Quick Controls vanish in Android Auto 15.2: bug or phase-out?

Android Auto users are reporting a new hiccup: in version 15.2, the Quick Controls feature has stopped working. The tool let drivers manage music or glance at navigation while using other apps. Posts on Google and Reddit forums note that the Quick Controls toggle in settings no longer switches on, effectively putting the feature out of reach.

Quick Controls was a widget in the bottom bar, handy for skipping tracks or keeping an eye on your route. After Android Auto moved to the dashboard-style layout, Google left the option in settings so people could enable it if they wanted. Now that option has effectively vanished—except on screens with a horizontal bar, where Quick Controls still work for the moment.

It’s unclear whether this is a bug or a deliberate step toward retiring the feature. The timing, following the recent disabling of GameSnacks in Android Auto Beta, has some users worrying that Google is steadily trimming the platform’s extras.

Google has not commented. Those accustomed to the convenience of Quick Controls are voicing frustration, while some experts suggest the company may be reshaping the interface in a way that leaves no space for the old widget. From the outside, it feels more like housekeeping after a design shift than a random glitch—but until Google weighs in, that remains a cautious read.