New clues from version 17.6 of Android Auto suggest Google is experimenting with a revamped Quick Settings menu and a quirky Easter egg called “Jimothy mode.” While neither feature is officially available yet, decompiling the latest APK reveals strings pointing to both, indicating they may be part of upcoming updates.
Quick Settings Tiles: Efficiency Behind the Wheel
In the teardown of Android Auto 17.6, Google appears to be building in support for Quick Settings tiles. The code includes references to toggles like “Do Not Disturb” along with strings confirming on/off notifications. Though this functionality isn’t yet user-facing, some Android modders have managed to activate it, reporting that the menu shows up in the notification tray when enabled manually.
Jimothy Mode: Meme Meets Dashboard
Alongside the Quick Settings additions, the APK reveals a hidden corner of Android Auto titled “SystemUi__jimothy_mode_enabled.” When activated, Jimothy mode overlays current weather conditions and animations over the music widget on the Android Auto display. It’s clearly tongue-in-cheek and inspired by the internet-famous raccoon meme. Because the meme peaked some time ago, it seems highly unlikely Google will ship this as an official feature.
Both Quick Settings tiles and Jimothy mode stem from APKs — files used to install or update Android apps. Through reverse-engineering, developers often uncover unfinished or internal elements in these APKs without confirmation of final release. That’s exactly what’s happening here: code that hints at new features, but no confirmation that they’ll ever reach stable builds.
Android Auto already supports various widgets and notifications, but it still lacks a consistent, built-in weather display. If Quick Settings tiles roll out, they could make accessing features like Do Not Disturb smoother while driving. Jimothy mode, while playful, might serve as a lighthearted distraction—or at least a memorable way for Google to show weather info directly in the car’s interface.
What to watch for: whether the Quick Settings tray becomes visible to more users, which tiles Google chooses to include over time, and whether “Jimothy mode” shifts from a meme-based joke to a polished, optional overlay. It’s too early to say which of these will become permanent, but both show how Google is balancing practicality and personality in Android Auto’s evolution.
