It’s not easy being an Android Auto user, because bugs in this world come and go, and there’s not much you can do about it. Google usually takes weeks or months to ship fixes and generic solutions that most people resort to without doing anything to improve the experience.
Photo: Bogdan Popa/Automatic Evolution
The last issue is living proof that Android Auto or apps running on top of it can turn the time you spend behind the wheel into a very confusing and frustrating mess.
Google Maps, the world’s number one mobile navigation app, has started misbehaving in a way that seems to confuse everyone, including Google itself.
The application launches and locates the user correctly, and despite finding a route to the destination specified by the user, it fails to initiate navigation.
Users claim that this unusual behavior was introduced by a recent Android Auto update, as the bug is limited to the in-car experience, so when users switch to the mobile device, Google Maps goes back to working properly.
The insect
Photo: Bogdan Popa/Automatic Evolution
The problem is confusing and appears to be more difficult to solve than expected. Users who encountered the flaw claim that an update that shipped in mid-November caused Google Maps to crash in a way that seemed impossible to diagnose.
The app works as expected until it’s supposed to start navigation, at which point it keeps trying to load the route for about 20 seconds before an error appears telling the user that “something went wrong.”
Navigation won’t start, so the only way to use Google Maps is without turn-by-turn directions on the screen.
The inability to use Google Maps on Android Auto is a huge inconvenience for users, especially since it is the number one solution in the navigation space.
The issue occurs on both wired and wireless Android Auto, so it’s not related to how the app runs in your car.
the alternative solution
Photo: Bogdan Popa/Automatic Evolution
Unfortunately, there is no magic solution for users suffering from this flaw, so what works for some doesn’t always work for others.
Most people who have encountered the issue claim that they have already tried the common solutions in the Android Auto world, which include clearing the cache and data of the affected apps. They did not bring Google Maps to a working form.
Users claim that the glitch was caused by an Android Auto update, so the workaround is to downgrade this app. This means that you have to remove the version that breaks Google Maps and install an older version where everything works as expected.
If nothing works to fix Google Maps on Android Auto, the only solution is to disconnect the mobile device from the head unit and turn on navigation on the mobile device. It’s not the most convenient solution, but it does its job, allowing you to get turn-by-turn directions while driving.
One says they’re experiencing a similar issue with Waze, suggesting Google Maps isn’t necessarily the culprit. Android Auto might be what’s disrupting your navigation experience, though it’s unclear how and why it could be causing this route calculation issue. All applications correctly determine the user’s location but fail to generate directions to the specified destination.
Painful choice
Photo: Bogdan Popa/Automatic Evolution
If running navigation on a mobile device isn’t your cup of tea, there’s always the option of ditching Google Maps altogether. This means you can stop using Google Maps, at least temporarily, and switch to a workaround that allows you to get turn-by-turn directions on Android Auto.
The most obvious option is Waze. However, replacing Google Maps with Waze can be a frustrating decision, especially since the two apps aren’t exactly the same. Google Maps is a comprehensive navigation platform, while Waze focuses on traffic navigation, with an emphasis on reporting and a crowdsourcing engine.
As a result, Waze can only work in online mode, so if you use Google Maps offline and with offline maps, you may have a hard time getting used to Google’s other navigation software.
It’s unclear if the Mountain View-based search giant is investigating the flaw, but it appears more users have hit it after the latest software updates were released. One person says that the bug was fixed by a previous Google Maps update but was reintroduced by another version, so in the end, they still had the same route configuration issue.
It usually takes Google up to several months to come up with a fix for the issue, so you shouldn’t hold your breath for the issue to be resolved just yet. The error occurs on different devices of different brands of Android phones, so it is not related to just one model. This is proof that the Android device does not make a difference, as even Pixel owners suffer from the same error. You’d normally expect the Google app to work flawlessly on a Google mobile device, but this Google Maps bug is another reminder that there’s no such thing as stability and reliability in the world of Android Auto.
Google Maps on Android Auto has long been a popular choice for drivers looking for navigation and real-time traffic updates. However, a recent bug has been causing frustration among users, leading some to consider switching to alternative options like CarPlay. The glitch, which causes the navigation screen to freeze and fail to update, has left many feeling frustrated and let down by the once reliable system. As a result, drivers are now weighing their options and considering whether it’s time to make the switch to a different platform for their in-car navigation needs.