Android Auto is being disabled for devices running Android 10 or below, and Google just confirmed it. Soon millions of Android devices will stop connecting with Android Auto entirely.
“Android Auto will soon stop working on this phone”
For the past few weeks, Google has been showing a warning message on Android Auto dashboards connected with phones running Android 10 or older.
The warning displayed for older Android phones | Image by Reddit
The company just confirmed that it is raising the minimum working requirement to Android version 11. This means that phones running older OS versions will start getting rejected soon, whether the connection attempt is wired or wireless.
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Do you have a gripe with Android Auto?
People are still using these phones with Android Auto
There are an estimated 4.8 million active Android 10 devices, and about 3.6 million active Android 9 devices in the wild right now.
Android 10
Android 9
4.8%
3.6%
4,800,000
3,600,000
Data provided by AppBrain, which tracks over 100 million active Android devices
Among these devices are some of the best Android phones, including but not limited to:
OnePlus 5
The original Galaxy Fold
Galaxy S9 and S8
Galaxy Note 9
The original Pixel
Phones like the Galaxy S22, Pixel 2, and OnePlus 6 are safe because they can be upgraded to Android 11 or above
People around the world still use Android Auto with phones from these two generations of Android. Once Google remotely disables it, they will have to get a new phone to keep using the service. However, like these folks on Reddit, they may not even want to “upgrade” their phone.
Redditors using Android 10 phones | Image by Reddit
Some of these phones may even be in excellent condition, like this Redditor’s Galaxy Note 9.
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Reddit talks about his Note 9 | Image by Reddit
Other using these Android versions argue that Google should have just stopped sending OTA (over-the-air) updates instead of cutting their access. Apple does still support the iPhone 5 on CarPlay, and that phone came out in 2012, so there is some precedence for their argument.
If your phone has stopped working with Android Auto, there may be hope for it yet.
One of your options is to switch the phone’s software, and there are plenty of free resources available to get started. Fair warning: it does take a bit of technical tinkering and caution before proceeding. There are open-source Android Auto alternatives too, which you can install on your phone. Barring those options, you may just have to upgrade to a newer model.
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Faisal Rasool has been writing about mobile tech for the past ten years. His favorite cousin used to be a mobile technician and, as a kid, Faisal learned how to repair and tweak phones in his workshop. Faisal's first phone was the Samsung Galaxy Europa (released 2010). More Android smartphones followed it, including the Samsung Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S6, Huawei P8, and currently the Galaxy A56.
He's a life-long Android guy because he loves other open-source platforms. He's been covering such platforms for websites like How-To Geek, Android Headlines, Android Police, SlashGear, and now PhoneArena.
Faisal has a bachelor's in English literature and he likes to write stories and paint in his free time.
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