Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Google
Google started the Android 14 rollout last year, and many OEMs have already completed the validation phase, so they're pushing the update to their devices, too.
It means more and more Android devices receive the new operating system, with the rollout to be completed in the coming months.
Android 14 landing on more devices is good news, considering the long list of new features and improvements it brings. However, it doesn't seem so exciting from an Android Auto perspective.
The problems first reported by Pixel owners in October are still around today, with many users struggling to get Android Auto to work after updating their smartphones to Android 14. Some of our readers told me last week that they've tried literally everything to fix Android Auto on their Pixel phones running Android 14, but nothing worked.
Android Auto fails to start as if the infotainment system doesn't detect the smartphone. Oddly enough, some users claim the head unit detects the mobile device because the battery starts charging, but the Android Auto experience doesn't load.
The attempted workarounds included everything from reinstalling Android Auto to clearing the app cache and the data. Many people claim they've tried other cables that worked correctly to run CarPlay, but Android Auto still refuses to load.
Android Auto wireless is also broken after installing Android 14. Users say the infotainment system no longer detects the mobile device, though someone told me they managed to get it up and running after resetting both the smartphone and the media receiver. The secret lies in the profile already created on your devices when you previously paired them to run Android Auto. You must delete all configuration files to start from scratch in the car and on the mobile device.
However, it's not a universal fix and might not restore Android Auto in your car.
Google has already asked for more information about the bug, telling people to share phone logs, but a fix is yet to be on the radar.
Unfortunately, without a workaround and an official fix, users feel lost and confused, especially because everything worked correctly on Android 13. Going back to the previous Android version is possible but too much of a hassle for most users, especially if they didn't create a backup before the update.
Android 14 also causes other less critical problems on Android Auto, including a broken Spotify experience. Users say that after installing the new operating system on their devices, Spotify no longer plays sound through the speakers, despite the application showing the typical now playing screen on the infotainment unit. The bug is also under investigation, but Google needs more time to figure out why Android 14 hates Android Auto so much.
Android 14 landing on more devices is good news, considering the long list of new features and improvements it brings. However, it doesn't seem so exciting from an Android Auto perspective.
The problems first reported by Pixel owners in October are still around today, with many users struggling to get Android Auto to work after updating their smartphones to Android 14. Some of our readers told me last week that they've tried literally everything to fix Android Auto on their Pixel phones running Android 14, but nothing worked.
Android Auto fails to start as if the infotainment system doesn't detect the smartphone. Oddly enough, some users claim the head unit detects the mobile device because the battery starts charging, but the Android Auto experience doesn't load.
The attempted workarounds included everything from reinstalling Android Auto to clearing the app cache and the data. Many people claim they've tried other cables that worked correctly to run CarPlay, but Android Auto still refuses to load.
Android Auto wireless is also broken after installing Android 14. Users say the infotainment system no longer detects the mobile device, though someone told me they managed to get it up and running after resetting both the smartphone and the media receiver. The secret lies in the profile already created on your devices when you previously paired them to run Android Auto. You must delete all configuration files to start from scratch in the car and on the mobile device.
However, it's not a universal fix and might not restore Android Auto in your car.
Google has already asked for more information about the bug, telling people to share phone logs, but a fix is yet to be on the radar.
Unfortunately, without a workaround and an official fix, users feel lost and confused, especially because everything worked correctly on Android 13. Going back to the previous Android version is possible but too much of a hassle for most users, especially if they didn't create a backup before the update.
Android 14 also causes other less critical problems on Android Auto, including a broken Spotify experience. Users say that after installing the new operating system on their devices, Spotify no longer plays sound through the speakers, despite the application showing the typical now playing screen on the infotainment unit. The bug is also under investigation, but Google needs more time to figure out why Android 14 hates Android Auto so much.
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