Android Auto Not Working or Not Connecting: Causes and Fixes

You plug the phone in, the screen stays on the main menu and Android Auto is nowhere to be seen. Or worse: it connects, works for five minutes and drops out. It is one of the most frequent faults we get asked about on WhatsApp and, in the vast majority of cases, it is not a problem with the screen: it is the cable, a phone permission or a setting that has been switched off by accident.

This guide goes in order, from the most likely cause to the least common. If you follow the steps as written, in most cars the problem is solved without tools.

1. The USB cable: the number one cause

Wired Android Auto needs a good quality data cable, not a cheap charging lead. Many long or petrol-station cables only carry the power wires, so the phone charges but transmits nothing.

• Use the original phone cable or a certified one shorter than about a metre and a half.
• Avoid extensions, USB hubs and intermediate adapters.
• Try a different USB port on the screen: some units have a port reserved for updates that does not support Android Auto.
• Check the phone's connector: lint in the USB-C port is a classic. Clean it with a wooden toothpick and air, never with anything metal.

2. Phone permissions and settings

Android Auto needs explicit authorisation to access calls, messages, contacts and location. If you once said no, or if the phone updated and reset its permissions, it will not start.

• Go to Settings > Apps > Android Auto and check that every permission is granted.
• Inside Android Auto, check that your car is on the list of approved cars and has not been marked as rejected.
• Turn off battery saving for Android Auto: on many phones the system kills the app in the background, which is why it drops out mid-journey.
• Make sure the phone is not set to charging only when you plug it in. It must be in data transfer mode.

3. Pending updates

Google updates Android Auto often and an old version can stop understanding the screen. Three things are worth checking:

• The Android Auto app in Google Play.
• Google Play Services, which is where the connection module actually lives.
• The Android version of the phone.

If the fault started right after an update, try uninstalling the Android Auto updates, connecting again and then updating once more.

4. When the problem is the wireless connection

Wireless Android Auto uses Bluetooth for pairing and 5 GHz WiFi to transmit. When it fails, it is almost always one of these points:

• The phone's WiFi is switched off. Even though it feels like you are only using Bluetooth, there is no picture without WiFi.
• The phone is connected to another nearby WiFi network (the garage one, for example) and does not switch to the head unit.
• There are old pairings piling up. Delete the car from the phone's Bluetooth, delete the phone on the screen and pair again from scratch.
• Data saver or a partial flight mode is limiting the connection.

One trick that works very often: pair by cable first, let the screen register the phone and then switch to wireless mode.

5. Settings on the screen itself

On Android head units you have to make sure the function is enabled and correctly set up:

1. Open the CarPlay / Android Auto app on the screen (usually called ZLink, AutoKit, EasyConnect or similar).
2. Check that Android Auto is ticked in its settings, along with the connection mode you want to use.
3. If in doubt, clear that app's data and connect the phone again: the pairing is rebuilt.
4. Restart the screen from its system menu, not by cutting the power.

6. When it really is a hardware problem

If you have got this far and it still does not work, three signs point to the unit or the installation:

• The phone does not even charge when plugged in: the USB port of the screen or its extension is loose or damaged.
• The screen restarts on its own when you connect: usually insufficient power supply or a poor earth in the installation.
• It fails with several different phones and with good cables: that does point to the unit.

In that case, write to us. Our screens include a 3-year warranty and support: we will help you diagnose it and, if something has to be replaced, we take care of it.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Android Auto disconnect halfway through a journey?
Nearly always the cable or the phone's battery saving. Try another short cable and disable background restrictions for the app.

Does Android Auto work with any phone?
It needs Android 9 or later and a data connection. The wireless version also needs 5 GHz WiFi, which is present on practically every mid-range phone and above.

My screen is a CarPlay one, does it work with Android?
The screens we sell support CarPlay and Android Auto together: it makes no difference if you switch from iPhone to Android or if there is one of each at home.

Can I use Android Auto without mobile data?
The interface works, but navigation and music streaming need a connection. You can download offline maps in Google Maps and offline music in Spotify.

Can Android Auto be added to a car that does not have it?
Yes. That is exactly what we do: by replacing the original radio with a screen specific to your model, or with an interface if your car already has a factory screen.

See screens with CarPlay and Android Auto

If your current unit is not up to the job, take a look at the head unit with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto or find the model specific to your car in our catalogue by make and model. Message us on WhatsApp with your registration or a photo of the dashboard and we will tell you which one fits.