Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
Users have been complaining for years that their Samsung flagships can’t run Android Auto, with the app failing to launch or their devices not being detected when plugged into their vehicles to launch the Google experience.
These reports have been around since the Galaxy S21 series, and users who purchased the Galaxy S24 complained of similar connection issues. Google has already launched an investigation, and despite some users claiming their experience has improved, a patch has never been officially announced.
The problem still persists and is causing frustration for customers who spend more than $1,000 on a high-end Android phone only to find that Android Auto can’t run properly.
Fortunately, users have found two solutions that seem to solve connection problems with a Samsung Galaxy S24.
The first solution is to uninstall all Android Auto updates and install version 10.3. This is a very old version (the latest stable version of Android Auto is 12.3), but the trick is that once you install this outdated version, the app will prompt you to update it via the Google Play Store.
However, after installing Android Auto 10.3, you need to connect your phone to the vehicle to get everything set up from scratch. The app should launch fine and require an update. While some users might worry that installing the latest update could break the app, everything should complete successfully after getting the latest version of Android Auto from the Google Play Store.
Someone says they fixed Android Auto on their Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra by removing all app updates and trying to connect the phone to 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 phone’s actual name. The next time they connected the smartphone to the car, Android Auto launched successfully.
Unfortunately, I also see users claiming that these two workarounds do not get Android Auto working again, so they are not universal solutions to restore the app for everyone. In the meantime, Google is continuing its investigation, and it is unknown if Samsung is doing the same.
The South Korean company is also working on new flagships, with its next foldable line set to see the light of day this month. The Galaxy Fold and Flip models also had connectivity issues with Android Auto, though they’re not as common 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 this issue despite its forums also being filled with complaints from users who are having trouble running Android Auto on their cars.
