Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
As a tech-savvy Android user, the release of Android 14 was big news for me, so I jumped on the update bandwagon and installed the new operating system the moment it popped up on my phone.
Many people did the same, but it looks like I was one of the few lucky users who installed Android 14 and didn't encounter Android Auto bugs.
Google has been flooded with bug reports after the Android 14 release, and many come from users whose Android Auto experience was wrecked by the operating system.
One of the most common problems in the Android Auto world appears to be broken music apps. Spotify no longer sends any sound to the car's speakers despite the app showing that it's playing the song, with users claiming that the issue appeared after they installed Android 14. The same configuration (same phone and head unit) worked correctly before the update, so Android 14 is the only new component that could have caused the audio playing glitches.
Users claim they've tried all the generic workarounds they could find, including clearing the app's cache and data. Nothing worked, so they still can't listen to music when running Android Auto in their cars. The issue happens with both wired and wireless connections, and based on user reports, it affects various phone models, including Google Pixels and Samsung Galaxy devices.
Google has recently confirmed that it's investigating the problem, and while the announcement itself is good news, the bad news is the company did not share an ETA regarding a potential patch arrival. The investigation could take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, so you shouldn't hold your breath for a fix.
Meanwhile, there's not much these users can do, as downgrading to Android 13 is a more complex process that only tech-savvy people should do.
If you still want to listen to your Spotify tunes after the update to Android 14 (which I'm sure you do, especially if you pay for a subscription), the only way to do it is to use the app without Android Auto. It means you must connect your smartphone to the car directly via Bluetooth, and considering Android Auto doesn't run, the bug should no longer occur.
It isn't the most convenient workaround, but it's the only way to use Spotify in a car until a patch gets the go-ahead. Otherwise, you must stick with other audio inputs, such as the radio in the car. Most Android Auto and CarPlay still listen to the radio despite having access to the likes of Spotify and YouTube Music, so you won't be the only one doing it until Google comes up with a patch.
I have also reached out to Google to ask for more information on the current status of the investigation and will let you know when the company is making progress on the update.
Google has been flooded with bug reports after the Android 14 release, and many come from users whose Android Auto experience was wrecked by the operating system.
One of the most common problems in the Android Auto world appears to be broken music apps. Spotify no longer sends any sound to the car's speakers despite the app showing that it's playing the song, with users claiming that the issue appeared after they installed Android 14. The same configuration (same phone and head unit) worked correctly before the update, so Android 14 is the only new component that could have caused the audio playing glitches.
Users claim they've tried all the generic workarounds they could find, including clearing the app's cache and data. Nothing worked, so they still can't listen to music when running Android Auto in their cars. The issue happens with both wired and wireless connections, and based on user reports, it affects various phone models, including Google Pixels and Samsung Galaxy devices.
Google has recently confirmed that it's investigating the problem, and while the announcement itself is good news, the bad news is the company did not share an ETA regarding a potential patch arrival. The investigation could take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, so you shouldn't hold your breath for a fix.
Meanwhile, there's not much these users can do, as downgrading to Android 13 is a more complex process that only tech-savvy people should do.
If you still want to listen to your Spotify tunes after the update to Android 14 (which I'm sure you do, especially if you pay for a subscription), the only way to do it is to use the app without Android Auto. It means you must connect your smartphone to the car directly via Bluetooth, and considering Android Auto doesn't run, the bug should no longer occur.
It isn't the most convenient workaround, but it's the only way to use Spotify in a car until a patch gets the go-ahead. Otherwise, you must stick with other audio inputs, such as the radio in the car. Most Android Auto and CarPlay still listen to the radio despite having access to the likes of Spotify and YouTube Music, so you won't be the only one doing it until Google comes up with a patch.
I have also reached out to Google to ask for more information on the current status of the investigation and will let you know when the company is making progress on the update.
Google News