[SOLVED] Using Android Auto without USB-line + Wireless connection (2022 Hybrid)

[emp]

i went shopping and it was working great, no problems at all.  I often was having problems with my data cable over the past weeks.  When the mobile signal disappears I could imagine that it stops connecting. In theory it should start back up automatically. Will test this the coming days.

Just asked Google AI and it says that with Android Auto the Bluetooth is only used to make the handshake between the car and the phone and that Wifi takes over from there. Will check that tomorrow if a Wifi-network is added in my phone.

I find it strange that we have to go into this "diagnostics" window to enable wireless for Android Auto. At the same time for the Apple it is enabled by default. What is the reason for this? Anyone know?  OK I asked AI    there are multiple reasons for it

[sebastiand]

I guess wireless android auto is still kind on beta maybe just on the Honda side, no idea...

One thing that I also noticed is that android auto doesn't seem to pass the internet to the car (it only passes the internet to the android auto applications).
So if you need to do something in the car that uses internet (like the "check for updates button") you need to disable android auto and host a wifi hotspot and change the car internet connection from android auto to wifi

Sent from my Pixel 9 using Tapatalk

[Kremmen]

In my case, I initially tried AA wireless. Once started, the connection would take between 10 to 60 seconds, if it connected. I would say mine had a 60% connection success rate. Once connected though it never failed during that journey

That meant I couldn't start driving until it had connected in case it failed. If it did fail I had to restart the car, or phone, or both to get it to try again, it was a pain

After about a year I switched to cable and it connected 100% and it had connected before the startup nag screen had finished

I'm puzzled why some have wired connection issues, unless it's a phone compatibility problem. In my case my 100% success was a Samsung S10 then a 23+

[emp]

I have in Settings, Apps, Android Auto, set that it (Android Auto) can use the battery unrestricted. I read this could possibly give connection problems. When it switches to battery savings.

Not sure about the cable. I read that it is really picky about the data cable itself. Also I have been using that cable for many years since I had an aftermarket Android system in my former car. The last few weeks it was getting worse.

wireless:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3Rz5qd6G6Zw

this is what google AI has to say about it (I do not know if it is true or not):

Wireless Android Auto is often hidden in European Honda models like the Jazz because Honda officially only licensed and advertised wireless Apple CarPlay for this region, while limiting Android Auto to wired connections.

The feature remains built into the head unit's underlying Android-based software but requires manual activation via the hidden "Engineering Mode" (or Diagnostics Menu) for several reasons:

Regional Licensing & Marketing: Honda often tailors its infotainment marketing to specific regions. Wireless CarPlay is frequently prioritized, leaving Android Auto locked to the USB profile.

Platform Fragmentation: Unlike Apple's strictly controlled ecosystem, the Android ecosystem has massive device fragmentation. Leaving it hidden acts as a "testing" safeguard for manufacturers against the endless variety of Android phone hardware combinations, which can be prone to intermittent connection drops.

Support & Warranty: By disabling the feature by default, car manufacturers avoid being swamped with customer service claims regarding lag, battery drain, or pairing issues caused by individual user phones.

[nowster]

For me the first system update fixed most of the connection problems. (ie. Improving the success rate of AA connecting wirelessly from one in five to about five in six.)

It occasionally gets so bad I factory reset the car's screen. It feels like after so long it will have filled up all the slots it can use for AA, and it refuses to do it wirelessly any more.

VPNs and existing WiFi connections will interfere. AA wireless uses Bluetooth for the setup, but the car itself sets up a 5GHz WiFi network called something like "Car-123", and AA chats over that.

And it's only Honda which is known for having a problem with wireless AA. I've been in other makes and it's been flawless.

[emp]

yes I checked yesterday, once the handshake is done via bluetooth it adds a Wifi network in your phone called "car-acab" (if I remember correctly). At least in my car. These last 4 characters possibly depend on the car.

Strange that you are having problems. Mine has been working flawlessly the past few days. And I am in an area with bad mobile signal.

I suggest asking these AI LLM's like google AI or chatgpt for suggestions. Like the apps that you are using should be given unrestricted battery access. Not sure how crucial this is. I have it set to unrestricted for the Android Auto App. But I also use an App called Audials Play for news and certain radio channels and I still had this set to "Optimized" for the battery access. And still it did not give any issues.

But I have a 2026 built car so not sure if my infotainment system has some updates

[stani]

The problem with Android Auto will probably still be there. I use CarPlay - no problems there.

[nowster]

But I have a 2026 built car so not sure if my infotainment system has some updates

2026 model cars will probably have a slightly newer release of Android running the console than the 2021 ones.

[emp]

i just checked in my car and it shows Android Auto version 8.1.0.  I checked if my system (firmware) is up to date, and it says it is up-to-date. So 8.1.0 is the version that Honda uses even though Android Auto on my phone is version 17.2 I think. Version 8.1.0 is however the version that is in my car and apparently it is the latest version Honda uses on the Jazz Mk4.

I am no expert how this works but according to google AI Honda made some AA updates between 2021 and 2026. They seem to adjust the Android Auto software to run on their infotainment system. Anyways in my case it works great.

[CB72]

Any problems with Android Auto, I switch to inbuilt SatNav for a short time and seems to correct any connection issues. I have a Samsung phone and mainly use wireless, I might plug in the cable for long journeys. USB cable is just an Amazon basic cable.