Android Automobile is a slap-up style to apply your Android device while in the car, but it'south not much use if it stops working properly. Whether you can't get Android Motorcar to connect at all or it suddenly stops working reliably, we're here to assistance.

These Android Auto troubleshooting tips will help you fix the characteristic when it isn't working correct. We focus on using Android Auto with your car'due south display, since Google Assistant Driving Mode is less susceptible to these bug.

1. Android Auto Not Working? Restart Your Phone

When Android Automobile doesn't work, it's hopefully merely a temporary glitch with the feature on your phone. Thus, you should always perform a quick device restart when Android Machine malfunctions.

On most Android devices, yous can reboot by holding the Power button until a bill of fare appears. Cull Restart if it'south available; otherwise, hit Close Down and then plow your phone back on later on a minute or 2. Later on that, try to use Android Car once again and meet if it works properly afterward.

It'southward also worth shutting your car off, waiting a moment, and then turning information technology back on to dominion out whatsoever hiccups there too.

ii. Update Your Phone and the Android Car App

If Android Auto worked before merely has stopped performance properly, yous might need to install some updates to go information technology back on track. Caput to Settings > System > Advanced > System Update to check for Android updates, and install whatsoever that are bachelor.

Note that these menu names may exist dissimilar depending on your phone. On Android 12, for example, there's no Avant-garde header nether System.

Later on, open the Google Play Store to check for app updates. Tap your contour picture at the top-correct and select Manage apps & device from the list. You'll either see All apps up to date if everything is electric current, or Updates available with a note well-nigh how many pending updates you have otherwise. Tap this field if at that place are whatsoever updates fix.

If you see Android Auto in the list, tap Update to install it. While you're here, y'all should update other core system apps similar Google and Google Play services too, if they have updates available. Doing and so can fix problems like Android Auto'due south vox commands not working.

Finally, try opening the Android Auto app on your phone after any updates are installed. There may be a user agreement update or similar that yous need to accept before continuing to use information technology. If the app is waiting on your blessing, that'due south ane reason why Android Auto tin stop working after a major update.

3. Make Sure Your Phone Works With Android Auto

If Android Automobile isn't working at all, or you run across a "device non supported" message, y'all should ostend that your phone works with the feature. Google's help folio on Android Motorcar states that you demand a device with Android 6 Marshmallow or higher to use it, along with an agile cellular data plan.

On Android ix and earlier, y'all need to install the Android Auto app from the Play Store to use the characteristic. If you're on Android 10 or later, the ability for Android Auto to connect to your car's display is built-in. The separate Android Auto for Phone Screens app is deprecated, equally Google no longer supports this office. And so if that's the only one you have, make certain to supplant information technology with the modernistic app instead.

Brand certain that yous're in a country where Android Car is supported, too. Yous'll find a listing of regions nether Where to employ on the Google page linked above. Information technology works in many countries, such every bit the United states of america, UK, Canada, Australia, and Republic of india. Simply Android Motorcar won't part at all in sure regions.

If you lot're new to Android Auto, make sure you've reviewed our Android Machine user guide and know how information technology works and so yous're not misunderstanding anything.

4. Confirm That Your Motorcar Supports Android Automobile

If Android Auto won't show on your car's display, recollect that you must have a uniform vehicle (or aftermarket head unit). Fifty-fifty if your car has a USB port, it however might not support Android Machine.

Cheque Google's list of Android Machine-supported cars and look for your vehicle. In general, the characteristic simply appears on cars models 2016-2017 and newer. To brand certain, your vehicle's manual should mention Android Auto if information technology'due south supported.

In case your auto doesn't support Android Auto, you can purchase a stereo that uses information technology. You'll observe a list of approved models on the same Google page above; they're available to purchase at sites like Crutchfield.

v. Troubleshoot Your Car'due south Infotainment System

At this betoken, if Android Machine even so doesn't appear on your display, you should bank check for problems with your car's head unit. Make sure you're launching the Android Auto app from your car'due south main bill of fare—its location differs by vehicle and manufacturer. A lot of the fourth dimension, the app won't launch automatically when you lot plug your telephone in, leading you to remember something is wrong.

Android Auto Hyundai Screen

If there's a mode to restart your car's infotainment organisation, endeavor doing so. Yous'll need to check the manual for this, since it differs by vehicle. In case this isn't an option, simply shut your car off for a few minutes, then start it again and try over again.

Finally, if you lot have an aftermarket receiver, check the maker'south website to run into if there'southward a software update. Employ any available updates, then give the connection some other attempt.

6. Supercede the USB Cable You Use With Android Car

When using Android Auto on your machine's display, you need a USB cable to connect your phone to your vehicle (unless you're using Android Auto wirelessly). If you outset having problems with Android Auto, your cable might have failed, or maybe it's of poor quality. Cable problems could consequence in the Android Car connection dropping randomly, or refusing to connect at all.

Try replacing your USB cable with some other one that you know is loftier quality; the cablevision that came with your phone is usually a skillful fit. For best results, use a cable that's no longer than six feet.

Continue in mind that if the cable is for charging only and doesn't support data transfer, information technology won't work for Android Automobile. Usually, yous can tell if a cable supports data transfer if it has the USB "trident" symbol on the USB-A stop. Come across our guide to USB cable types if you're not familiar with this.

Too, make certain that the charging port on your device is free of debris. Fifty-fifty with a adept cable, your phone'south port might be obstructed, leading to connectedness issues. Use a flashlight to check for dust and other buildup, then gently use a cotton wool swab or toothpick to make clean it if needed.

seven. Check Your Paired Car Settings in Android Machine

Android Motorcar lets yous pair your phone with multiple vehicles. If you're having trouble pairing Android Auto with a new car over USB, you can visit these options to hopefully fix information technology. To visit your Android Auto vehicle settings, open the Android Machine app on your phone and tap Previously connected cars.

This volition show yous a list of cars that you've canonical or rejected for employ with Android Auto. If you see your car in the Rejected cars header, you might accept done this past accident. Remove the car from the blocked list and try pairing it again.

Unremarkably, the Add new cars to Android Machine pick should be enabled. If this is turned off, your telephone will but charge instead of starting the Android Auto setup procedure when you plug information technology in.

Google says that turning this off tin can help you connect to a second car if you have trouble with that. Attempt connecting again using the opposite setting of whatever you had hither.

If none of the above work, tap the three-dot Menu push at the summit-right and hit Forget all cars. This volition remove all cars you've synced earlier, and then y'all can outset fresh and hopefully resolve anything that was stuck. You'll have to set up your auto again, just that'south a modest inconvenience to fix your trouble.

8. Clear Enshroud and Storage for the Android Auto App

If Android Motorcar still won't piece of work, your all-time bet is to clear all the saved data in the Android Machine app and first once more. You should practise this while your telephone is disconnected from your auto, so make sure your vehicle is shut off and the USB cable unplugged.

To clear the data for Android Automobile, head to Settings > Apps & notifications > Run across all X apps > Android Automobile > Storage & cache. Note that on Android 12, the menu is titled Apps instead of Apps & notifications.

Here, select Clear cache start, then try using Android Auto again. Immigration cache only removes temporary files used to make the app work more efficiently, and so deleting cache won't erase any of your Android Auto preferences.

If this doesn't work, become back to the carte du jour and tap Clear storage adjacent. This deletes all the data for the app, so it's like installing it from scratch. You will likely need to configure settings for Android Auto once again later on doing this.

Hopefully, after wiping all the app's files clean, Android Motorcar will connect for you over again.

ix. If Android Auto Still Won't Connect Properly

If zip above corrects your effect with Android Auto, you probably accept a more than serious problem with either your machine or phone.

Try connecting your telephone to some other vehicle that supports Android Auto, or connecting some other Android phone to your car, if possible. This will assist y'all nail down where the problem lies.

If your automobile won't accept whatever Android Automobile connections, you should go far touch on with the manufacturer or your dealer. In that location'southward a chance that something is wrong with your car's internals that's causing Android Automobile non to work.

Android Auto on car display
Image Credit: Maurizio Pesce/Wikimedia Eatables

If your telephone won't connect to multiple cars that all support Android Motorcar, make sure that you lot're using a skilful cable and that your charging port is costless of obstacle. Failing that, you should contact back up from your telephone manufacturer to get more than assistance.

Remember that while you work to troubleshoot these issues, Google Assistant Driving Fashion is available as an culling in the meantime. It'southward non as convenient, but withal works fine.

Become Android Auto Working Once again

When Android Auto doesn't work, you'll miss out on all its benefits. These tips volition walk you through Android Motorcar troubleshooting. Chances are that y'all either need to supersede your USB cablevision or have an issue with the app on your device.

Now that you take Android Motorcar working again, make certain yous're using its feature set to the fullest!

half dozen Android Auto Tips and Tricks: Hither's What You lot Can Do

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About The Author

Ben Stegner (1809 Articles Published)

Ben is the Editor in Principal at MakeUseOf. He left his IT job to write full-time in 2016 and has never looked back. He's been covering tech tutorials, video game recommendations, and more as a professional writer for over eight years.

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