Users found fixes for the most common Android Auto bugs

Users have complained for years that their Samsung flagships can’t run Android Auto, as the app fails to launch or their devices aren’t detected when they connect them to their vehicles to start the Google experience.

These reports have been around since the Galaxy S21 series, with users getting the Galaxy S24 complaining of similar connectivity issues. Google has already started an investigation, and despite some users claiming their experience has been improved, a patch has never been officially announced.

The issue is still around, causing frustration for customers who spend more than $1,000 on a high-end Android phone only to find that Android Auto can’t work properly.

Fortunately, users have found two fixes that seem to solve connectivity issues with a Samsung Galaxy S24.

The first solution involves users uninstalling all Android Auto updates and installing version 10.3. This is a super old version—the latest stable version of Android Auto is 12.3—but the trick is that once you install this outdated build, the app will ask you to update it via the Google Play Store.

However, after installing Android Auto 10.3, you need to pair your phone with the vehicle to allow everything to be set up from scratch. The app should start correctly and ask for an update. While some users may worry that installing the latest update might break the app, everything should be completed properly once you get the latest version of Android Auto from the Google Play Store.

Someone says they fixed Android Auto with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra by removing all app updates and trying to pair the phone with the vehicle. The first attempt failed, but their vehicle created a generic phone profile called “Samsung_Android”. They edited the entry and renamed it to the actual phone name. The next time they connected their smartphone to the car, Android Auto launched correctly.

Unfortunately, I’m also seeing users claiming that these two solutions don’t return Android Auto to a working state, so they’re not universal fixes to restore the app for everyone. Meanwhile, Google continues its investigation, and it’s not known if Samsung is doing the same.

The South Korean company is also working on new flagships, with its upcoming foldable line due to see the light of day this month. The Galaxy Fold and Flip models also encountered Android Auto connectivity issues, though they’re not as widespread as those affecting the Samsung Galaxy S line — truth be told, the Galaxy S is also more popular than the foldable line.

Samsung has also remained silent on the matter, despite its forums also being flooded with complaints from users trying to use Android Auto in their cars.