Engadget reported. The plans include:
- A new look based on Material 3 Expressive, with bolder fonts, new wallpapers and smoother animations
- Phone-style widgets on the car screen, such as weather and contact shortcuts
- Layouts that adapt to unusual screen shapes, like the parallelogram display in the BMW i7
- Immersive Navigation, with 3D maps showing traffic lights, stop signs and lane counts
- HD video at up to 60 fps while parked, with an audio-only mode once you start driving
Google said these updates would arrive later this year but didn't give a date. The Cielo code suggests the redesign is getting closer, though 9to5Google found nothing pointing to an imminent launch.
How to Get Android Auto 18
The update comes through the Play Store, so you don't need to touch anything in your car. To check for it:
- Open the Play Store on your phone.
- Search for “Android Auto” and open its listing.
- Tap Update if it's available.
To get future versions sooner, you can join the beta from the same listing. Scroll to the Beta section and sign up, although spots are limited and can fill up. If you'd rather not check by hand, turn on auto-updates in the Play Store settings.
For now, Android Auto 18 won't change your drive. But the pieces for Google's next design are already on your phone, waiting for the switch to flip.
