Android Auto is a great way to use your device while in the car, but it’s not very useful if it stops working properly. If you can’t connect Android Auto or if it suddenly stopped working reliably, we’re here to help.
These Android Auto troubleshooting tips will help you fix the feature when it’s not working properly, whether you use the app on your phone screen or car display.’
Restart your phone
When Android Auto isn’t working properly, hopefully it’s just a temporary glitch with the app on the phone. Therefore, you should always perform a quick restart of the device when Android Auto is not working properly.
On most devices, you can do this by holding down the power button until a menu appears. Choose Restart if available; otherwise press Turn off and turn the phone back on after a minute or two. After that, try using Android Auto again and see if it works properly.
2. Update your phone and the Android Auto app
If Android Auto has worked before but stopped working properly, you may need to install some updates to get it back on track. Go to Settings> System> Advanced> System Update to check for Android updates and install any available ones. Note that these menu names may differ depending on the phone.
Next, open the Play Store. Scroll the menu on the left and select My apps & games to show all installed apps with available updates. If you see Android Auto in the list, tap Update to install it. While you are here, you should also update other major system apps like Google and Google Play Services . This way you can solve problems such as Android Auto voice commands not working.
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Try opening the Android Auto app after installing any updates, as there may be a User Agreement update or similar that you need to accept before continuing to use it.
3. Make sure your phone works with Android Auto
If Android Auto isn’t working at all, you should confirm that your phone works with the feature. Google’s help page on Android Auto states that you need a device running Android 6 Marshmallow or later to use it.
On Android 9 and earlier, you need to install the Android Auto app from the Play Store to use the feature. If you’re using Android 10 or later, Android Auto’s ability to connect to the car display is built in. However, if you want to use the app on your phone screen, you still need to install the Android Auto app for phone screens on Android 10 and above.
Make sure you are in a country where Android Auto is also supported. You’ll find a list of regions under Where to use on the Google page linked above. It works in many countries, such as the US, UK, Canada, Australia and India. But Android Auto won’t work properly in some regions.
If you’re new to Android Auto, make sure you’ve read our Android Auto user guide and know how it works so you don’t misunderstand anything.
4. Confirm that your car supports Android Auto
If you want to use Android Auto on your car display, you must have a compatible vehicle (or aftermarket head unit). Even if your car has a USB port, it may not support Android Auto.
Check the list of cars supported by Android Auto and search for your vehicle. In general, the feature only appears on cars from 2016-2017 and newer. To be totally safe, your vehicle’s manual should mention Android Auto if it is supported.
In case your car doesn’t support Android Auto, you can buy a stereo that uses it. You will find a list of approved models on the same page; are available for purchase on sites such as Crutchfield .
5. Troubleshoot your car’s infotainment system
At this point, you should check for problems with your car’s head unit. Make sure you launch the Android Auto app from the main menu – its location varies by car. Most of the time the app doesn’t start automatically, causing you to think something is wrong.
If there is a way to restart the infotainment system, try doing it. In case this is not an option, simply turn off the car for a few minutes, then restart it and try again.
Finally, if you have an aftermarket receiver, check the manufacturer’s website to see if there is a software update. Apply any available updates, then try connecting again.
6. Check your USB cable
When using Android Auto on the car display, a USB cable is required to connect the phone to the vehicle. If this cable fails or is of low quality, it may drop the connection randomly or refuse entirely.
Try replacing your USB cable with one that you know is of high quality; the cable supplied with the phone is usually suitable. For best results, use a cable that is no longer than six feet.
Note that if the cable is for charging only and doesn’t support data transfer, it won’t work for Android Auto. Usually, you can tell if a cable supports data transfer if it has the USB “trident” symbol on the USB-A end. Check out our guide to USB cable types if you’re not familiar with this.
7. Check the paired car settings
Android Auto allows you to pair your phone with multiple cars. If you’re having trouble pairing a new car, you can visit these options to hopefully fix it.
To visit your Android Auto vehicle’s settings, open the Android Auto app, then swipe the menu on the left and choose Settings . On this screen, tap Previously Connected Cars .
This will show you a list of cars that you have approved or refused to use with Android Auto. If you see your car in the Declined Cars heading , you may have done this by accident. Remove the car from the list of blocked devices and try to pair it again.
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Normally, the Add new cars to Android Auto option should be enabled. If it’s off, your phone will charge instead of starting the Android Auto setup process only when you plug it in.
Google claims that turning it off can help you connect to a second car if you’re having trouble with that. Try connecting again using the opposite setting to the one you had here.
If none of the above options work, tap the three-dot Menu button in the top right and hit Forget All Cars . This will remove all the cars you synced previously so you can start over and hopefully fix whatever was stuck.
8. Clear cache and storage for the Android Auto app
At this point, if Android Auto still doesn’t work, your best bet is to clear all data saved in the Android Auto app and start over. You should do this while disconnected from your car.
To do this, go to Settings> Apps and notifications> View all apps X> Android Auto> Storage and cache . Here, select Clear Cache first , then try using Android Auto again.
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If that doesn’t work, go back to the menu and tap Clear next storage . This deletes all data for the app, so it’s like installing it from scratch. You may need to configure the settings for Android Auto again after doing this.
Hopefully, after cleaning up all the storage, Android Auto will connect again for you.
Get Android Auto up and running once again
Android Auto isn’t very helpful when it’s not working and these tips are where you should start troubleshooting Android Auto. Chances are you need to replace the USB cable or have a problem with the app on your device.
Now that Android Auto is working again, make sure you’re using it to the fullest!
