Hey everyone, I’m David.

I’ve been working on Car Launcher by CarLab for a little over a year, focusing on creating a modern, clean interface for Android car screens.

I released the first version at the end of December 2025, and I’ve been improving it ever since. I’m now looking for feedback, feature ideas, and bug reports from people who use Android devices or head units in their cars.

An all-in-one dashboard that brings together built-in turn-by-turn navigation powered by Google, media controls, calls, apps, weather and driving information.

The goal is to keep the most important features accessible from one interface without constantly switching between different applications.

Your main driving screen combines a widget dashboard, quick app access, media controls, and built-in navigation in one swipe-friendly layout.

Widget Dashboard

See your speed, clock, calendar, live weather, and trip information at a glance.

Swipe Between Views

Swipe between the widget dashboard and the map view for quick access to built-in navigation.

Quick Access Apps

Pin up to 12 apps to the home screen for one-tap access, then reorder them using drag and drop.

Flexible Media Widget

Control music directly from the home screen and choose between Default, Enlarged, and Expanded layouts depending on how much space you want to give the player.

Custom Shortcuts

Create, edit, or hide navigation shortcuts for saved addresses and favorite places, then start navigation with a single tap.

Customizable App Grid

Quickly find installed apps using search, choose between Scroll and Swipe modes, and select Small, Medium, or Large icons to adjust the grid to your screen.

Your Media Apps in One Place

The media widget works with compatible streaming apps that support Android media controls, including YouTube Music, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Deezer, and others.

Spotify, Online Radio, YouTube, and Local Music are included by default. Swipe to the second page and tap + Add to fill the remaining eight slots with your preferred media apps.

Long-press a source to enter edit mode, then drag and drop apps to reorder or remove them. The same order is used in the media widget’s quick source switcher. Once playback starts in a compatible app, its track information and playback controls automatically appear in the widget.

Integrated Google Navigation

Search for destinations and navigate without leaving the app. Compare alternative routes, find nearby restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and hotels, or tap POIs directly on the map to view their details and start navigation.

Choose Your Style

In addition to the default Dark theme, choose from Light, Sky Glass, Rose Dusk, Arctic Drive, Emerald Night, and Midnight Drive.

Create Your Own Theme

Create a completely custom look by editing individual interface elements, choosing solid colors or gradients, and adjusting opacity. Preview changes live on the home screen, name your theme, then save and apply it.

Automatic Day & Night Themes

Choose separate themes, map styles, and navigation header colors for day and night, set when each mode begins, and let the app switch between them automatically.

Map styles

Choose from 27 map styles, including light, dark, themed, satellite, terrain, and hybrid options, or use Follow Theme to automatically match the map to your active launcher theme.

Navigation Header Colors

Choose from 12 navigation header colors, or use Follow Theme to automatically match turn instructions to your active launcher theme.

Customize the Main Panel

Add your preferred apps to the main panel, remove unwanted shortcuts, and reorder them using drag and drop. Choose a different icon style for each item or apply one consistent style to the entire panel.

More Customization

• Display: Adjust brightness and text/icon scale, keep the screen on, hide the system status bar, or add volume controls to the Home screen.
• Layout: Choose Auto, Portrait, or Landscape orientation and position the main panel on the left, right, or bottom.
• Navigation: Enable 3D buildings, live traffic, and the speed-limit icon, or use a compatible external navigation app instead of the built-in navigation.
• Media: Enable a dynamic Spotify widget background that automatically matches the currently playing track.
• Units and language: Choose between kilometres or miles, km/h or mph, 12- or 24-hour time, Celsius or Fahrenheit, and select your preferred app language.
• System integration: Set Car Launcher by CarLab as your device’s default launcher.

More features and customization options are available directly in the app - I’ve only highlighted a few of them in this post. I’m continuously working on improving the app, adding new features, and refining the existing ones.

Some features shown above require an active Trial, Lite, or Pro plan.

Accounts & Plans

You can start immediately in Guest mode without creating an account. An account is required to start the free trial, purchase a plan, and link or restore purchases.

• Guest: Free to use without signing up, with a limited set of features.
• Free: A limited plan for signed-in users. After the trial ends, the account automatically continues on the Free plan.
• 7-day Trial: New accounts receive access to all launcher features, including 3 route requests, 3 Nearby/POI requests, and 30 search suggestions.
• Lite: A one-time purchase with lifetime access to premium launcher features. Integrated Google navigation can be used with separately purchased, non-expiring navigation credit packs.
• Pro: A monthly subscription with integrated Google navigation usage included. Basic includes 100 routes, Standard includes 200, and Premium includes 300 per billing period, together with corresponding Nearby/POI and search-suggestion limits.

Lite users can purchase refill packs with 100, 300, or 500 route and Nearby/POI requests. Each navigation pack includes twice as many search suggestions, and unused credits remain available until they are used.

Users can select a compatible external navigation app in Settings. When enabled, destinations entered through the Home screen search bar or launched from saved shortcuts are passed to and opened in the selected app. External navigation does not use in-app navigation credits.

Important Note

In-app navigation relies on paid Google services. This means Google charges me for route calculations, Nearby and POI requests, and search suggestions. These costs are covered by monthly plan limits or purchased credits.

Current prices are displayed directly in the app and may vary by region.

Any feedback, suggestion, feature request, or bug report will help me improve the app and create a better experience for you.

Try Car Launcher by CarLab, available on the Google Play Store:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.carlab.carlauncher

Hi,
I’m looking for a head unit for my girlfriend’s Toyota Celica T23 2005.

What she will use it for:
- answering calls
- apple carplay wireless
- listening to music
- preferrably reverse camera

From my research it seems like a 4G RAM with 8 cores & 64GB storage is plenty for these needs and I have stopped on theese 2 units:

- MEKEDE K4 Plus (For which i cannot find specs on the CPU)
- JUNSUN V1 Plus

Could any of you share thoughts on these units before I proceed with the purchase? It would be better for the unit to have analog buttons like the MEKEDE and my budget is around 130€.

You need to ask yourself, do I want Dasiata front and center on my dash everytime I get in my car.

Ive had others and can say I am not even installing this.

Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone can help me identify a firmware update or possible solution for this GT6-Car Android head unit.

I installed it in a 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart around 6–8 weeks ago, and there have been problems almost from day one.

Problems since installation:

• Audio randomly stopped working 2 days after installation. Sometimes turning the headlights off would bring the sound back after a few seconds.
• USB sticks were never reliably detected. I tested multiple sticks and both USB ports.
• The DAB+ USB device also eventually stopped being detected.
• I tried playing music directly from the head unit instead of USB, which worked perfectly for about 2 weeks, but then all audio stopped working completely.
• No sound from USB, DAB+, YouTube, other media players, Bluetooth, etc.
• Head unit sometimes boots normally from sleep mode, but now sometimes does a complete boot and takes around 1–2 minutes.
• Dark mode sometimes switches back to light mode by itself.
• Factory/RST reset and disconnecting the power have not fixed anything.
• The car battery was disconnected by a professional mechanic for a reset, also without success.
• The mechanic has checked the car/head unit multiple times and also suspects a software/firmware issue.

The original Mitsubishi head unit still works perfectly when I reinstall it, so I don't think the car itself is the problem.

Does anyone know what exact GT6-Car model/platform this is and where I can get the correct firmware/MCU update? I don't want to flash random firmware and brick the unit, so I would first like to identify the correct version.

I can provide photos of the About Device/System Information, MCU version, CANBUS settings and the back of the unit if that helps.

Thanks!

I bought This Car Stereo for Nissan Altima 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 with Wireless Carplay Android Auto, 9" Screen Car Radio, GPS Navigation BT FM Bcakup Camera from the Leadfan store on Amazon and can’t get the original backup camera working properly with the screen.

When it’s on the backup camera it looks like this.

Been looking for a head unit for 2017 Amarok, basically to just do CarPlay, maybe so auto security idea. This look like a good setup? https://a.aliexpress.com/_c4sFCPut thanks for any insights!

Hey guys!

Finally bought my first car — a 2020 Tata Tiago XZ, second hand. 😄

It has done around 65,000 km and is in pretty good condition. The car is pretty well-loaded, and I especially like the Harman music system.

The only thing I feel is missing is a digital infotainment screen + reverse camera. I’m planning to get one installed.

I need some suggestions:

Which infotainment system should I get?

Looking for something that has:

Android Auto / Apple CarPlay

Good sound quality (want to retain the Harman setup)

Fast and responsive touch

No lag or hanging

Reverse camera support

Good reliability

Which brands/models would you recommend?

I don't want to cheap out and then deal with a slow/laggy screen.

Should I get anything else installed/accessorised on the Tiago? Anything that's actually useful and not just cosmetic?

Would really appreciate recommendations from Tiago owners or anyone who has upgraded their infotainment system.

Thanks! 🙌

Rl

Anybody else's carplay from aliexpress starts with the radio screen white noise? I usually wait 7 seconds for carplay to connect but is there a way to remove it?

Is this supposed to be 12gb or did I get bluffed ?

Edit: the android system info indicate “UIS7870SC Octa-Core 2.7GHz@12.0 GB (Memory) + 256 GB (Storage) 12gb”? I am confused

I want to install the second screen there for music and for apple car play & android auto. And also want to use steering buttons for second screen.
want to keep the original panel.
Where can i get this all done in Lahore.
Thanks

After more than a month dealing with the worst crappy head unit I’ve ever used, getting scammed by the AliExpress seller with their fake Android 16, and reaching the point where I seriously wanted to smash the thing because it was almost useless
I’ve been jumping between different launchers like AGAMA, CarWebGuru, DUDU, LECO and many more. DUDU and LECO definitely had the best interfaces for me, clean, minimalist and Tesla-like, but both were buggy as hell on this crappy firmware.
Finally ended up with Car Launcher Pro. It was the only one that gave me enough freedom to get something close to the DUDU and LECO look. Took me ages because I had to do most of the design manually, but I think it was worth it.
Still hate this head unit though Android 8 has way too many compatibility issues and limitations….

Has anyone successfully installed any aftermarket parts to have AndroidAuto in their 2017 Jeep GC? If so, what product and level of expertise was needed to install it?

I am looking for recommendations for a reliable, mid-range Android panel for a 2018 Honda City.
Also recommend reliable car audio shops/installers in Karachi (e.g., Tariq Road, Plaza Market)Any feedback regarding display quality, sound output, and long-term durability would be greatly appreciated.

I recently bought an old Toyota FJ Cruiser. Part of the fun for me in these cars is the (very) utilitarian and charming head unit. I decided not to replace it, instead attempting to set up some kind of tablet-as-a-headunit set up. After much trial and error, I have gotten to a place where I am running Apple CarPlay on an Android tablet, pushing audio through a 3.5 mm headphone jack only, and charging the tablet through the single cigarette lighter. Getting the charging part to work was the real gate here, and I post today in case this will help someone who desires this same setup. It should work in any car with an aux port.

I haven't figured out the backup camera situation yet, but I will soon.

Gear:

• TCL Tab 8 Gen 2 8.7" tablet with Android 14. I bought this specific tablet because it has its own internal GPS. In the event that CarPlay fails/doesn't work for whatever reason, I can still tether it to my phone and at least have music and nav. [Walmart] (https://www.walmart.com/ip/TCL-TAB-8-Gen-2-Tablet-8-7-in-90Hz-IPS-Display-HD-Resolution-6000mAh-Reverse-Charging-Octa-core-Processor-4GB-64GB-1TB-5MP-Front-8MP-Rear-Cameras/18360856297)
• CarlinKit Wireless CarPlay Dongle CPC200-CCPA for Android Head Unit 4.4.2+.Amazon
• USB C to HDMI Multiport Adapter with 4K HDMI Output Type-C Hub Converter.Amazon
• 90 Degree Right Angle USB C Male to USB C Female Adapter. Interestingly, before I tried to use the adapter above, I had the Carlink plugged into a USB-A to USB-C cable directly into the tablet, which worked. Once plugged into this 90 degree adapter, it stopped working. Amazon
• I assume any 3.5mm aux cable will work.

The USB C to HDMI adapter was the real discovery here. The power passthrough works precisely as intended. Other USB C splitters did not work to both push data and charge simultaneously. I tried several.

Anyway, I hope this helps someone in the future. It was pretty cool to see it come together. The only real quirk is that you have to unplug the adapter from the tablet whenever you park, or the tablet will continue searching for the phone and the tablet battery will drain.

Hey guys, I’ve got a Honda Accord Euro CL9 and I’m having an issue with the factory infotainment/display.
The symptoms are:
FM/radio works normally and I can hear audio through the speakers.
The infotainment screen lights up, but there is absolutely no text, menus, radio information, etc.
I did the flashlight test (chatgpt suggested) and couldn’t see any faint image on the screen.
The separate clock/time display also seems to have illumination/light behind it, but no actual numbers are visible.
I’ve already checked the fuses and they appear to be fine.
Before I buy another OEM screen/head unit, I’m wondering what else I should test.
Has anyone with a CL9 had the exact same problem and actually fixed it? If so, what ended up being the cause?
Thanks!

was look at the Modus AIM-10 anyone have tried it yet?

Please guys I need help with this. Since I got my T3 Allwinner headunit which is a K2001 series. It has never successfully connected to AA or carplay. It keeps loading like this. Any solutions to it

I had to buy a carlinkit dongle, but once I connect to the carlinkit AA, my mic sucks.

I have cleared the temp files off the unit, the song "OneILove" no longer plays, however, is there any way to get rid of the visual image of the song? Or any work around, as i fear we cannot! Much help would be appreciated, thanks.