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More Problems with Google Maps on Android Auto, This Time When Closing the App

As the world’s most popular mobile navigation app, Google Maps is obviously used by millions of people every day, including not only on smartphones but also on Android Auto and CarPlay.
Google Maps on Android Auto 6 photos
Photo: Google
Android Auto interfaceAndroid Auto interfaceAndroid Auto interfaceAndroid Auto interfaceAndroid Auto interface
And in theory, Google Maps on Android Auto is a match made in heaven, but as some users occasionally figure out the hard way, this isn’t necessarily the case.

The most recent struggle concerning the navigation app on Android Auto concerns the way Google Maps shuts down after the smartphone is disconnected from the head unit in the car.

In theory, Google Maps should automatically stop the navigation and close its services after Android Auto is running, but for some reason, this no longer happens for some users. I noticed similar behavior in my car as well, though, for some reason, this problem went away automatically a few updates ago.

And while it’s not yet clear if Google has at least tried to implement a fix, users here on Reddit claim they have to manually close Google Maps on their mobile devices after Android Auto shuts down.

In other words, Google Maps no longer does the whole thing automatically, even if obviously it should, and some users claim the navigation shows up in the notification center even if they didn’t launch it.

So basically, Google Maps must be manually closed even when the app wasn’t launched on Android Auto, and for many people, this is as confusing as it could get.

While some location services could indeed be used while using Android Auto (for various other features), Google Maps should still shut down automatically. And some users in the linked reddit discussion claim this behavior was introduced a few months ago after a recent update.

For now, Google is yet to acknowledge this problem or at least clarify why Google Maps shows in the notification center when the navigation isn’t used, so it goes without saying you shouldn’t hold your breath for a fix.
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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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