Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
One of the main Android Auto benefits is the Google Assistant integration, which allows users to send messages while they drive hands-free.
The experience relies on voice commands, so drivers can interact with their apps, which feature Google Assistant and Android Auto integration, without looking at the screen.
WhatsApp, the world's number-one messaging platform, is also supported on Android Auto, offering this hands-free messaging experience behind the wheel. Google Assistant is still in charge of everything, reading incoming messages and sending replies.
Unfortunately, like everything else on Android Auto, the voice command integration suffers from reliability issues, so a widespread bug now hitting WhatsApp users breaks down the support for sending messages.
The issue has already been reported online on several channels, and WhatsApp users claim everything works correctly except for the option to send a reply.
Google Assistant still reads all incoming messages correctly, but when it tries to send a reply, it claims it completes the request without actually doing it. Users who posted on Google's forums explained that Google Assistant confirmed the sending request, but the message did not appear in the conversation with the defined contact.
The problem appeared a few days ago, and several users claim they haven't changed anything on their devices. The same WhatsApp and Android Auto versions were running on their devices before the issue was noticed, so I suspect the culprit is the Google app powering Google Assistant. Like on Android, the Google app is responsible for Google Assistant capabilities on Android Auto, so the chances are that a recent update introduced a bug breaking down the WhatsApp integration.
Unfortunately, the only workaround is a major safety issue. Without Google Assistant handling sending requests, many users are tempted to pick up their smartphones and send a reply by typing it on the screen. It means they'd use the phone while driving, and we all know how dangerous this can be. You shouldn't text while driving, so fingers crossed that Google releases a fix as soon as possible.
Another possible solution could be removing the Google app updates from your device. If a recent build broke down the WhatsApp voice command integration, removing updates could allow users to return to a previous configuration that did not exhibit the bug. You can do this from your phone's settings menu in the Apps section.
It's unclear if Google is investigating the issue, as the company did not respond to requests for more information from users struggling with it. However, considering the glitch might reside in the Google app, which typically receives updates every few days, I expect the company to ship a patch by the end of the week. I'll continue to monitor the problem and let you know when an updated version addressing the error is available.
WhatsApp, the world's number-one messaging platform, is also supported on Android Auto, offering this hands-free messaging experience behind the wheel. Google Assistant is still in charge of everything, reading incoming messages and sending replies.
Unfortunately, like everything else on Android Auto, the voice command integration suffers from reliability issues, so a widespread bug now hitting WhatsApp users breaks down the support for sending messages.
The issue has already been reported online on several channels, and WhatsApp users claim everything works correctly except for the option to send a reply.
Google Assistant still reads all incoming messages correctly, but when it tries to send a reply, it claims it completes the request without actually doing it. Users who posted on Google's forums explained that Google Assistant confirmed the sending request, but the message did not appear in the conversation with the defined contact.
The problem appeared a few days ago, and several users claim they haven't changed anything on their devices. The same WhatsApp and Android Auto versions were running on their devices before the issue was noticed, so I suspect the culprit is the Google app powering Google Assistant. Like on Android, the Google app is responsible for Google Assistant capabilities on Android Auto, so the chances are that a recent update introduced a bug breaking down the WhatsApp integration.
Unfortunately, the only workaround is a major safety issue. Without Google Assistant handling sending requests, many users are tempted to pick up their smartphones and send a reply by typing it on the screen. It means they'd use the phone while driving, and we all know how dangerous this can be. You shouldn't text while driving, so fingers crossed that Google releases a fix as soon as possible.
Another possible solution could be removing the Google app updates from your device. If a recent build broke down the WhatsApp voice command integration, removing updates could allow users to return to a previous configuration that did not exhibit the bug. You can do this from your phone's settings menu in the Apps section.
It's unclear if Google is investigating the issue, as the company did not respond to requests for more information from users struggling with it. However, considering the glitch might reside in the Google app, which typically receives updates every few days, I expect the company to ship a patch by the end of the week. I'll continue to monitor the problem and let you know when an updated version addressing the error is available.
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