What's Your Experience With Android 14 and Android Auto?

From a user perspective, updating to Android 14 is an urgent matter, as the new operating system comes with important refinements and new features.

However, many people learned the hard way that Android 14 doesn't bring good news on all fronts. The new operating system seems to wreak havoc in the Android Auto world, causing issues that sometimes make it impossible to run the app.

Based on user reports, Android 14 causes three big problems on Android Auto.

First, the OS causes connectivity problems. Some users claim that their smartphones can no longer connect to infotainment systems despite the same hardware working correctly on Android 13. After they installed the new operating system, Android Auto fails to load. The affected users tried the generic workarounds, including full resets of the infotainment system and the mobile device, but nothing restored Android Auto.

Second, Android 14 breaks down Spotify. A widespread glitch causes the media app to no longer show the "now playing" interface. The audio plays in the background, but Spotify doesn't show information on what's playing. The application worked correctly on Android 13, but once the mobile device was updated to Android 14, Spotify started exhibiting this weird bug that doesn't yet have a fix.

Third, Android 14 breaks down Android Auto wireless. Users claim that their smartphones only connect to infotainment systems with a cable. It started happening after the update to Android 14, as everything worked as expected on Android 13.

Now, here comes the confusing part.

While all these reports seem to suggest Android 14 is responsible for the plethora of bugs plaguing Android Auto, some users claim everything works properly after installing the operating system on their smartphones. Even more confusing is that some users claim everything works correctly on hardware configurations (the same smartphone and car model) flagged as broken by others.

One of my previous stories on the Android Auto issues caused by Android 14 is living proof of the mixed results reported by users after updating their smartphones. Titled " Android 14 Kills Android Auto Wireless And Nobody Likes the Fix," the article received plenty of comments from people struggling with Android Auto after installing Android 14.

"My S22 is doing the same thing. Android 13 is fine, Android 14 doesn't work. They need to fix it," our reader Pablo Lopez explained. They drive a Toyota Tundra and use a Pioneer 3800NEX to run Android Auto.

However, several readers said this isn't the experience they see on Android Auto with Android 14. Someone even accused me of spreading false information because Android 14 is a flawless operating system, and nobody they know has hit any errors on Android Auto.

It's why I decided to post today's story, as the easiest way to tell if Android 14 breaks down Android Auto is to hear from you, our readers. Please use the comment box after the jump to detail your experience with Android Auto after updating your mobile device to Android 14, and make sure you include your phone brand and model, car brand and model, and infotainment system (if it's an aftermarket unit).

While some people claim Android Auto works like a charm after the update to Android 14, Google itself has already started investigating several bugs reported by users. All three glitches I detailed earlier are already the subject of Google investigations, but as with everything in the Android Auto world, it's impossible to tell when patches could land. Google typically needs weeks or even months to figure out what happens and ship updates, so I wouldn't hold my breath for a fix anytime soon.

While I invite you to join the conversation in the comment box after the jump, let me detail my experience with Android Auto after the update to Android 14.

I use a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra to run the app, and I connect it to a Suzuki Vitara with factory Android Auto support. I don't use an adapter to run the app. While I encountered random disconnects with a wired connection, the wireless connection has been working flawlessly since the update to Android 14. Spotify also works correctly, and so does the wireless connection.

One of my friends uses a Google Pixel 7 to run Android Auto in the same car, but their connection has been plagued by problems after Android 14. The operating system causes random disconnects, and it's unclear why it happens, as he uses a Google phone (which should theoretically offer a more reliable experience). He told me that Android Auto disconnects in the middle of the drive, and the only way to re-establish the connection is to unplug the phone, turn airplane mode on and off, and reconnect the mobile device to the head unit.

Now it's your turn. What's your experience with Android 14 and Android Auto?