Since switching from CarPlay to Android Auto as my primary in-car infotainment system in my Ioniq 5 EV, I've experimented with several things, including sideloading video and web browsing apps, improving my app setup for long drives, and various ways to maintain a more consistent wired connection.

Naturally, next it was time to better optimize my experience with various Android Automations. These days, when I get in the car, I'm usually juggling several bags, a coffee, and in most cases, also my one-year-old son, so making sure everything is ready to roll as soon as I get in the vehicle is essential.

After looking into Google's Automations, I've concluded they're an absolute mess since Gemini's launch. Most no longer work, and if you're trying to create a completely custom Automation, good luck, because adding Ask Google is extremely broken, especially when you switch to the old layout in the Home app (don't believe all the articles out there that claim Automations still work — they're very outdated).

Switching back to Google Assistant from Gemini doesn't solve the problem either. I also wouldn't really consider that a real option, since Gemini is undeniably better at pretty much everything else. Hopefully, the situation improves when Google's Agentic Gemini Intelligence platform and its refreshed Android Auto launch later this year. I also expect Gemini for Home to become far more capable in the coming months. Still, until then, Google Home and Android ecosystem users are stuck in an in-between era where nothing really works the way it's supposed to.

With all of that out of the way, I've been able to pull together a few straightforward Google Home Automations that made getting in and out of my car a smoother experience. None of these Automations are game-changing, but I've appreciated the small amount of convenience they add to my life.

Keep things moving with straightforward Automations

"Hey Google, close my garage."

I've known Automations are a thing on Android devices for several years, but until recently, I wasn't aware they also worked with Android Auto (and it turns out they only sort of work). Over the past few weeks, I've found them useful for getting up and running as quickly as possible when I get in my car. For example, I have an Automation setup to close my garage door when I get in my car because, for some reason, I always forget to press the physical button on the remote I have pinned to the sunshade.

To set this up, I navigated to the Google Home app > Automations > + button > Automation. I then set the starting command as "Hey Google, close my garage." Next, I tapped Actions and selected my smart garage door from the list of available smart home devices. Now, when I get in the car, all I need to say is the command and my garage door automatically closes. It's simple and convenient.

There's nothing wrong with editing stock Automations

At least they actually work

Next up, I decided to edit a few of Google's stock Automations because they still seem to work reliably. You can find them in the Google Home app by selecting Automations. Next, I tapped Leaving Home and added the three smart lights in my office under Actions, since I often leave them on by accident when I'm leaving my house. I don't have a lot of smart lights in my house anymore; there are just two in my bedroom, three in my living room, and three in my basement. The lights in my living room are usually off anyway, so there's no real reason to add them to this Automation.

Now, whenever I get in my car, I can say "Google, I'm leaving," and Gemini shuts off the specific basement lights I've added to the Automation. I set up a very similar automation for coming home again, called I'm Home. With this Automation, one of my basement lights turns on (I usually come into my house through my garage). I can tell Gemini "I'm Home" while I'm still in the car, so the lights will be on when I walk in the door, and I won't trip over anything. I've found this very helpful when I'm coming home late on Friday night after playing hockey and don't want to wake up my son or my partner accidentally.

Google's stock morning routine Automation is surprisingly great

Seriously, give it a try

Look, I know this might come as a surprise, but Google's stock Good Morning routine is pretty great. All I need to do is get in my car and say, "Good morning," and Gemini tells me about the weather, makes a silly joke, recaps my calendar, goes through my daily tasks, and then after all that, it plays a broad news recap. You can add and remove items from the list by tapping on them and selecting Remove.

For example, I deleted daily tasks because it's not something I really need thrown at me right away when I get in my car. You can also flip the order of anything featured in this Automation. It's a really basic setup, but it also works extremely well and is very informative. If I'm driving early in the day, I've come to rely on the Good Morning Automation to get informed about everything I need to worry about that day, all at once.