Android Auto can remember default numbers for contacts

“Call John.” Simple enough, right? not quitewhen John has three phone numbers saved in his name and Android Auto insists on asking which number you want each one from time. Even Gemini can’t spare you that extra decision. Fortunately, Google seems to be working on ways to make these conversations less frequent, along with some welcome visual changes to Android Auto.

We have discovered new strings in Android Auto 18.1.164344-release.daily which suggests that users can soon choose a default phone number for contacts that have multiple numbers saved.

Currently, selecting a contact like this in Android Auto displays a list of available numbers, even when saved as a favorite. Gemini likewise asks you to select the number you want to call. This helps avoid wrong numbers, but is less convenient when you almost always call the same number.

The latest threads mention a “Remember this selection” option, which could allow Android Auto to skip this selection screen in subsequent calls. Another message says:

The placeholder will display the phone number chosen, while the message suggests that users can change their preferences by selecting the contact again. We haven’t confirmed how this will work in practice.

Meanwhile, the phone app’s dialpad could get a radical makeover in the Article 3 emoji. See screenshots of the current Mini keyboard along with the updated design featuring larger, round buttons with distinct backgrounds.

There is movement elsewhere too. Following previous developments for Google’s upcoming Cielo redesign, we’ve discovered additional animation files covering sliding, fading, and scaling transitions for the dashboard and launcher.

Unlike the latter, the changes we’ve discovered remain incomplete, with no confirmed release schedule. However, remembering a favorite phone number can eliminate a small but constant distraction behind the wheel.