Google Play gets a redesign for car screens with adaptive layouts

Google announced on October 13 a redesign of Google Play for cars with Google built-in. The update will roll out automatically over the coming weeks.

The store adapts to different screen sizes and orientations. Its home page shows each app's details and lets users download it with a single tap. Collections separate entertainment content meant for when the car is parked from driving-related options.

Google's images show a specific change in navigation. On a landscape screen there is a sidebar on the left. On a portrait screen, that navigation moves to a top bar, above the app cards. According to the article, the hierarchy is reorganized to suit the screen rather than simply stretching the same view.

The announcement also affects YouTube. With the car parked it will play video, and when the car is shifted into drive it will switch to background audio. This feature requires YouTube Premium.

Among the new apps coming to the platform, the article cites Firefox and STARZ.

The piece is brief and offers no further details, such as the list of compatible models or brands, the exact timeline by region, or other planned apps. This summary is therefore limited to what the article reports.

Source: Google, October 13, 2026.