Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Google
A widespread bug causing the taskbar to disappear for Android Auto users has finally been resolved as part of the latest Google app update.
The problem was discovered a few weeks ago when users discovered that Android Auto launched without a taskbar. The application was stuck with Google Maps on the screen, as Android Auto defaults to the navigation app.
Without a taskbar, users couldn't switch to a different application, such as Spotify or Waze. The lack of a taskbar also made it impossible for users to switch to the app drawer or the Coolwalk screen (where applications run side-by-side on the same screen). Users could switch to other apps using voice commands, but the taskbar missing was a major inconvenience behind the wheel.
Users initially believed an Android Auto update was the culprit, but the workarounds discovered by some of those struggling with the problem indicating the one to blame was the Google app. On Android and Android Auto, the Google app is in charge of powering Google Assistant.
The workaround came down to downgrading to an earlier Google app version, as the issue resided in the latest release when the bug showed up. Returning to a previous release temporarily addressed the problem, restoring the taskbar and allowing users to interact with Android Auto normally. However, on devices where automatic updates were enabled, the latest Google app version was installed automatically, bringing back the problem again.
The search giant has now corrected the issue with an update for the Google app. The company did not comment on the bug, but user reports online suggest that updating the Google app to the latest version brings everything back to normal, restoring the expected behavior in Android Auto.
The most recent stable version of the Google app at the time of writing is 14.140.33, and you can download it from the Google Play Store. The update is offered to users in stages, but you can also sideload the APK. With this method, users install the latest app version without waiting.
Some users claim they removed the app's data and cache and removed the installed updates, eventually searching for new versions on the Google Play Store. The new version they were offered restored the taskbar on Android Auto.
If you're also struggling with the glitch, you should update to the latest version of the Google app. The Android Auto version running on your device shouldn't make a difference, but keeping the app up-to-date should also help you avoid potential compatibility errors. The latest stable version of Android Auto is 10.6. It was released last week and is now rolling out to devices in stages through the Google Play Store, but if you want to download it without waiting, you can do it using the stand-alone APK installer.
Without a taskbar, users couldn't switch to a different application, such as Spotify or Waze. The lack of a taskbar also made it impossible for users to switch to the app drawer or the Coolwalk screen (where applications run side-by-side on the same screen). Users could switch to other apps using voice commands, but the taskbar missing was a major inconvenience behind the wheel.
Users initially believed an Android Auto update was the culprit, but the workarounds discovered by some of those struggling with the problem indicating the one to blame was the Google app. On Android and Android Auto, the Google app is in charge of powering Google Assistant.
The workaround came down to downgrading to an earlier Google app version, as the issue resided in the latest release when the bug showed up. Returning to a previous release temporarily addressed the problem, restoring the taskbar and allowing users to interact with Android Auto normally. However, on devices where automatic updates were enabled, the latest Google app version was installed automatically, bringing back the problem again.
The search giant has now corrected the issue with an update for the Google app. The company did not comment on the bug, but user reports online suggest that updating the Google app to the latest version brings everything back to normal, restoring the expected behavior in Android Auto.
The most recent stable version of the Google app at the time of writing is 14.140.33, and you can download it from the Google Play Store. The update is offered to users in stages, but you can also sideload the APK. With this method, users install the latest app version without waiting.
Some users claim they removed the app's data and cache and removed the installed updates, eventually searching for new versions on the Google Play Store. The new version they were offered restored the taskbar on Android Auto.
If you're also struggling with the glitch, you should update to the latest version of the Google app. The Android Auto version running on your device shouldn't make a difference, but keeping the app up-to-date should also help you avoid potential compatibility errors. The latest stable version of Android Auto is 10.6. It was released last week and is now rolling out to devices in stages through the Google Play Store, but if you want to download it without waiting, you can do it using the stand-alone APK installer.
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