Android 14 Makes Android Auto Worse Than Ever

You'd think a new Android version would refine the experience with the operating system and the pre-loaded apps, but the debut of Android 14 proves that sometimes things go exactly in the opposite direction.

If you think Android Auto can't be buggier, Android 14 is living proof that the app can always get worse.

Users who installed the operating system struggle with all kinds of problems, but the most pressing seems to be the connection glitch that prevents them from using the app.

In the last few days, I've seen countless bug reports from Android 14 users complaining that Android Auto no longer works correctly. Reader Jeremy Kindall told me that Android Auto 14 broke music apps, causing the audio to cut out in the middle of the drive. He says navigation is also broken, as Android Auto loses the GPS connection, sometimes placing him on a different road, eventually causing Google Maps and Waze to offer wrong directions.

Other readers pointed me to posts on social media, including Twitter and reddit, where users complain of similar problems.

Several discussion threads on Google's forums also signal problems with Android Auto after updating the device to Android 14. This thread reports connection struggles, as the head unit no longer detects the smartphone, or if it does, it loses the connection minutes later. More often than not, restarting the phone or the infotainment system is the only way to restore Android Auto, though it isn't by any means a convenient workaround while driving.

Multiple users confirmed this behavior in their cars, and Google has already started investigating the reports. It's too early to tell if and when the company could ship a fix, but for now, installing Android 14 seems to make Android Auto worse than ever. After the update, The issues plaguing the app make some users delay the move to Android 14, while others claim they've had enough and plan to switch to CarPlay.

A 2017 study by QualiTest indicates that 88 percent of app users are ready to abandon apps due to bugs and glitches, and in this case, CarPlay is the only alternative. However, migrating from Android Auto to CarPlay is more difficult than it sounds, as it involves changing ecosystems and buying new smartphones. An iPhone typically sells for a premium, so Android users who want to switch sides would have to spend hundreds of dollars searching for the stable and reliable experience they've always wanted in their cars.
 

Unfortunately, CarPlay is suffering from similar problems these days, as iOS 17 and the move from the Lightning port to USB-C on the iPhone 15 made connection errors very common in the Apple ecosystem. Apple is yet to ship fixes, but considering the avalanche of problems lately, the iPhone maker should focus more on the CarPlay experience in the coming updates.