Google wants to repair these 5 issues on Android Auto

When Google launched Android Auto in 2015, it promised a greater automotive infotainment system to make driving simpler. It introduced the acquainted Android interface to our automotive screens, permitting us to carry out duties like checking maps, controlling music, utilizing Assistant, and checking and replying to messages with simply our voice way more simply — duties that might in any other case be riskier to do on a telephone whereas driving. Nonetheless, practically a decade later, we’re nonetheless dealing with a number of points with Android Auto that you simply would possibly anticipate would have been fastened by now, however aren’t.

1 Connection points

Why can’t Android Auto simply keep related persistently?

Android Auto does undergo from some fairly unreliable connection points, that are sporadic and inconsistent. For instance, the opposite day, my Honor Magic 6 Professional was related to the automotive and wi-fi Android Auto was working completely high-quality. Nonetheless, after stepping out of the automotive and returning a couple of minutes later, Android Auto would not join in any respect. I attempted every thing to repair it, like resetting the app and updating Android Auto, however the telephone nonetheless would not join.

What’s extra, it isn’t simply me — there are numerous threads on Reddit and Google Help pages about these connection points. Whereas I agree that a number of the issues might be because of the automotive producer’s {hardware} and software program, many customers are experiencing these points throughout numerous gadgets and vehicles, proving Google must take a deeper look into this.

2 Pointless battery drain

Wi-fi Android Auto drains my telephone’s battery like loopy

A persistent situation with Android Auto is the extreme battery drain on the telephone, significantly when utilizing it in wi-fi mode. Just like the connectivity points talked about above, there are numerous threads on Reddit and Google Help about this drawback. I’ve skilled it myself, with my telephone normally dropping round 20% in the course of the one-hour drive to my sister’s place. Whereas this will rely upon different components just like the automotive’s temperature, daylight publicity, and connectivity with the automotive’s system, Google must discover a resolution to make sure a seamless and environment friendly Android Auto expertise for all customers.

3 Overheating issues

Utilizing Android Auto generally appears like your telephone would possibly soften any second

One other situation with Android Auto, that’s partly associated to battery drain, is overheating. Android telephones are likely to get heat when utilizing Android Auto in wi-fi mode. Generally they grow to be so scorching that they are tough to deal with, and because of this, grow to be gradual and laggy. Moreover, should you attempt to cost your telephone whereas utilizing wi-fi Android Auto, to compensate for the battery drain, it may make the telephone even hotter, particularly should you use a wi-fi charger in your automotive. As compared, I have never seen my iPhone 14 Professional Max get “extraordinarily” heat when related to my automotive and utilizing Apple CarPlay.

4 An absence of assist for Google Maps on two screens

Appears like we have been asking for this eternally

Google Maps is my favourite navigation app as a result of it really works effectively with each my Android telephone and Android Auto. Nonetheless, one quirk I dislike is that when you begin navigation, you possibly can’t use Google Maps in your telephone — it solely exhibits turn-by-turn instructions. It solely if you exit navigation you get entry to all of the options in your telephone, however in the course of the navigation the app would not show anything, which is irritating as a result of Google Maps has so many helpful options up its sleeve.

Though Google has sometimes allowed Google Maps to work on each the telephone and Android Auto concurrently, it typically appears unintentional. I’ve but to see this function on any of the Android telephones I’ve used — as proven within the picture above, it doesn’t work on my Honor Magic 6 Professional. We hope Google fixes this situation and brings again this skill; it is one thing the corporate permits for with CarPlay and iOS, in any case.

5 Convey again Android Auto for Telephone Screens

The comeback we have been ready for

Not everybody has a automotive with an Android Auto-compatible infotainment system. To handle this, when Google first launched Android Auto, it used to supply Android Auto for Telephone Screens as an app that allowed customers to take pleasure in an identical driver-friendly interface with simple to entry and huge display screen buttons on their telephone’s display screen. Nonetheless, after the key Android Auto replace in 2019, this function took a again seat, and with the launch of Android 12, Google formally discontinued the app.

With American drivers now protecting their vehicles for a median of greater than 12 years, it is time for Google to convey again Android Auto for Telephone Screens. Many drivers nonetheless depend on vehicles with out built-in contact screens, and reviving this app would offer a safer and extra handy driving expertise.

Android Auto is nice — we simply need it to be even higher

Whereas Google nonetheless has lots to repair about Android Auto, it isn’t all dangerous. In actual fact, with its arguably higher voice assistant, third-party app assist, notification system, and use of Google Maps, we expect it is a lot better than Apple’s CarPlay. Nonetheless, we are able to agree that there is nonetheless lots Google can work on and enhance.