3 straightforward Android Auto fixes you most likely did not know you might do

Android Auto is a helpful utility that is constructed into nearly each modern Android smartphone. Conceptually just like the iPhone’s CarPlay performance, Android Auto means that you can beam the contents of your Android telephone straight onto your automobile’s infotainment show — assuming your automotive or truck helps the flexibility to take action, after all.

Increasingly more automobiles are transport with Android Auto assist, which ought to hopefully improve adoption of the platform and permit for higher function parity with Apple CarPlay, the latter of which is broadly obtainable throughout many newer-generation automobiles in the marketplace. There’s plain utility to casting music playback controls, navigation interfaces, and extra from a smartphone onto a automotive dashboard.

In my expertise, when Android Auto works, it really works effectively. Sadly, nonetheless, proverbial bumps within the street can typically come up. Listed below are three commonly-encountered Android Auto issues, in addition to some corresponding ideas and methods to contemplate when troubleshooting mentioned points.

Spotty wi-fi connectivity

Bluetooth connection points could be a actual ache

In case you’re making use of a wi-fi Android Auto setup, then a mixture of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi is quietly working under-the-hood to ascertain and to keep up phone-to-vehicle communication. Every part from audio streaming to sending and receiving calls requires a steady connection to operate correctly.

For essentially the most half, wi-fi Android Auto setups are pretty dependable, as a result of your telephone will at all times be in proximity to your automobile whilst you’re out on the street. Generally, nonetheless, a uneven connection can happen, leading to stutters, lags, media playback slicing out with out discover, and dropped telephone calls.

For sure, a spotty wi-fi connection is lower than perfect if you’re busy specializing in the street, and it might probably show particularly problematic when actively counting on a navigation app like Google Maps or Waze to succeed in your vacation spot. Listed below are some ideas and methods that may assist enhance the reliability of your wi-fi Android Auto connection:

• Guarantee your automobile is Android Auto suitable. A full record of automotive fashions that assist the function could be discovered by visiting this online Android resource.
• Be sure that your Android telephone’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios are each switched on.
• In your Android telephone, uninstall after which reinstall the Android Auto utility from the Google Play Retailer. Alternatively, clear the app’s storage information and cache information by navigating to Settings > Apps > See all apps > Android Auto > Storage & Cache > Clear storage + Clear Cache.
• Take away your automobile from Android Auto after which re-establish a contemporary connection. This may be achieved out of your Android telephone by navigating to Settings > Related Units > Connection preferences > Android Auto > Beforehand related automobiles > [your car] > Overlook. As soon as full, restart the setup course of from the start.

An inoperable wired setup

Not all USB cables are created equal

In case you elect to arrange your Android Auto through a wired connection, you may nonetheless need to take into account the aforementioned wi-fi connectivity troubleshooting strategies should you encounter uneven efficiency. The explanation for this? Whereas Bluetooth lacks the bandwidth required for the total audio/visible Android Auto expertise, it is nonetheless used to facilitate telephone calls and for different much less data-intensive options. A wired Android Auto setup would not change the usage of Bluetooth — moderately, it swaps Wi-Fi-reliant information communications with a tethered cable resolution.

It is value noting that not all USB cables are totally suitable with Android Auto. Though most USB-C cords look bodily similar to 1 one other, they’ll differ tremendously in each bandwidth throughput and in energy supply rankings. On its official Android Auto Help website, Google recommends utilizing a high-quality USB cable that is below 3 ft (1 meter) in size, and to keep away from utilizing USB hubs or cable extenders. The corporate additionally suggests defaulting to the cable that got here together with your Android telephone out of the field, as most telephone producers ship cables that meet the requirements of the USB Implementers Forum.

Unresponsive voice dictation

Arms-free voice instructions are helpful after they work

One of many best perks of working an Android Auto-compatible automobile is the benefit of which you’ll interface together with your telephone whereas actively (and safely) commuting to your vacation spot. By merely saying “Hey Google” or urgent the devoted microphone button in your automobile’s stirring wheel, you may dictate all kinds of instructions. These embrace making a telephone name, sending a textual content message, replying to a message, getting driving course, and launching particular musical tracks or podcasts.

In case you’re experiencing troubles together with your Android Auto’s hands-free function (false positives, incorrect dictation outcomes, incapability to acknowledge your voice, and so forth.), there are some things to search for that is perhaps the foundation reason for the issue. Listed below are some troubleshooting issues:

• Guarantee your automobile is Android Auto suitable. A full record of automotive fashions that assist the function could be discovered by visiting this online Android resource.
• Guarantee your Android telephone’s Bluetooth antenna is turned on and that an energetic connection has been established together with your automobile.
• Examine your Android telephone’s microphone permissions. This may be achieved by navigating to Settings > Apps > See all Apps > Android Auto > Permissions > Microphone > Microphone entry for this app after which deciding on Permit solely whereas utilizing the app from the record of accessible choices.
• Find your automobile’s built-in microphone and be certain that the port is not blocked off or coated by something.