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Google Tells Android Auto Users To Update As New Version Includes Must-Have Patch
6 photosPhoto: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Google
Just update to the latest version. That’s the advice Google is giving to Android Auto users struggling with a random disconnect bug.
The glitch appeared earlier this summer after the installation of Android Auto 17.2. Some users reported similar issues with Android Auto 17.1, but later investigation revealed that only version 17.2 was to blame for this problem.
The behavior was the same in every case, with the Android Auto connection dropping every few minutes, sometimes immediately after launching.
Most people claim the app stops running after 3 minutes.
“After exactly three minutes, the wired connection would freeze, while the wireless connection would disconnect and reconnect. I was beginning to think there was something wrong with my head unit,” one user explains in a post on the Google forums where the issue is extensively detailed by those encountering it.
The only workaround that users discovered was a downgrade to a previous build. The version that seemed to work correctly was 17.0, which is another indication that versions 17.1 and 17.2 were the culprits.
Google stepped in and asked for additional information, and as it turns out, the investigation is now over and a fix is available.
“We are pleased to report that the team has implemented a fix,” a Google Community Specialist, whose forum signature indicates that he’s a member of the Android Auto team, says in a post this week.
Users are told to install at least version 17.4 to get the patch. The most recent version of Android Auto in the stable channel is version 17.5. It was shipped earlier this week, and despite not bringing any front-facing changes, it might include additional fixes and under-the-hood refinements to improve the app’s performance.
However, the rollout of version 17.5 is still underway through the Google Play Store, and considering the green light for the stable channel was given this week, not all users can get it as an automatic update.
Most likely, if you search for updates on the Google Play Store, you’ll be getting version 17.4. If you’re stuck with an older version, you can update manually using the APK installers.
Otherwise, Android Auto users continue to complain about issues encountered after the integration of Gemini. The new AI-powered assistant will completely replace Google Assistant next month, but the experience so far has been far from refined.
Users claim Gemini can’t even do basic things like making phone calls, while others complain that the assistant causes app crashes, sometimes in the middle of the drive, including in essential applications.
Google keeps rolling out further refinements, and the experience will likely be more polished in the coming updates, but at this point, Gemini is far from the long-overdue replacement for Google Assistant.
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About the author: Bogdan Popa
Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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