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Samsung Galaxy users running One UI 9 reported Android Auto failing to connect or frequently dropping connections, even over wired cables. Google confirmed it was aware of the issue and has now told Android Authority that a fix addressing the Android 17/One UI 9 problem is already rolling out.
Developer HighwindBR has built AA Experiments, an open-source LSPosed module paired with a manager app that lets rooted Android users toggle more than 100 hidden Android Auto flags without repacking the app's APK. The tool reportedly works offline, doesn't track users, and automatically suspends conflicting flag mappings when Android Auto updates to avoid breakage.
Multiple Samsung Galaxy owners, including S26, S25 Edge, S24 Ultra and A55 users, report that Android Auto fails to connect or repeatedly disconnects after installing One UI 9. Fixes like re-pairing, clearing app data, and using a wired connection have not resolved the issue for affected users. Google has confirmed its Android Auto team received at least one complaint and forwarded it internally, but has not identified a cause or fix.
A hands-on comparison found Google Maps' Gemini assistant can be triggered by voice alone on Android Auto, while on CarPlay it requires tapping a button that appeared only late in testing. Google's own help page reportedly still listed Gemini as unavailable for CarPlay at the time, and route changes such as adding stops or finding alternate paths home were slower to process on CarPlay than on Android Auto.
Google's Android Auto treats apps installed inside a managed Work Profile differently from personal apps, restricting their functionality on the car dashboard. Microsoft confirms Teams calls and meetings don't work through Android Auto when the app sits in a Work Profile, while Google Meet shows active calls but hides upcoming meetings and call history from that profile.
A tech advisory explains that habitually wearing only one earbud from a pair—whether for calls, lectures, or driving—causes that bud's battery to degrade faster than its twin, creating an imbalance. It recommends using transparency or ambient mode instead, which lets wearers hear their surroundings while keeping both buds in, or relying on speakerphone and car systems like Apple CarPlay for calls while driving.
Ford is retooling its Louisville Assembly Plant with a $2 billion investment in a Universal EV Production System that uses fewer parts, cooling connections and wiring to cut manufacturing costs for its upcoming Fathom EV, while still including smartphone integration like CarPlay and Android Auto. Slate, a newer EV maker building its pickup from scratch, has reportedly chosen to omit that infotainment feature as part of a more stripped-down approach.
A Reddit user known as u/mannumaster built a free, open-source tool called UnknownAuto that tricks Android Auto into accepting sideloaded apps by marking them as installed from Google Play. The tool was created after the developer hit roadblocks trying to run their own self-built app on Android Auto, which normally blocks apps not sourced from the Play Store.
Users running Android Auto 17.9 and newer, including some on Android 17, are reporting that notification pop-ups appear silently, without any accompanying sound through their car's speakers. The app does briefly pause playing music as though attempting to play the alert, but no audio comes through. Reports affect both Pixel and Galaxy device owners, and one outlet says the problem also appears on Android Auto 18 and its 18.1 beta.
Google Maps is now displaying trees in red, orange, and yellow hues along navigation routes in select US metro areas, replacing the usual green foliage. The company confirmed via X that this seasonal visual update will remain active through November 30, appearing within its Immersive Navigation interface for Android Auto.
Android Auto includes settings that let drivers swap the position of the map and media player, mirror their phone's wallpaper onto the car display, force day or night mode on maps, and disable automatic media playback at startup. Wallpaper mirroring must be enabled from the car's Android Auto settings rather than the phone, via a toggle for 'Use Phone's Wallpaper'.
Android Auto users can install games from Google Play's Android Auto category or a curated collection, then access them via the dashboard launcher when connected by USB or wirelessly. Titles confirmed to work include Angry Birds 2, Candy Crush Soda Saga, My Talking Tom Friends, BB Racing 2, and the built-in GameSnacks service. Games are meant to be played only while the car is parked.