Android 11 was a pretty big update for the Android Auto community, especially because it unlocked more third-party app categories, while also making it possible to run the wireless mode on all devices, not just Samsung phones and the Google Pixel.
But for others, the update to Android 11 has turned using Android Auto into quite a struggle, with more and more users now complaining that listening to music on car speakers is pretty much impossible now.
And it’s all because the audio is now routed to the phone for a reason that nobody can determine, despite the fact that everything is configured just the way it was before the Android 11 update.
“I have a similar issue with my Nokia 7.2 connected via USB to Audi A6 (2019). When I set off the sound comes from the car speakers but every time I stop and restart the car the sound will resume from the phone speakers only. The only work around I've found to is to force stop the app (Same issue for both Spotify and Pocket Casts),” one user explains.
Everybody says that disconnecting Android Auto and playing music through Bluetooth works just fine, so the one to blame is clearly the Android 11 update that somehow forces the sound to go through the phone speakers.
“Same issue here with my Pixel 3. If I plug in the phone and use Android Auto, no sound. Bluetooth connection to my car works,” someone explains.
Google has already replied to the complaints back in September, explaining it was working on a fix, but no further information has been provided since then.
At this point, the only workaround appears to be connecting the smartphone to the head unit after the engine is started. For some reason, if you don’t plug in your phone before actually turning on the engine prevents the issue from happening, though right now, this doesn’t seem to do the trick for everybody.
And it’s all because the audio is now routed to the phone for a reason that nobody can determine, despite the fact that everything is configured just the way it was before the Android 11 update.
“I have a similar issue with my Nokia 7.2 connected via USB to Audi A6 (2019). When I set off the sound comes from the car speakers but every time I stop and restart the car the sound will resume from the phone speakers only. The only work around I've found to is to force stop the app (Same issue for both Spotify and Pocket Casts),” one user explains.
Everybody says that disconnecting Android Auto and playing music through Bluetooth works just fine, so the one to blame is clearly the Android 11 update that somehow forces the sound to go through the phone speakers.
“Same issue here with my Pixel 3. If I plug in the phone and use Android Auto, no sound. Bluetooth connection to my car works,” someone explains.
Google has already replied to the complaints back in September, explaining it was working on a fix, but no further information has been provided since then.
At this point, the only workaround appears to be connecting the smartphone to the head unit after the engine is started. For some reason, if you don’t plug in your phone before actually turning on the engine prevents the issue from happening, though right now, this doesn’t seem to do the trick for everybody.