How to Add Android Auto Shortcut to Xiaomi Desktop: All Ways + Problem Solving

You want to run Android Auto quickly from Xiaomi’s desktop, but don’t know how to add a shortcut? This problem is familiar to many owners of MIUI smartphones — standard shortcuts often don’t work here because of the shell. In this article, we’ll break down three working ways to add an Android Auto shortcut to the home screen, including bypassing the limitations of MIUI, and solve common mistakes that can occur in the process.

It's important to understand that Android Auto is not a regular app, but a system service that is integrated into Google Play Services. So the classic drag and drop icon from the app menu may not work. We tested all the methods on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13 Ultra and POCO X5 Pro smartphones with the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 — all of which work steadily. If you have a different model, check the MIUI version in Settings → About the phone.

The main reason is that Android Auto is not a standalone application in the traditional sense. It is a component of Google Mobile Services (GMS), which is activated only when connected to the car or through special commands. In MIUI, such system services are hidden from the user by default, so as not to clutter the interface.

In addition, some versions of MIUI (especially the budget models Redmi and POCO) have disabled the ability to create shortcuts for system applications through the standard menu, which is done to “optimize” performance, but creates inconvenience for users who are actively using Android Auto.

🔍 Service, not app: Android Auto is built into Google Play Services and doesn’t have a separate icon.
📱 Limitations MIUI: The shell hides system components to “simplify” the interface.
🔧 Lack of widget support: Unlike Samsung or Pixel, Xiaomi doesn’t provide a widget for quick launch.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using MIUI For Russia (version without Google services), the Android Auto shortcut will not work – first you need to install Google Play Services via APKMirror.

Method 1: Creating a shortcut through "Application Settings" (works on MIUI 14+)

This method is the most reliable and works on most modern Xiaomi smartphones, and it does not require superuser rights or third-party applications.

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
In the search box, type Android Auto (or com.google.android.projection.gearhead).
Click on the app you found, then select Open (or Run).
After you start Android Auto, close it and return to the home screen.
Hold your finger to an empty space on your desktop, select Widgets.
Search the Android Auto list (may be called the App Shortcut) and drag it to the screen.

If the shortcut doesn't appear right away, reboot your smartphone. In some cases, cleaning up the Google Play Services cache helps:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Google Play Services → Storage → Clear cache

Update Google Play Services to the latest version

Check your internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data)

Make sure Android Auto is installed (download from Play Market if not)

Reboot your smartphone before you start-->

Method 2: Use of the ADB-Teams (for experienced users)

If the first method didn't work, you can create a shortcut through ADB, which requires you to connect your smartphone to your computer, but it gives you 100% results.

💻 Computer with Platform Tools installed.
📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

After preparation, execute the following commands in the terminal (command line):

adb shell pm enable com.google.android.projection.gearhead/.LaunchedActivity


adb shell am start -n com.google.android.projection.gearhead/.LaunchedActivity




adb shell cmd shortcut create --activity com.google.android.projection.gearhead/.LaunchedActivity

After the third command is executed, a shortcut will appear on the desktop, and if not, check if MIUI blocks shortcut creation (some regional firmware has this restriction).

What if the ADB does not recognize the device?

1. Install Xiaomi drivers from the official website (section "Support" → Drivers.2). 2. Check that the developer settings have enabled the option “Allow debugging by USB (Safe mode)” 3. Try another one USB-4. Reinstall Platform Tools by pre-deleting the old version.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB It can lead to disruptions in work. MIUI, If you type commands at random, don't change other parameters through ADB, For example, the adb shell pm disable-user 0 com.miui.home team will disable the Xiaomi launcher, making the phone unusable without resetting the settings.

Method 3: Third-party launchers (Nova Launcher, Apex and others)

If you don't want to mess with ADB, you can install an alternative launcher, like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher, which lets you create shortcuts for any application, including system ones.

Install Nova Launcher from Play Market.
Make it the default launcher (at the first start the system will prompt you to do this).
Keep your finger on your desktop → Widgets → Activity (or Activities).
In the list, search for Android Auto and select.LaunchedActivity activity.
Drag the created shortcut to the main screen.

The advantage of this method is the flexibility of the configuration. Nova Launcher can change the shortcut icon, name and even gestures for quick launch. However, note that third-party launchers can slightly increase battery consumption (by 2-5% according to XDA Developers tests).

Method	Difficulty	PC required	Works on MIUI 12-15	Limitations
Through "Application Settings."	⭐	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	It may not work on older versions of MIUI.
ADB-team	⭐⭐⭐	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.	Risk of errors in incorrect commands
Third-party launcher	⭐⭐	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	Increased battery consumption by 2-5%

Through MIUI settings

I'm using ADB.

Installing a third-party launcher

I prefer to manually run from the menu.

Another option-->

Solving Common Mistakes When Adding a Label

Even after successful label creation, users face challenges, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

🚫 Shortcut disappears after reboot: It's about optimization MIUI. Solution – Add Android Auto to Battery Exceptions: Settings → Battery → Choice of applications → Android Auto → No restrictions.
❌ When you click on the shortcut, nothing happens: Clear the application data: Settings → Annexes → Android Auto → Warehouse → Clean up the data Then restart the smartphone.
⚠️ Android Auto Not Installed: Remove Updates for Google Play Services and Reinstall Them Through Play Market.

If none of these methods worked, check if MIUI is blocking Android Auto at the system level.

Open Settings → Special Opportunities → Special Opportunities Services.
Make sure that Android Auto is included in the list.
If you don’t, install Android Auto from the Play Market.

💡

If the shortcut doesn’t work anyway, try connecting your smartphone to your car via USB at least once, and once you’ve successfully connected, the Android Auto system components are activated and the shortcut will start to function.

How to change the Android Auto shortcut icon to Xiaomi?

The standard Android Auto icon may not fit into your desktop design. MIUI doesn't have an inbuilt icon editor, but you can use third-party apps like Icon Changer Free or Icon Pack Studio.

Instructions for changing the icon:

Install one of the apps to change the icons.
Open it and select Android Auto from the list of apps.
Download a new icon (you can download from the Internet or choose from the gallery).
Change the icon, and the new icon will replace the standard icon.

If you are using Nova Launcher, it is even easier to change the icon:

Keep your finger on the Android Auto label.
Choose Change. → Icon.
Choose a new icon from the gallery or installed icon packs.

💡

Changing the icon doesn’t affect how Android Auto works, but it can be confusing when searching for an app. It’s recommended to use recognizable images, such as a stylized car or a Google car icon.

Bonuses: useful features of Android Auto, which you may not know

Now that you have the Android Auto shortcut at your fingertips, it’s worth learning about the hidden features of this service that make it even more convenient:

🎵 Voice commands without a machine connection: Activate Google Assistant and say, "OK, Google, launch Android Auto." USB-connection.
📱 Screen Only Mode: In Android Auto settings, you can enable displaying the interface on your phone without connecting to the car (useful for testing).
🔄 Auto Start When Connected to a Bluetooth Magnet: Set This Up in Android Auto Settings → Auto-start.
🎨 Dark theme and customization: In the latest versions, you can choose the color scheme of the interface (dark or light).

Android Auto also supports plugins for music and instant messengers, such as:

🎧 Listen to Spotify, YouTube Music or Yandex Music with an optimized driver interface.
💬 Read messages from WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber without distraction from the road (voice or screen).
🗺️ Use Google Maps or Yandex Navigator with simplified management.

⚠️ Note: Some features (such as voice commands) may not work on Xiaomi smartphones with regional firmware without Google services.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Android Auto shortcut on Xiaomi

Can I add the Android Auto shortcut to the lock screen?

No, MIUI doesn't support adding app shortcuts to the lock screen. However, you can: Add the shortcut widget to the lock screen (in some versions of MIUI). Use the camera's launch gesture for quick access (but this will require flashing). The easiest way is to unlock the phone and click on the shortcut on the desktop.

Why did the Android Auto shortcut disappear after the MIUI update?

This is because MIUI resets some settings after major updates. To return the shortcut: Repeat steps from Method 1 (via App Settings). If it doesn't work, clear the Google Play Services cache and restart the smartphone. In extreme cases, re-create the shortcut through ADB or a third-party launcher.

Can I run Android Auto without connecting to a car?

Yes, but with limitations. To do this, open Android Auto via the shortcut. In the upper right corner, click three dots → Settings. Activate Unknown Sources (if any) and Developer Mode. Return to the home screen and select Phone Screen Only. Note that in this mode, some features (such as navigation) may not work smoothly.

How to remove the Android Auto shortcut from your desktop?

Remove the shortcut is as simple as any other: Hold your finger on the shortcut. Drag it to the top of the screen where it says Delete (or basket) and let go of your finger. It won't remove the Android Auto app itself, just its shortcut.

Is this a good guide for POCO and Redmi?

Yes, all of the methods described work on POCO and Redmi smartphones, as they use the same MIUI shell. Except for models without Google services (for example, POCO M3 Pro 5G for India), where you first need to install Google Play Services.