2019+ Android Auto

Android Auto

For anyone who is experiencing problems with the latest Android Auto and Pie, I have found a temporary solution. I have tried all the tricks mentioned, developer mode, new cable, turning on and off BT/Wifi, etc. Nothing worked except when I plugged a non-powered USB hub into the vehicle and plugged my phone into the hub. It then recognized the hub, and let me finally select the AA app (was always grayed out before). Google Maps seems to work, but when I tried Waze the map would not load. Since I just got this working this morning, I haven't had time to look into it further or test over a long period of time to see if it drops out. I am just happy to finally see it at least recognize my phone. The hub I tried was a Monoprice Aquamini Usb hub (https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=6631) although this is probably only a temporary fix until I find a smaller one that works or Subaru fixes their USB communications. (My Essentials PH-1 works without this in KIA and Hyundai SUVs that I have rented in the past)

UPDATE: I switched to a $10 Targus USB 2.0 Hub Model ACH214 and Waze is now working. I have a feeling that most USB 2.0 hubs will resolve the issue. I just picked the smallest one that I could find that would fit in the cubby hole.

I picked up a 2019 Touring the first month it came out, and the Android Auto worked on my way home from the dealership, but then only connected 25% of the time for the next month or two. I couldn't isolate the reason for the apparent fix (perhaps Android OS update on my LGV30 phone?), but it mostly works now. It now connects 75% of the time. It really doesn't like to be un-plugged and re-connected mid-drive, but perhaps this is on purpose for a "safety" feature to discourage plugging in phones while driving?

The infotainment safety lockouts while driving really irritate me.

My biggest gripe so far though is Waze for 2 reasons:

1) I can't figure out how to end a Waze ride from the Subaru Android Auto screen...this feature appears to be missing from the AA, and so I have to fiddle with my phone to open Waze from there in order to end a ride and stop getting direction re-calculations if I decide to go somewhere else.

2) While driving with Waze on AA, you can't search for a Gas/Food/etc. destination and get the "X Minutes / Miles Off-Route" list that you can do from the phone app. This feature on the phone version lets you search for a restaurant or other business and gives you a list of all of them along your route and sorts it by the one that will take you the shortest detour off your route rather than just going to the nearest one which could be a few more streets of extra driving off your route than another one more toward your final destination. Losing this on the Subaru AA app is insanely inconvenient compared to using it on the phone app.

I have found that on occasion (maybe 1 or 2 times a month), Android Auto won't connect (stays grayed-out in the Apps screen) or loses connection mid-journey. Checking the cable or trying a different one doesn't resolve. What resolves it is a full re-boot of the Starlink Infotainment system. This can be done even while driving and takes under 30 seconds to resolve.

To reboot -- press and hold the Power/Volume button in for 10 full seconds. Note that after 4 seconds, the screen will turn off -- keep holding for another 6+ seconds until you see the screen flicker and turn off again. Then wait a few seconds for the Starlink logo and press the Apps button to turn the screen on. Plug in your USB cable and Android Auto will start working again. If that doesn't work, also try rebooting your phone. I have 100% success rate with this.

Given all of the variables of the phone's operating system, data cable integrity, and complexity of Starlink O/S, I'm actually impressed it works so well and am somewhat forgiving when minor glitches like this happen. Works great 99% of the time.

I had android auto working quite well and then about a week ago it just crapped out.

I've tried:
- factory reset of starlink system
- rebooting phone, toggling wifi, bluetooth, etc. multiple times.
- turning car off and on, and getting out, shutting the door, and getting back in.
- deleting Android Auto app from my phone and installing older versions (2 older versions tried so far)

It was a buggy system before, and would stop working every now and then, but usually a phone reboot and vehicle on/off cycle would get it back working. I really like it, so I hope I can get it working again!

I will try next, some combination of:
- a few more older versions of the app
- the usb 2.0 hub trick
- a new usb cable
- holding radio power knob down to just reboot the starlink system

Also, my bluetooth has never worked well. The audio jsut cuts out intermittently, especially if I also have it plugged in via usb while on bluetooth (and not android auto). Usually toggling airplane mode and disconnecting the usb will keep the audio from cutting out, at least for a while, but it usually starts doing so again. I like to listen to stuff on youtube (premium, with the screen off), but turnign the screen off also seems to make the bluetooth audio go haywire. Don't really want to waste battery by playing audio from videos without the phone charging!