Guidelines for custom screens

For most aspects of media apps used in Android Automotive OS, you don't need to design custom screens. The areas of exception are settings and sign-in. If you want users to access app settings, you need to design settings screens. Also, if your app requires sign-in, you need to provide a sign-in flow, which you can customize from the sample code in the Universal Android Music Player.

These general style guidelines apply to both custom settings screens and customized sign-in screens. They help you to optimize your designs to be viewed on a car screen, while parked, at any time of day or night.

For additional guidelines specific to settings and sign-in, refer to Design settings and Adapt sign-in flow.

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Design foundations
Visual- and interaction-design principles for in-vehicle user interfaces.
Requirement level Guidelines
MUST App developers must:
  • Provide a Close affordance to exit the settings screen and top-level sign-in screen
  • Provide a Back affordance from any subsequent screens following the top-level screen
  • Position the Close or Back affordance at the top left of the screen
  • Maintain a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 between backgrounds and icons or text
  • Use recommended type sizes of at least 32 dp for primary text and 24 dp for secondary text
  • Keep touch targets above the recommended minimum size of 76 x 76 dp
SHOULD App developers should:
  • Use a dark theme for all screens and overlays
  • Include a logo or app icon on all screens
  • When using an accent color, use the same one provided as a branding element
  • Keep text strings within the recommended maximum text length of 120 characters
  • Provide a distance of at least 24 dp between touch targets where possible
MAY App developers may:
  • Decide whether to implement sign-in and settings functions as part of their app

Rationale:

Screens designed directly by media app developers should

  • Support standard media app navigation patterns and design conventions.

  • Reflect design principles and visual foundations for Android Automotive OS.