The beloved in‑route music buttons have vanished without warning, and drivers are not amused. In a quiet update that’s causing loud frustration, Google has removed the in‑route media playback toggle from Maps for Android, leaving commuters without the one‑tap way to skip songs or podcasts.
Assistant Driving Mode vanished earlier this year, taking its rich music bar with it. An interim “Show media playback controls” switch—found under Settings › Navigate—briefly filled the gap. That switch is now gone too, along with the menu that let users pick YouTube Music or Spotify.
How the missing media toggle could complicate everyday drives for millions of Android users
Think about your morning commute: traffic, alerts, maybe a wrong turn. Wouldn’t you rather change playlists without fishing for the main music app? Without the Maps overlay, drivers must rely on standard app controls, a move that risks distraction when eyes should stay on the road.
- One‑touch media bar: removed
- Default media app selector: removed
- Turn‑by‑turn navigation: unchanged
- Real‑time traffic alerts: unchanged
Android motorists therefore lose the simple audio layer they’ve counted on since 2020.
iPhone still shows the controls, highlighting an awkward gap in cross‑platform consistency for Google Maps
The same toggle remains active on the current iOS build. iPhone users can still start, pause, or skip tracks inside Maps, though YouTube Music remains absent. Is this temporary, or a sign of things to come? Google hasn’t said.
| Feature | Android (v25.29 beta) | iOS (latest) |
|---|---|---|
| Media playback toggle | ❌ Removed | ✅ Available |
| Default media app menu | ❌ Removed | ✅ Available |
| Driving Mode | ❌ Sunsetted | N/A |
| Spotify inside Maps | 🔄 Indirect launch | ✅ Embedded |
Unanswered questions over whether Gemini integration will resurrect or replace in‑route audio shortcuts
Google is steering much of Android’s assistant experience toward Gemini. If a Gemini‑powered Driving Mode returns, will it rebuild integrated media buttons—or ask drivers to juggle yet another overlay? Until Mountain View offers clarity, road‑warriors are left refreshing the Play Store and hoping for a U‑turn.
What can you do right now? Confirm your Maps version; many users lost the toggle after 25.28. Pin a homescreen widget or rely on your car’s infotainment buttons to keep music within thumb’s reach. Finally, watch future release notes—because what’s here today could vanish tomorrow.