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Android Auto Icon Missing in Action on the 2015 Ford Mustang with SYNC 3

Android Auto is a pretty cool system that can certainly improve the driving experience, but if you ask a bunch of rather unlucky 2015 Ford Mustang owners, they may think otherwise.
2015 Ford Mustang interior 176 photos
Photo: Ford
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Because according to a handful of reports, Android Auto actually fails to launch on the 2015 Mustang with SYNC 3 and all the software up to date, and by the looks of things, no workaround seems to bring it back.

Some complain that they’ve tried everything from changing cables to master resets, all to end up with the same unexpected behavior that prevents Android Auto from launching and its icon nowhere to be seen.

I've downloaded the update from Ford's website 3 separate times and used the master reset and then reflashed it each time I redownloaded it, as well as used an OEM cable, as well as purchasing 2 of the google recommended cables. I know the cables are transmitting data because i can play music through them, and I've tried turning off bluetooth and just plugging my phone in with the AA mobile app running. Sync 3 version is 3.0 and I'm using a Note10+,” one Mustang owner explains.

A similar Android Auto behavior has also been reported elsewhere, and Mustang owners complain on several other Ford forums that the app fails to launch in their cars too.

But at this point, it’s still not clear if everything comes down to a compatibility problem between Android Auto and SYNC 3 or it’s just something that’s caused by the software running on the phone.

For example, I’ve noticed that most people who report this own an Android device that has already been updated to Android 10 (either Samsung Galaxy S/Note or Google Pixel), so there’s a chance that the operating system itself might be the culprit.

Nothing is confirmed so far, but without a workaround, the only option is to just wait for Google to release a new Android Auto version.
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About the author: Bogdan Popa
Bogdan Popa profile photo

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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