Android Auto may be getting a Work Mode for your commute
A teardown of Android Auto found a hidden Work Mode tile that hints at Work Profile support, but it does nothing yet and Google has not commented.
The facts
- According to Engadget, an Android Authority teardown of Android Auto version 18.0.664204 found a Work Mode tile that shows a briefcase icon over the app drawer.
- The site's team got the tile to appear, but tapping it did nothing.
- Google has not said whether the tile will offer controls such as pausing work notifications or launching work apps, and there is no release date.
- Today, Microsoft Teams calls do not work in Android Auto if the app sits inside a managed Work Profile, and Google Meet hides upcoming meetings and call history from that profile.
Case notes · Danny's take
Why it matters
A hidden tile is a hint, not a product. Still, it points at a real gap: work apps stuck inside a Work Profile are awkward to use in the car. Fixing that helps the person dialling into a meeting between appointments. It also gives the office one more way into your drive home. Whether it helps or hurts depends on who controls the switch.
For builders
If you build enterprise or meeting apps, check how they behave inside a managed Work Profile on Android Auto, because that is where the current limits bite. Watch for Google to confirm the feature before you plan around it.
Not financial advice. Do your own investigation.
This story was summarised with AI from Engadget's reporting and checked against our editorial policy. Danny's take reflects his views. Disclaimer.
Danny Walter
Founder of Moon Republic, Volt Terminal and Moon Republic Academy. Author of The Market Is a Crime Scene and After the Applause.