Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
One of the downsides of plugging in a mobile device while driving, especially if the smartphone is installed in a dock or holder on the dashboard, is that it's exposed to excessive heat.
Smartphones getting hot behind the wheel is a common problem, but thanks to the latest-generation cooling systems, which are significantly more efficient, and most drivers installing the mobile device in the air vent, fewer people receive the warning.
That's not the case for people using Android Auto.
Several readers have told me lately that Android Auto has started showing warnings that the phone is getting too hot in the middle of the drive. One reader told me that Android Auto suggested "turning off the camera," despite the camera not actually running on the mobile device while driving.
They instantly pulled over to check the phone and discovered that Android Auto was the only app running on the mobile device. Furthermore, the phone wasn't hot, so the Android Auto error message was a false alert. However, they claim that using the app now "feels dangerous," as they are forced to pull over due to overheating concerns.
This isn't the first I've heard about people getting false alerts. Still, the problem has become more widespread lately, with several others confirming on Reddit that they're being warned of overheating when running Android Auto.
Most people who receive the message claim the phone isn't hot. Ignoring the message allows Android Auto to continue running flawlessly, but others claim the connection interrupts when the message appears. Others say they get the alert only when driving in an area with a poor cellular signal, but the mobile device still doesn't feel hotter than usual.
The behavior has been reported on various phone models, but most cases occur on Samsung devices. I also use a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra to run Android Auto but never got this alert, albeit I rarely drive in areas with a poor cellular signal.
Meanwhile, there's not much you can do to resolve the glitch. Once the message shows up on your device, you can just ignore it if Android Auto returns to working normally or reconnect the mobile phone to relaunch the app. Unfortunately, this involves pulling over, as you shouldn't try disconnecting and reconnecting the smartphone to the head unit if the vehicle is still in motion.
Google never acknowledged the glitch, and it's unclear if an investigation is underway. The issue happens with the latest Android Auto builds – the newest version in the stable channel is 11.8, while users running beta builds are on version 11.9. Google will probably promote version 11.9 to the stable channel in the coming weeks, but users who installed the beta claim the overheating warning still appears on this latest release, so the chances are it won't bring a fix when it's ready for production devices.
That's not the case for people using Android Auto.
Several readers have told me lately that Android Auto has started showing warnings that the phone is getting too hot in the middle of the drive. One reader told me that Android Auto suggested "turning off the camera," despite the camera not actually running on the mobile device while driving.
They instantly pulled over to check the phone and discovered that Android Auto was the only app running on the mobile device. Furthermore, the phone wasn't hot, so the Android Auto error message was a false alert. However, they claim that using the app now "feels dangerous," as they are forced to pull over due to overheating concerns.
This isn't the first I've heard about people getting false alerts. Still, the problem has become more widespread lately, with several others confirming on Reddit that they're being warned of overheating when running Android Auto.
Most people who receive the message claim the phone isn't hot. Ignoring the message allows Android Auto to continue running flawlessly, but others claim the connection interrupts when the message appears. Others say they get the alert only when driving in an area with a poor cellular signal, but the mobile device still doesn't feel hotter than usual.
The behavior has been reported on various phone models, but most cases occur on Samsung devices. I also use a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra to run Android Auto but never got this alert, albeit I rarely drive in areas with a poor cellular signal.
Meanwhile, there's not much you can do to resolve the glitch. Once the message shows up on your device, you can just ignore it if Android Auto returns to working normally or reconnect the mobile phone to relaunch the app. Unfortunately, this involves pulling over, as you shouldn't try disconnecting and reconnecting the smartphone to the head unit if the vehicle is still in motion.
Google never acknowledged the glitch, and it's unclear if an investigation is underway. The issue happens with the latest Android Auto builds – the newest version in the stable channel is 11.8, while users running beta builds are on version 11.9. Google will probably promote version 11.9 to the stable channel in the coming weeks, but users who installed the beta claim the overheating warning still appears on this latest release, so the chances are it won't bring a fix when it's ready for production devices.
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