{"id":470314,"date":"2026-06-10T14:12:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T14:12:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/470314\/"},"modified":"2026-06-10T14:12:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T14:12:11","slug":"googles-android-auto-update-may-have-finally-fixed-the-debilitating-connection-issue-thats-been-plaguing-me-on-road-trips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/470314\/","title":{"rendered":"Google&#8217;s Android Auto update may have finally fixed the debilitating connection issue that&#8217;s been plaguing me on road trips"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"elk-d29b3966-0598-4691-b45a-253b37fff239\">About a month ago, after a security update, my <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/samsung-phones\/samsung-galaxy-s26-ultra-review\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/samsung-phones\/samsung-galaxy-s26-ultra-review\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/samsung-phones\/samsung-galaxy-s26-ultra-review\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/a> refused to connect to Android Auto with my 2019 Honda CR-V. It&#8217;s not an uncommon experience between Android and that specific car, it seems.<\/p>\n<p>However, a recent <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/product-documentation\/answer\/14343500?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/product-documentation\/answer\/14343500?hl=en\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Google Play Services update<\/a> may have solved the issue. I noticed on Sunday that I was able to brute force the connection, but it&#8217;s been smoother in the last couple of days since then. If it&#8217;s helped me out, then there&#8217;s a chance it could do the same for any of you struggling to get <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/us\/best-android-phones,review-6051.html\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/us\/best-android-phones,review-6051.html\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/us\/best-android-phones,review-6051.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">your Android phone<\/a> to talk to your motor.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-0b9b02cc-55ba-4468-8f94-42d97de4c550-0\">The <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/tag\/google\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/tag\/google\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/tag\/google\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Google<\/a> update went live on Monday, June 8. Google&#8217;s release note simply reads: &#8220;[Auto] Bug fixes for Device Connections related services.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Latest Videos From<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/yjolrksv791774885936.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/yjolrksv791774885936.svg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/yjolrksv791774885936.svg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] block h-[18px] w-auto shrink-0 brightness-0 invert\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/yjolrksv791774885936.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/yjolrksv791774885936.svg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/yjolrksv791774885936.svg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] max-h-12 w-auto\"\/><\/p>\n<p>It doesn&#8217;t detail how Google fixed the bugs, but it&#8217;s clear that the connection issues are a problem.<\/p>\n<p>When the S26 series was released in March, owners of both the new <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/android-auto-is-broken-for-samsung-galaxy-s26-and-pixel-owners-after-latest-update\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/android-auto-is-broken-for-samsung-galaxy-s26-and-pixel-owners-after-latest-update\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/android-auto-is-broken-for-samsung-galaxy-s26-and-pixel-owners-after-latest-update\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Samsung phones and Pixel phones reported issues<\/a> with Android Auto connectivity. At the time, some users suggested that the new <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/android-phones\/android-16s-upcoming-feature-could-wreak-havoc-on-your-phones-fast-charging\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/android-phones\/android-16s-upcoming-feature-could-wreak-havoc-on-your-phones-fast-charging\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/android-phones\/android-16s-upcoming-feature-could-wreak-havoc-on-your-phones-fast-charging\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Advanced Protection<\/a> security feature was blocking the connection. Neither Google nor Samsung confirmed this or any other theory.<\/p>\n<p>            You may like<\/p>\n<p>    <a id=\"elk-288204d3-202c-4290-b286-0acbc42bc52b\"\/>This isn&#8217;t a new problem<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MH5E5QqrkdtUJKjjqvdyvF.jpg\" alt=\"Android Auto refreshed UI example\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MH5E5QqrkdtUJKjjqvdyvF.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MH5E5QqrkdtUJKjjqvdyvF.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Google)<\/p>\n<p>Personally, I&#8217;ve had issues with Auto connections for years going back to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-0df77cc5-0967-4cdd-bd12-82be516bb3b2\">Initially, I was able to connect my new S26 Ultra immediately. I only noticed issues after a Samsung security update in May. Obviously, something happened, but I&#8217;m not sure where in the Android pipeline things are getting clogged.<\/p>\n<p>Personally, I&#8217;ve had issues with Auto connections for years going back to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. That may or may not be related to Android Auto or my CR-V, which I&#8217;ve owned for about three years now.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.<\/p>\n<p>Because Android Auto typically requires a tethered connection, connection problems can come from the type of USB-C wires used to connect your phone and the vehicle.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve found that connection disruptions often tend to happen after security updates, which seem to break the established connection between my phone and the car.<\/p>\n<p>For now, I&#8217;ll happily use Android Auto because I do enjoy it. But I&#8217;ll hold my breath every time my phone proffers a new update. And if you&#8217;ve also suffered issues with Android Auto, I want to hear from you \u2014 drop me a comment below this article and let me know.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJ2YlhObmRXbGtaUzVqYjIwb0FBUAE\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" id=\"elk-19d579e1-0dbd-4d36-8de8-7773b8dd6ad6\" data-url=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJ2YlhObmRXbGtaUzVqYjIwb0FBUAE\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:31.51%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/r3t8zZ5ve4GewFTeoCM3R6.jpg\" alt=\"Google News\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/r3t8zZ5ve4GewFTeoCM3R6.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/r3t8zZ5ve4GewFTeoCM3R6.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] pull-right\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-ad957912-b655-4cb4-9586-2d263f6e7513\">Follow <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJ2YlhObmRXbGtaUzVqYjIwb0FBUAE\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJ2YlhObmRXbGtaUzVqYjIwb0FBUAE\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Tom&#8217;s Guide on Google News<\/a> and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tomsguide.com\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tomsguide.com\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">add us as a preferred source<\/a> to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. 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Finally, you can visit our dedicated <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/savings-squad\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/savings-squad\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/savings-squad\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Tom&#8217;s Guide Savings Squad hub<\/a> for expert help on getting the best products for less. <\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-more-from-tom-s-guide\"\/>More from Tom&#8217;s Guide<br \/>\n<script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"About a month ago, after a security update, my Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra refused to connect to Android&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":344429,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[342,111,139,69,145],"class_list":["post-470314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mobile","tag-mobile","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=470314"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470314\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/344429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=470314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=470314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=470314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}