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After update, Google Maps disappears from Android Auto

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By Alan Friedman

Published: Jan 18, 2022, 6:15 PM

After update, Google Maps disappears from Android Auto

Google Maps helps users get from point "A" to point "B" using the most environmental-friendly and fastest route. And once you get to "B," the app helps you find a place to eat, a place to sleep, things to see, and more. In other words, many travelers depend on the app and use it almost every day to help them make their daily commute without running into traffic jams, accidents, and speed traps.

According to several posts made on Google's support forums, after the latest update to Android Auto 7.2, Google Maps just upped and disappeared. The app still shows up on the user's handset and can still be accessed as long as the car is not connected to the phone. Outside of an Android Auto community specialist, Google has yet to acknowledge that this problem exists and with that in mind, the search giant has yet to issue a workaround.

Update to Android Auto makes Google Maps disappear

There is a solution, however, users with this problem can switch to another navigation and mapping app like Waze. Also owned by Google, Waze uses crowdsourced data to help it deliver the fastest and safest routes for users to follow. Unlike Google Maps, Waze concentrates on navigation although it can still lead you to gas stations and restaurants. Or, if using Google Maps is a must, just run the app through your phone instead of using Android Auto.

Following an update, Google Maps goes missing from Android Auto

One user who posted on Google's forum said that prior to the latest Android Auto update, everything worked perfectly on his 2018 Audi Q7 and his Samsung S21 Ultra. Once he installed the update, Android Auto no longer appeared as an app on his phone home screen and could not be reinstalled. The Q7 display no longer includes Maps; after using his voice to call for the Google Maps app, he is told that "This application is not available on your device."

While he can navigate using Google Maps on his Galaxy S21 Ultra, his car no longer displays maps and the turn-by-turn directions can not be heard from his car's speaker. After talking with Samsung, the man says that he was told that the issue is not with his Galaxy S handset, but with Android Auto.

Google is aware of the issue and is seeking more information

In his post, he notes that he tried uninstalling and reinstalling updates, rebooted the phone, and re-setup Android Auto on his car, all to no avail. A subsequent post was sent in by a person with a similar story who uses a Galaxy S20 Ultra running Android 12. This person also lost Google Maps on Android Auto.

The aforementioned community specialist with the Android Auto team responded by saying, "Thanks for reporting this issue. We have reached out to you via email to collect more information. Please share the required details." So at this point, we have to assume that Google is not totally familiar with the issue.

If you are affected by this bug,, you should simply use Google Maps on your handset, or switch to Waze on Android Auto. Either way, you will need to wait for Google to make the necessary repair through an OTA software update.

Speaking of updates, Android Auto 7.2, the one that caused Google Maps to disappear (something that even David Copperfield couldn't do), was released at the beginning of this year with no changelist (which actually is typical for these updates).

Have any of you found that Google Maps has disappeared from your Android Auto screen after installing the 7.2 update? If so, which one of our suggestions are you using? Did you decide to simply turn to your phone to run Google Maps, or are you continuing to use Android Auto and have switched to Waze. Let us know by dropping your comment in the box below.

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Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.

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