I am trying to use Android Auto a bit more. I never really understood the hype with slow charging speeds, taking over the nav, losing HUD etc. However, I wanted to see what I was missing so I am giving it a shot. And I do like the more robust podcast controls and even Waze has some usefulness. I have also learned that if I simply run Android Auto on the MMI and then exit to the Audi Nav and run nav problems, I still get my HUD display and turn by turn directions.

But what I cannot figure out yet is some sort of last screen movement. I am always having to go back to the home screen and then reselect Android Auto to get back to whatever I was running there. For example, I have a shortcut for the recharge screen (It displays SOC). Sometimes I like to go to that occasionally but then once I have viewed my data, is there a button or a swipe that will just take me back to Waze? Maybe an audible command? Right now, I have to hit the home icon, and then Android Auto to get back. Seems counterproductive to keeping the driver focused on driving.

Also, if anybody else knows how to run navigation on Android Auto but also get HUD turn by turn that would be useful. I would also want turn by turn in my Audi Virtual Cockpit, but I have to say that half the time even using Audi Nav with my etron virtual cockpit selected, the turn by turn box is simply a black box which displays nothing. It is completely random. So with that said, I'd be happy with just having the HUD turn by turn if that was possible with the Android Auto though I am pretty sure it is not.

 

You can make one of the 4 shortcuts on the left side of the screen for Android Auto. Simply press and hold Android Auto from the home screen and drag it to the left to replace one of the shortcuts on the left.

 

Yep this is exactly what I do. I replace the "phone" icon on the left with Android Auto. This makes it a one-tap exercise to get back. Of course, Audi being Audi, I find that adjusting this shortcut has a finite lifetime -- after a few bootups of the car, it "forgets" and the shortcuts to back to the default settings.

 

So far that is what I am doing. I was just wondering if I am missing a pinch or a swipe or a voice command...