Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
We've known for a while that Android Auto doesn't always offer the most reliable experience, as bugs have become painfully common in this world.
The good news is that the search giant and the software developers whose apps run on top of Google's platform have become more committed to improving the user experience. This doesn't always translate to faster updates, but at least some of the bugs reported by users get a fix (compared to the last few years when even the most widespread errors didn't get a patch).
Fortunately, the Mountain View-based tech giant managed to resolve a widespread glitch almost in record time.
If you've been using WhatsApp while driving, you probably noticed a key feature was broken down on Android Auto. Because you're not supposed to touch your phone while driving, the only way to continue your conversations with someone on WhatsApp is with the help of Google Assistant.
The digital assistant is deeply integrated into Android Auto, allowing users to control apps and features hands-free. Unfortunately, the voice command support on Android Auto is often broken, and WhatsApp users learned this the hard way.
Sending a message with Google Assistant on WhatsApp no longer worked as expected, with the assistant claiming they sent the requested text without actually processing the command. It means you could no longer chat with your contacts hands-free, albeit the worst part is that users didn't know their messages weren't sent unless they manually opened the conversations in WhatsApp to see the missing messages.
It wasn't clear at first if Android Auto was the culprit or if the bug resided in the Google app (which is responsible for the hands-free integration on Android devices), but Google has now confirmed that a fix is live.
However, the app you must update is WhatsApp, as it turns out the broken voice commands were caused by a glitch in the latest version of the messaging app. To correct the issue, you must install WhatsApp version 2.24.8.79 from the Google Play Store.
Several users have confirmed on Google's forums that the expected voice command behavior will be restored once the update is installed.
If you've already enabled automatic app updates on your Android device, the latest version should be on your device. You can also trigger an update check manually, and if you don't see the new version on the Google Play Store yet, you can download and install the latest WhatsApp build with the stand-alone APK installer.
You should also update Android Auto to the latest version – the most recent stable build is 11.7. New beta and stable updates should start rolling out soon, albeit you shouldn't install pre-release builds unless you're ready for a less refined experience and you're ready to contribute with feedback to help improve Android Auto.
Fortunately, the Mountain View-based tech giant managed to resolve a widespread glitch almost in record time.
If you've been using WhatsApp while driving, you probably noticed a key feature was broken down on Android Auto. Because you're not supposed to touch your phone while driving, the only way to continue your conversations with someone on WhatsApp is with the help of Google Assistant.
The digital assistant is deeply integrated into Android Auto, allowing users to control apps and features hands-free. Unfortunately, the voice command support on Android Auto is often broken, and WhatsApp users learned this the hard way.
Sending a message with Google Assistant on WhatsApp no longer worked as expected, with the assistant claiming they sent the requested text without actually processing the command. It means you could no longer chat with your contacts hands-free, albeit the worst part is that users didn't know their messages weren't sent unless they manually opened the conversations in WhatsApp to see the missing messages.
It wasn't clear at first if Android Auto was the culprit or if the bug resided in the Google app (which is responsible for the hands-free integration on Android devices), but Google has now confirmed that a fix is live.
However, the app you must update is WhatsApp, as it turns out the broken voice commands were caused by a glitch in the latest version of the messaging app. To correct the issue, you must install WhatsApp version 2.24.8.79 from the Google Play Store.
Several users have confirmed on Google's forums that the expected voice command behavior will be restored once the update is installed.
If you've already enabled automatic app updates on your Android device, the latest version should be on your device. You can also trigger an update check manually, and if you don't see the new version on the Google Play Store yet, you can download and install the latest WhatsApp build with the stand-alone APK installer.
You should also update Android Auto to the latest version – the most recent stable build is 11.7. New beta and stable updates should start rolling out soon, albeit you shouldn't install pre-release builds unless you're ready for a less refined experience and you're ready to contribute with feedback to help improve Android Auto.
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