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Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
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Wired and wireless Android Auto feel like completely different versions of the same app, despite the fact that there are just different connection methods between the phone and the vehicle.
Unfortunately, many Android Auto users learned the hard way that using Android Auto with a cable isn’t quite the consistent experience they were expecting. Cables have long been Android Auto’s Achilles’ heel, causing problems ranging from broken connections to random disconnections and app crashes.
Choosing the right cable for Android Auto has become so challenging that even Google released dedicated guides to help users deal with connectivity issues. The company shared a tutorial on Android Auto cables, as finding the right cable for a stable and reliable experience is more difficult than it seems at first glance.
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Wireless Android Auto eliminates the cable factor from a stability perspective, providing a more stable and straightforward experience overall. I’ve used both, and wireless has definitely become my daily driver. I didn’t eliminate cables though, as I still plug in my smartphone when driving, especially on a long drive, to charge my smartphone.
After all, wireless Android Auto is better than wired Android Auto. For many users who installed the latest Android updates, the situation is exactly the opposite.
Bug
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
As you may know if you’ve been part of the Android Auto user base since at least late 2023, Android 14 turned the in-car experience into a major challenge for a significant number of users. It introduced several bugs, including broken connectivity and random app crashes that Google is still working on fixing.
A growing number of users claim an Android system update — some say it’s Android 14, while others point to a later OS update — broke Android Auto wireless, making it impossible to use the app wirelessly.
Users began reporting the bug in December 2023, and since then, hundreds of wireless Android Auto adopters have confirmed the same behavior in their cars. Initially it looked like the problem only affected the mainstream units (not vehicles equipped with Android Auto support from the factory), but the bug has since been confirmed by both parties.
The defect occurs similarly in almost every case. The head unit no longer detects the mobile device, so Android Auto wireless fails to start. The issue has been confirmed by owners of various Android phones, including models from Google and Samsung.
Solution
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The only way to run Android Auto on cars where this behavior has been reported is with a cable.
Switching to Android Auto by cable isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s the only way to continue using the app without a working wireless connection. Most users have confirmed that switching to a cable got things back to normal, although not everyone likes the fix, given that they paid extra for wireless support.
This is why they don’t like Google’s lack of responsiveness. Forum moderators claiming to be part of the Android Auto team have already joined the conversation and asked for additional bug data, but here we are nearly six months later, and people are still struggling with the same issue.
Google lists the bug as a “work in progress,” though it’s becoming increasingly clear that the company may never release a patch. Android 15 will launch this summer, so we’re just a few months away from the launch of a new (and hopefully improved) version of the operating system.
What is expected next?
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
Unfortunately, there’s not much these users can do, unless a professional user can try to roll back to the previous version of Android where everything was working fine.
The most disappointing part of the story is that Google remains unclear about everything, as a bug that has already been confirmed by hundreds of users remains unfixed for half a year. Ironically, a Google community specialist asked for more specifics of the bugs on December 12, promising that the information “will help us with our investigation.” Dozens of users have already shared the requested details.
Using Android Auto with a cable isn’t necessarily the end of the world, given that most people (myself included) carry a cable around for an extra charge while driving. However, some people paid extra to get the wireless connection, so not being able to use something they specifically invested in is certainly disappointing.
Before you try all the generic updates, you should know that they barely make a difference. Clearing memory and data, removing Android Auto, reinstalling the latest version from the Play Store, downloading the latest beta version, and resetting the head unit will not improve the experience. It’s all about updating the system installed on certain Android devices, so unless you’re ready to flash your phone to a previous version of the operating system, you’ll just have to stick with the cable.
Android 15 has already reached the second beta and I’m eager to find out if anyone who has struggled with this bug has fixed it after installing this latest beta version. Let me know in the comment box so I can share it with others.
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Image Source : www.autoevolution.com
