5 reasons your Android Auto keeps disconnecting – and how to fix it today

I recently purchased a vehicle that includes Android Auto, and I was excited to finally be able to use that functionality with my phone. However, one of the first things I noticed was how unreliable the phone/car connection could be. One minute, Android Auto is open, and the next — it’s gone.

Also: Finally, I found a wireless Android Auto adapter that’s snappy, functional, and won’t break the bank

I did some troubleshooting and discovered there are a few reasons why this keeps happening. Hopefully, what I found will help you.

Let’s dive right in.

1. Incompatible USB cable

I’ve written about how you can avoid getting burned by bad USB cables. The truth is, not all USB cables are created equal. Some cables are cheap and incapable of maintaining a constant connection or data rate.

The problem here is that Android Auto is rather finicky about its connection when USB is required. If you have a bad cable, a damaged cable, a slow cable, or a cable that is too long, the connection between the phone and the car will not be reliable enough. To that end, I would suggest you either locate the OEM cable that shipped with your phone or purchase one of the brands I mentioned in the article above, which are:

One of the most reliable (but cost-effective) cables is the Belkin BoostCharge. Grab the smaller version of that cable, and you should be good to go.

2. Clean the ports

Cars can get pretty dusty. If your USB port is exposed, it can get dirty, and dirty ports cause poor connections. To clean the port on your car and/or your phone, purchase a can of compressed air and blow out any dust or debris. Try again after cleaning. Keep cleaning to see if the connection becomes more reliable. If you find something lodged in the USB port (I’ve seen it happen too many times), grab a toothpick and pry it out. While you’re at it, check to make sure the port on your car isn’t loose. If it is, you’ll want to get it checked.

3. Restart things

First, restart your phone and see if that doesn’t solve the problem. If not, your car will have something called a “head unit.” Certain vehicle makes and models have head units that can be restarted with a power button within the car’s settings menu. See if you can locate it there or check your car’s manual. In some cars, the head unit can be restarted by shutting off the car, opening the driver’s side door, waiting a few minutes, and restarting.

4. Software issues

Android Auto has been notoriously buggy in the past, but modern iterations have become considerably better. Even still, make sure you’re using the latest version of both Android and Android Auto. At the same time, check to make sure your car’s head unit software is up to date. For this, you might have to take your car to your dealer or mechanic. Of course, not all auto manufacturers bother with firmware updates, so this can be hit or miss.

5. Settings and permissions

Incorrect settings within Android can cause problems with the connection between your phone and car. The reason for this is permissions. Android Auto must have the correct permissions, or it will either refuse to connect or the connection will break any time the car requests data from an app or service for which it doesn’t have permissions. 

Also: The best Android phones

To make sure the permissions are correct, go to Settings > Apps, find Android Auto, tap Permissions, and then make sure it has permissions to access each entry (Calendar, Call Logs, Contacts, Locations, Microphone, Nearby Devices, Notifications, Phone, and SMS). If it’s missing any of those permissions, make sure to add them. To function properly, Android Auto must have permission to access each of those features.

Also, make sure to disable battery optimization for Android Auto. If the app has been enabled for battery optimization, it will certainly interfere with the connection to the car. For this, go to Settings > Apps > Android Auto > App Battery Usage and disable “Allow Background Usage.”

You might have to go through each of these suggestions before you figure out the issue. You might find that more than one of the above tips is causing the problem. Either way, this should help you achieve a much more reliable connection between your phone and your car.