Trouble connecting Android smart phone to 22YM car

[Neil Ives]

I've bought an Android (Eight) phone. I've installed Android Auto on the phone. I'm having problems with the connection to the car. I'm using the USB cable supplied with the phone to connect to the data-enabled USB socket in the car. When I think I've followed the instructions I briefly see the expected Android icon show up on the cars Home screen but then the screen goes black. When I refresh the screen, the Android icon is not there.
Will someone who has got this working give me an idiots guide to the setting up, please. Thank you.

[Steve P]

I'm no expert, but I'd be checking the phone has Android auto installed, not sure it was standard on Android 8.

Change the cable if you can, some USB cables are for charging only and won't carry data

Check the settings on the phone to make sure the USB port is configured to transfer data, and not just charge.

[DERMOT]

Android auto may not appear as an app on your phone. Type it in to the search bar on phone, or to to the Google play store to make sure installed at latest version

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead&hl=en_GB&gl=US&referrer=utm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_term%3Dandroid+auto+android+8

I have 3 yr old Samsung that has android 11 and works fine. Yet to get it to connect wirelessly.
Older phone, older Android version could well be freezing up.
I get black screen for a few seconds before it appears on car display. Once you plug in ish cable do you see the connect smart phone icon change to a.auto?

[Neil Ives]

After posting my question I had another try. The icon changes on the car display, I was even able to open Google maps briefly but the screen went black and when it came back the icon had reverted back to the Smart Phone connection icon. I was within range of my home WiFi, so the phone had access to data from both WiFi and 4G do you think that might be a problem?

[Steve P]

I think your problem is a commutations issue between the phone and car, rather than a data issue.

Have you enabled USB debugging on your phone ?

https://joyofandroid.com/how-to-enable-usb-debugging-on-android/

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will post, but that's where I'd be looking.

When there have a look for USB options, if there's one for MTP ( Media Transfer Protocol ) have that enabled.

[nowster]

Android 8 (Oreo) is ancient nowadays, dating back to 2017.

[Neil Ives]

Android 8 (Oreo) is ancient nowadays, dating back to 2017.

I bought a cheap smart phone mainly to use in the car. My normal phone is a simple PAYG jobbie. I don't need a smart phone enough to warrant spending hundreds of pounds on it.

Android Auto is installed on the phone.

[Kremmen]

I don't use Android Auto on my MY22 so I can't help.

I prefer to have a music USB stick in the relevant port instead.

[Mellorshark]

I have a Galaxy S7 with Android 8. Android Auto works fine.

[Neil Ives]

I have a Galaxy S7 with Android 8. Android Auto works fine.

Good news. Please will you take me through your actions to connect?

[Neil Ives]

After connecting I'm seeing the Android Auto icon on my cars screen but the screen soon goes black, (crashing?) and when the screen reappears the AA icon has gone.

[Kremmen]

Have you got access to another more recent phone to try and see which side is failing ?

AA has been updated many times and even though the headunit is Android 8 it might require a newer AA version.

On my Galaxy S10 AA isn't an app anymore but built in.

Edit: Just been looking at the manual and it does say Android 9 and before should work with the AA app. Does the AA app have all permissions enabled ?

Also, try another USB cable, some are wired for charging only and some are charging and data transfer.

The manual says the cable should be USB-IF compliant.

[Neil Ives]

.

[Neil Ives]

Have you got access to another more recent phone to try and see which side is failing ?

No I do not. My son has an iPhone. It might be useful to try that.

AA has been updated many times and even though the headunit is Android 8 it might require a newer AA version.

Are you saying that I might be able to update the car software? I have installed the latest version of AA on the phone.

Edit: Just been looking at the manual and it does say Android 9 and before should work with the AA app. Does the AA app have all permissions enabled ?

As far as I can tell.

Also, try another USB cable, some are wired for charging only and some are charging and data transfer.
The manual says the cable should be USB-IF compliant.

I don't think it can be the cable because I am getting some success; see this video :

[Bristol_Crosstar]

I would definitely try another cable, it may be wired correctly by have a loose connection somewhere. At least then you will have eliminated that element of the issue.

I generally start Android Auto on the phone before plugging into the car and I always have data switched on rather than using wifi. After a few seconds the button icon on the screen changes to "Android Auto" and you should be ok.