We often fumble with the car’s touchscreen or repeat the same voice command three times just to open the garage door or pull up a specific work playlist. But what if you could combine those multi-step routines into a single, permanent button right on your dashboard?

I recently discovered how to create and pin custom Google Assistant commands directly to the Android Auto launcher, and it has changed how I interact with my car. I have managed to cut out the digital noise of my commute and make my driving experience feel automated for the first time.

Issues with voice commands

High failure rate

As much as Google Assistant has improved, talking to your car still feels a bit awkward. I'll be deep in a great podcast or in the middle of a conversation with a passenger, and I have to kill the vibe just to shout, "Hey Google, open the garage door." It’s a total flow-destroyer.

If I’m on the highway with the windows cracked or the rain is hitting the windshield, the Assistant suddenly becomes a very confused co-pilot. There's nothing more frustrating than repeating, "Text my wife I’m five minutes away."

By the time the Assistant actually processes what I want, I could usually have done it myself. That’s why I stopped trying to have a conversation with my dashboard and started pinning these shortcuts.

How to create and pin Assistant actions

Take a couple of minutes only

The weirdest part of this feature is that you will never find it while you are actually sitting in your car. Google has tucked it away so deeply in your phone’s settings that you would almost think the company doesn't want you to use it. To set it up, I had to unplug my phone, go into the Android Auto app Settings on my smartphone, and hunt for the Customize Launcher menu.

Even then, it’s not exactly jumping out at you – it’s hidden under a small sub-header that says ‘Add a shortcut to the launcher.’

I can now select Assistant action, and this is where the magic happens. I can essentially create a digital button for anything I would normally have to say out loud.

I can enter assistant command and give it a custom label as well. Once everything is settled, I test it once and tap Save. I can create as many Assistant actions as I want and arrange them for easy access on the Android Auto launcher. It’s a bit of a trek to find the first time, but once that icon is pinned to the top of my car’s app drawer, it feels like I have upgraded to a much smarter, quieter vehicle.

My high-value Assistant actions

There are many

Once I realized I could chain multiple actions into a single button, there was no going back. The real power move here isn’t just pinning a single command; it’s automating those daily sequences that usually eat up my focus.

My favorite shortcut is the Heading Home button. Instead of manually starting navigating and then trying to dictate a text while pulling out of the parking garage, I created a shortcut for the phrase: Navigate home and text my wife that I have left the office and I will be home in five minutes. Now, the second I sit in the driver’s seat, I tap that one icon on my dashboard. Instantly, Google Maps calculates my route, and a text is fired off.

Another one that has saved me a ton of hassle is what I call my "Arrival" button. With a touch of a button, I can open the smart gate and turn on the lights. The possibilities are endless.

Safety and efficiency benefits

Eyes on the road

These pinned shortcuts are more than just a convenience – they're a massive safety upgrade. By turning a complex, multi-step conversation into a single tap, I have reduced the time I spend managing my car. But as much as I love these manual shortcuts, I know we are on the verge of something even bigger. Google is slowly replacing Google Assistant with Gemini on all its devices and services.

I can’t wait to see a future when I don’t even need to pin a shortcut because the AI is smart enough to handle the nuance. It will be interesting to see how Google further improves Assistant actions with Gemini.

Forget the basics

Android Auto is at its best when it gets out of your way. By moving my most-used Assistant routines from my head to the dashboard, I have finally made my car’s interface work for me.

It’s simple enough for anyone to set up and takes a few minutes to get the desired results. I always recommend running those Assistant shortcuts once after you set them up so that you don’t fumble with them on the road.