Android Auto finally fixes a connection bug that made it nearly unusable

Are Android Auto users ever going to catch a break? It seems like we barely get a few weeks without another glitch causing headaches for drivers. This time, though, there’s some good news: Google has rolled out a fix for a particularly annoying connection problem.

Google says it has fixed a frustrating Android Auto bug that caused some users’ connections to fail every few minutes. The issue appeared on some versions of Android Auto 17.1 and persisted through versions 17.2 and 17.3, affecting both wired and wireless connections in some vehicles. Android Auto 17.4 and newer now include the fix.

A Google community specialist confirmed the fix earlier this week and asked affected users to update Android Auto to the latest version. For some drivers, the problem made Android Auto practically unusable. Reports described audio cutting out first, followed by the display freezing and the connection eventually dropping.

The issue repeatedly showed up after roughly three minutes when using an aftermarket head unit, whether Android Auto was connected wirelessly or through USB. Going back to an older version of Android Auto restored stability, but that’s hardly an ideal long-term solution. Reports came from users with several Pixel and Samsung phones, although the problem didn’t affect every vehicle or receiver.

Google also appears to have addressed another Android Auto connection issue, although this one seems to require action from automakers rather than an app update. First reported last August, the problem primarily affected Pixel 10 phones when connected to vehicles from Volkswagen Group, including Škoda, Volkswagen and SEAT models.