Wireless Android Auto

[Chas G]

My 22 Yaris Cross Icon and Samsung A54 android auto only works with the lead plugged in. As soon as I unplug android auto drops out of car display.

Not a problem for me as I only use Google "take me to" on my phone display the map and directions on the car unit as it doesn't have satnav.

[TopGeek]

34 minutes ago, Chas G said:

My 22 Yaris Cross Icon and Samsung A54 android auto only works with the lead plugged in. As soon as I unplug android auto drops out of car display.

Not a problem for me as I only use Google "take me to" on my phone display the map and directions on the car unit as it doesn't have satnav.

The wireless Android Auto compatible versions arrived in 2022 so it depends which multimedia display you have. If it has rotary knobs it cannot handle wireless connection but, if it has buttons, you are in the same position as me and could get it to work with a bit of persistence.

[RedToyota]

@TopGeek I have re-read your posts and I think you are on the right track but need to redo a few steps.

You are right that when AA wirelessly connects the bluetooth connection drops and AA should display as connected. The fact you see the AA media connection means it is "mostly connected".

 

I would start by restarting your phone, we tends to forget they are now complex computers and the old "then it off and on again" routine fixes a lot of issues. Then in the phone AA setup make sure the AA actions/ Apps you want are enabled. Most of my issues have come from the phone, not the car.

Then go to the car, start up and let it do the connection routine. It can take a minute or two as the head unit is busy at start up finding GPS satellites and the SOS connections. 

Even though mine works most of the time I have noticed that it may fail if I am in a poor mobile phone signal area. At home it means moving the car a few feet forward in the drive.

 

Good luck, it should work.

[TopGeek]

A further revelation - I discovered this evening that AA will not run if you have a VPN on the phone, which I do have.

This probably explains all the difficulties I had in trying to get it to work earlier. It therefore means I have to remember to disconnect the VPN every time I get into the car. One of the big benefits of AA for me is that I can listen to Internet radio in the car.

[TopGeek]

12 hours ago, TopGeek said:

One of the big benefits of AA for me is that I can listen to Internet radio in the car.

This also works with the Media button, where AA displays as a sub-text. However, that means you have to pre-select the relevant media app on the phone.

That applies even if AA is not activated on the Projection button.

I worked in IT for many years and I have to admit that technology is getting too complicated for me.

[RedToyota]

21 hours ago, TopGeek said:

A further revelation - I discovered this evening that AA will not run if you have a VPN on the phone, which I do have.

This probably explains all the difficulties I had in trying to get it to work earlier. It therefore means I have to remember to disconnect the VPN every time I get into the car. One of the big benefits of AA for me is that I can listen to Internet radio in the car.

@TopGeek the VPN interfering with AA comms makes sense. Sorry I had not thought of that.

 

When I had a Hyundai I used an Android automation app to trigger the hotspot functionality required for live Sat Nav info whoever there was a bluetooth connection made with the car.  You might be able to do something similar to stop the VPN when the BT connection is made before AA starts.

 

[TopGeek]

3 hours ago, RedToyota said:

the VPN interfering with AA comms makes sense.

VPN split tunnel looks like the answer but I don't know how to implement it in this case as AA is a part of the OS and doesn't appear on the exceptions list. I've asked the VPN developer and I'm sure they will have a solution. It's not crucial as AA is working fine so long as I remember to disconnect the VPN.

[tumpboy]

On 3/11/2024 at 9:16 PM, TopGeek said:

My Yaris Cross has Smart Connect and my phone has 5GHz wifi so it should be easy to set up but I'm darned if I can get it to work wirelessly. The first stage goes fine, connecting the phone to the USB socket and following the onscreen prompts. Android Auto is working but obviously with limited functionality. The instructions then say to disconnect the phone and Android Auto will continue wirelessly but it doesn't. The instant I disconnect the phone, Android Auto shuts down. Successfull installation means that it will connect automatically every time you get into the car with your phone switched on. I have spent hours on this and I'm rapidly sliding into depression.

Has anyone here managed to get it to work wirelessly and, if so, do you have any tips?

Didn't realise I had the same problem till I read your post. I don't drive far  enough to warrant connecting my phone. However, works fine with a cable but it is supposed to be wireless?

I got it to work by continually pairing and un-pairing until the head unit finally accepted my phone. I also did the switch off/on routine on phone.

Also couldn't get VLC to work for my music. Spotify much easier!

I am now faced with some long distance journeys so look forward to using my new toy. Thanks for your post.

[Roy124]

@tumpboy personally I would love wireless AA for short trips and wired charging connection for long trips as my Samsung does not support wireless charging.

Temu however do have a wireless charging dongle. You connect to the USB port and it lies flat on the back of your phone.

[tumpboy]

2 hours ago, tumpboy said:

Didn't realise I had the same problem till I read your post. I don't drive far  enough to warrant connecting my phone. However, works fine with a cable but it is supposed to be wireless?

I got it to work by continually pairing and un-pairing until the head unit finally accepted my phone. I also did the switch off/on routine on phone.

Also couldn't get VLC to work for my music. Spotify much easier!

I am now faced with some long distance journeys so look forward to using my new toy. Thanks for your post.

Spoke too soon, won't work wirelessly today. Perfect via cable???

[Chas G]

On 3/14/2024 at 3:06 PM, TopGeek said:

The wireless Android Auto compatible versions arrived in 2022 so it depends which multimedia display you have. If it has rotary knobs it cannot handle wireless connection but, if it has buttons, you are in the same position as me and could get it to work with a bit of persistence.

I have got 2 rotary nobs, one for volume and one for tuning, and 4 buttons each side of the screen.

[Roy124]

I tried again got AA Wireless to work and able to plug in and unplug seamlessly. 

[Roy124]

1 hour ago, Roy124 said:

I tried again got AA Wireless to work and able to plug in and unplug seamlessly. 

I wonder if the recent software update might have had an effect?

[hind]

Lol, it worked for me too today 😄 For some reason previously I was unable to pair the phone, it was not found on a list of devices when I picked the one to connect to. I didn't plan to use it wirelessly anyway so just completely ignored that. Today I was bored while waiting in a car on a parking lot and tried some device settings. Got to the menu where I was able to choose bluetooth settings (permissions?) for each paired device and my phone had checked Media and Phone IIRC but no Android Auto. I clicked on that row and it connected 🙂 I have no idea if that was introduced in some recent firmware upgrade for the 9" multimedia or I just didn't found that setting page. 

[TopGeek]

4 hours ago, Chas G said:

I have got 2 rotary knobs, one for volume and one for tuning, and 4 buttons each side of the screen.

In that case, wireless AA will not work.

[TopGeek]

1 hour ago, hind said:

 I have no idea if that was introduced in some recent firmware upgrade for the 9" multimedia or I just didn't found that setting page. 

You probably just didn't find that setting, where you have the 3 options in a line (Android, Phone and Media). It took me a long time to find it and I too only found it my accident. Tap on Anrdoid and it suddeny comes to life. Once selected, it should continue working so I can't think why it would be intermittent unless, like me, you use a VPN.

[TopGeek]

5 hours ago, Roy124 said:

Temu however do have a wireless charging dongle. You connect to the USB port and it lies flat on the back of your phone.

Don't you have the wireless charging plate in the compartment ahead of the gear lever? It isn't obvious and I only discovered it by accident.

[Roy124]

1 hour ago, TopGeek said:

You probably just didn't find that setting, where you have the 3 options in a line (Android, Phone and Media). It took me a long time to find it and I too only found it my accident. Tap on Anrdoid and it suddeny comes to life. Once selected, it should continue working so I can't think why it would be intermittent unless, like me, you use a VPN.

Yes it worked and while the car was running,  ie AA remained armed,  it worked.   This evening only wired connection worked. 

[Roy124]

1 hour ago, TopGeek said:

Don't you have the wireless charging plate in the compartment ahead of the gear lever? It isn't obvious and I only discovered it by accident.

My phone does not have WC and I don't believed my car has either.

[TopGeek]

53 minutes ago, Roy124 said:

My phone does not have WC and I don't believed my car has either.

For some strange reason, it seems to be country specific so I guess mine has it because I'm in Belgium. My present phone does not have wireless charging but maybe my next one will.

[TopGeek]

1 hour ago, Roy124 said:

Yes it worked and while the car was running,  ie AA remained armed,  it worked.   This evening only wired connection worked. 

There is a setting in Android phones for Auto Reconnect. You need to check where it is on your phone and make sure it's switched on.

[hind]

6 minutes ago, TopGeek said:

You need to check where it is on your phone

It's easiest to just search for Android Auto in the Settings, as AA doesn't report as a regular app so it cannot be found on the app list. 

[Roy124]

@TopGeek can't see any option like that.  On the previous attempt I could have a WiFi connection,  plug on the cable, then  unplug again with AA remaining uninterrupted. 

Will try again tomorrow. 

[TopGeek]

Roy124, it is there but is a bit tricky to find.

On my phone (Motorola G9Play) I go to Settings, Connected devices, Connection preferences, Android Auto, scroll down to Start Android Auto Automatically, click on that and select "Default (set by the car)".

At the same time, you can select "Start Android Auto while locked" and "Start music automatically" if that's what you want.

[RonYarisX]

1 hour ago, TopGeek said:

For some strange reason, it seems to be country specific so I guess mine has it because I'm in Belgium. My present phone does not have wireless charging but maybe my next one will.

They didn't bother with it here in the UK. I'd have even settled for a non-wireless charging black rubber mat but instead we get nothing which, IMO, makes the car look cheap.