How to Disable Android Auto: On Your Phone, in Your Car, or for Good

Short answer

• To stop Android Auto from opening every time you plug in, open Android Auto settings on your phone and set Start Android Auto automatically to If used on the last drive. That is the quickest fix for most people, and it leaves Android Auto available when you want it.
• To stop it completely, do two things: forget your cars in Previously connected cars, then disable the app in Settings, Apps, Android Auto, Disable. On phones running Android 10 or later, Android Auto is built into the system, so you can disable it but you cannot uninstall it. Google's own help pages state that Android Auto is integrated into phones and does not need to be downloaded.
• To stop it in one car only, turn Android Auto off in that car's infotainment settings, or forget just that car on your phone. Your other cars are not affected.
• To stop a single trip from starting it, unplug the USB cable or turn off Bluetooth for a wireless connection. Disabling Android Auto does not turn off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or mobile data, and your phone still charges when plugged in.
• Change these settings while the car is parked. The steps in this guide were checked against Google, Samsung, and Lincoln support pages on 12 November 2026, and menu names can differ by phone brand and Android version, so the guide gives the Settings search route as a fallback throughout.

1. First, Decide What “Disable” Means for You

“Disable Android Auto” can mean four different things, and each one needs a different fix. Picking the wrong one is why so many people report that Android Auto “keeps coming back.” Use this table to find your row, then jump to the section it names.

A second distinction matters before you change anything. Android Auto is not the same thing as Bluetooth. Bluetooth handles hands-free calls and audio streaming, and it is also the way a wireless Android Auto connection first pairs with the car. Android Auto is the separate system that puts navigation, messages, and music apps on the car screen. Turning off Android Auto does not turn off Bluetooth, and turning off Bluetooth does not remove Android Auto from your phone. It only stops the wireless connection. Our guide to when Bluetooth came out explains how the short range wireless standard behind that pairing developed, and why it still sits underneath most car connections.

Android Auto launched in 2015, according to the RAC, and it is now offered in almost every new car on sale. A few brands are exceptions: the RAC notes that Tesla and Rivian have never offered Android Auto in any of their cars, and that General Motors is phasing it out in favor of its own system. If your car is one of those, there is nothing to disable, because Android Auto was never there.

2. Stop Android Auto From Starting on Its Own

This is the fix most people actually want. Android Auto is useful on a long drive and a nuisance on a short one, when you only plugged the phone in to charge it. The auto-start setting controls that behavior without removing anything.

Find the Android Auto settings

Menu names differ by phone brand and Android version, so use the search route first:

1. Open Settings on your phone.
2. Tap the search bar at the top of Settings and type Android Auto.
3. Tap the Android Auto result.

On a Pixel or a phone running stock Android, the result usually sits under Connected devices, Connection preferences, Android Auto. On a Samsung Galaxy phone, it usually sits under Connected devices, Android Auto. Section 5 covers Samsung in detail. If the search finds nothing, the app may be disabled already, which means it cannot start, and section 4 explains how to check.

Change the auto-start setting

Inside Android Auto settings, look for Start Android Auto automatically. Independent guides report the same three choices consistently, and this guide uses their wording because Google’s own help pages do not list the menu labels:

• Always. Android Auto starts every time the phone connects to a compatible car.
• If used on the last drive. Android Auto starts only if it was running on your previous drive in that car. If you did not use it last time, it stays off.
• Default (set by the vehicle). The car decides, using its own infotainment setting.

Choose If used on the last drive. That single change stops the most common complaint, which is Android Auto opening on a two minute drive to the store when you only wanted to charge the phone. The same guides report that current versions offer no “Never” option here, so if you want Android Auto gone entirely, this setting alone is not enough. You need sections 3 and 4 as well.

Turn off starting while locked

In the same settings screen, look for Start Android Auto while locked. Turning this off means Android Auto will not start until you unlock the phone. It is a useful extra step if the phone keeps launching Android Auto from your pocket or bag, and it costs nothing, because unlocking the phone is one tap when you do want to drive with it. As with the auto-start choices above, the exact label can differ by phone and version, and the setting may not appear on every phone. If it is not there, skip it. The auto-start change is the one that matters.

3. Forget One Car, or Forget Every Car

Forgetting a car removes it from the list of vehicles your phone remembers. Android Auto cannot start with a car it does not recognize, so this is the most reliable way to stop it connecting to a particular car, and the necessary first step before disabling the app completely.

Google documents this path in its Android Auto troubleshooting guidance, and the RAC quotes the steps directly from Google. The path is:

1. Unplug the phone from the car, or turn off Bluetooth if the connection is wireless.
2. Open Settings, then Connected devices, then Connection preferences, then Android Auto.
3. Tap Previously connected cars.
4. To forget one car, tap that car and choose Forget. To forget every car, tap the three dot menu in the top right and choose Forget all cars.
5. If you also want to remove the Bluetooth link for calls and music, go to Settings, Connected devices, tap the gear icon next to the car, and choose Forget or Unpair. Samsung phones call this Unpair.

Menu names vary by phone and Android version. On some phones you need to tap Additional settings inside Android Auto settings before Previously connected cars appears. If the path above does not match your phone, search Settings for Android Auto and look for the previously connected cars entry from there.

Forgetting a car does not delete any app, message, or setting from your phone. It only removes the saved link between the phone and that car. To use Android Auto with the car again, plug the phone in or pair it over Bluetooth and go through the setup screens once more. Google’s setup page notes that the first wireless connection pairs through Bluetooth, and that Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Location Services should stay on while you complete setup, so keep that in mind if you ever set the car up again.

Forget one car when you sell a car, return a rental, or share a car with someone who uses Android Auto and you do not. Forget all cars when you want Android Auto off the phone entirely, or when a connection keeps failing and you want a clean start. Google’s own troubleshooting guidance gives this same reset for a second car that will not connect: clear the remembered cars, then set the car up again from scratch.

4. Disable the Android Auto App on Your Phone

Disabling the app is the thorough fix. It stops Android Auto from responding to any connection, wired or wireless, until you turn it back on. It does not delete the app, and it does not delete your maps, messages, music, or contacts. It only puts Android Auto to sleep.

The standard steps

1. Open Settings on your phone.
2. Tap Apps, then See all apps.
3. Find Android Auto in the list. If it is missing, tap the three dot menu and choose Show system apps, because Android Auto is a system app on most modern phones.
4. Tap Disable, then confirm by tapping Disable app.

To turn it back on later, follow the same path and tap Enable. Section 11 covers that in full.

Why you cannot uninstall it on most phones

On phones running Android 10 or later, Android Auto is built into the operating system. The RAC states this directly, and Google’s help pages say the same thing in their own words: Android Auto is integrated into phones and you do not need to download it. That means there is no Uninstall button for it, only Disable. This is not a fault, and no setting changes it.

On older phones running Android 9 or earlier, Android Auto was a separate app from the Play Store, and those phones may still offer an Uninstall option. If your phone offers Uninstall, that removes the app entirely. If it offers only Disable, use Disable.

There is one related version point worth stating plainly, because Google’s own pages and the phone makers’ pages do not agree on it. Google’s current troubleshooting page says to use a phone running Android 11.0 and up with a data plan. Samsung’s United States support page and Lincoln’s support page still say Android 8.0 and up with a data plan. The practical meaning for this guide is simple: if your phone runs Android 10 or later, treat Android Auto as built in, and expect Disable rather than Uninstall. The steps in this guide do not depend on which of those version numbers your phone shows.

If Disable is grayed out

On some phones the Disable button is grayed out until the app is returned to its factory version. Independent guides report the same workaround consistently:

1. On the Android Auto app info screen, tap the three dot menu in the top right.
2. Tap Uninstall updates.
3. Go back to the app info screen and tap Disable.

Uninstalling updates removes only the updates Android Auto has received, not the app itself and not your data. After that, Disable should be available. If Disable is still grayed out after uninstalling updates, combine the auto-start change in section 2 with forgetting all cars in section 3. Together, those two steps stop Android Auto from opening, even though the app itself stays enabled. That combination is also the answer when a phone maker or carrier has locked the Disable button entirely, which happens on a small number of phones.

5. On a Samsung Galaxy Phone

Samsung puts Android Auto in a different place from most other Android phones, and it also has its own USB connection mode that decides whether Android Auto can start at all. Both are worth knowing.

Find the settings

Samsung’s own support pages confirm that the Connected devices menu holds Android Auto on Galaxy phones running Android 13 (One UI 5) or later. Open Settings, tap Connected devices, then tap Android Auto. From there you can change the auto-start setting and open Previously connected cars, exactly as in sections 2 and 3. On older Galaxy phones, look under Advanced features instead, or search Settings for Android Auto, which is the fastest route on any Galaxy model.

To disable the app completely, use the standard path from section 4: Settings, Apps, Android Auto, Disable. If Android Auto does not appear in the app list, tap the three dot menu and choose Show system apps first.

Check the USB mode

This is the Samsung-specific step that catches the most people. When you plug a Galaxy phone into a car with a USB cable, the phone asks what the connection is for. Samsung’s United States support page gives the exact step: swipe down to open the Quick panel, tap the USB charging notification, then tap Transferring files / Android Auto. Android Auto only starts when that mode is selected. If the phone is set to charging only, it charges from the car and Android Auto stays off.

That gives you a deliberate way to charge without Android Auto on a Samsung phone: plug in, open the USB notification, and leave it on charging only. Section 10 covers charging without Android Auto in more detail.

Two more Samsung details, both from Samsung’s own support pages. First, use a high quality USB cable, preferably the one that came with the phone, and avoid USB hubs and cable extensions. Second, Samsung’s United Kingdom support page states that the phone needs an active data plan and 5 GHz Wi-Fi support for wireless Android Auto, and that you can check for 5 GHz support under Settings, Connections, Mobile Hotspot and Tethering, Mobile Hotspot, Configure, Band. If your Galaxy phone is an older model without 5 GHz Wi-Fi, wireless Android Auto may not be available to it at all, and only the wired connection will work.

6. On a Pixel or Stock Android Phone

On a Pixel or a phone running stock Android, the path is the one Google documents. Open Settings, tap Connected devices, then Connection preferences, then Android Auto. The auto-start setting and Previously connected cars are both there.

To disable the app, use Settings, Apps, See all apps, Android Auto, Disable. On a Pixel, Android Auto is a system app, so if it does not appear in the app list, tap the three dot menu and choose Show system apps. If Disable is grayed out, uninstall updates from the three dot menu first, as described in section 4.

One Pixel-specific habit is worth noting. Pixel phones tend to apply Android Auto updates through the Play Store even though the app is built in, so after a major Android update, check that your auto-start setting is still the one you chose. Updates do not normally reset it, but the setting is the first thing to check if Android Auto suddenly starts opening on its own again after an update. Section 12 has the full checklist for that situation.

7. Stop Wireless Android Auto but Keep Wired Working

Some people like Android Auto on a long drive with a cable, and hate it starting by itself every time they sit in the car with the phone in their pocket. That is a wireless problem, not an Android Auto problem, and it has a wireless fix.

Wireless Android Auto connects in two stages. Google’s setup page states that the first wireless connection pairs through Bluetooth, and Samsung’s support pages confirm that the phone needs 5 GHz Wi-Fi support for the wireless connection. Bluetooth makes the introduction, and Wi-Fi carries the connection to the car screen. Breaking either stage stops wireless Android Auto, while the wired connection keeps working.

The simplest method is to turn off Bluetooth before you get in the car. Swipe down for the Quick settings panel and tap Bluetooth off. Android Auto cannot start wirelessly without it. Turn Bluetooth back on when you want it again. This also stops hands-free calls and Bluetooth audio for that trip, so it is a blunt tool. Use it when you only want to charge the phone.

The precise method is to forget the car’s Bluetooth pairing while leaving Android Auto itself alone:

1. Open Settings, Connected devices on the phone.
2. Tap the gear icon next to the car’s name.
3. Choose Forget or Unpair.

The car will no longer connect wirelessly, but plugging in with a USB cable still starts Android Auto, because the wired connection does not need the Bluetooth pairing. To restore wireless later, pair the phone and car over Bluetooth again and go through the Android Auto setup screens. For the background on how Bluetooth pairing works and why it persists between drives, see our guide to when Bluetooth came out.

A third option is to turn off Wi-Fi on the phone before driving. Without Wi-Fi, the wireless projection has no data connection, so Android Auto will not start wirelessly even though Bluetooth is on. This keeps Bluetooth calls and audio working, which the Bluetooth-off method does not. It is less reliable than forgetting the pairing, because the phone may reconnect to Wi-Fi automatically, but it is useful as a quick test to confirm that the wireless connection is the one starting Android Auto.

8. Disable Android Auto From the Car

Sometimes the phone is not the right place to make the change. If several people drive the same car, or the phone belongs to someone else, turning Android Auto off in the car itself is cleaner, because it affects every phone that connects to that car.

Google’s own troubleshooting page lists this as a check in its own right: make sure Android Auto is turned on in your car’s infotainment system, which means the setting exists there to be turned off. The exact menu differs by car maker, so look under Settings, Connections, Smartphone Integration, or Android Auto on the infotainment screen. Your owner’s manual will give the exact path for your model. In general, you are looking for one of three things: an Android Auto on/off toggle, a list of connected phones with an enable or disable option per phone, or a Forget device or Delete device option that removes your phone from the car.

Lincoln’s support pages give a complete example of how this looks in practice, and the steps below are taken from them directly:

• Lincoln Digital Experience. Press the apps drawer icon (six dots) on the vehicle screen, tap Settings, select Bluetooth, find the device, and select the Android Auto button.
• SYNC 4. Select Phone on the SYNC screen, press Phone List, select your phone, then press Disconnect to disable Android Auto, or Connect Android Auto to enable it.
• SYNC 3. Select Settings, swipe to Android Auto Preferences, choose your phone from the list, press Enable, then select Disable from the options shown.

Lincoln’s page also states the device requirements it still lists: an Android device running Android 8.0 and up with a data plan. That is the older figure discussed in section 4, and it is a reminder to trust your phone’s own settings over a car maker’s page when the two disagree.

Two cautions apply to the car-side method. First, some cars reset the Android Auto setting after an infotainment software update, so check it again after the car is serviced. Second, deleting your phone from the car’s device list also removes the Bluetooth pairing for calls and music, not just Android Auto. If you want to keep hands-free calling but stop Android Auto, use the phone-side forget in section 3 instead, which removes only the Android Auto link, and leave the Bluetooth pairing in place.

9. What Stops Working, and What Keeps Working

Disabling Android Auto changes less than most people expect, and it helps to know the boundary before you do it.

What stops

• Android Auto no longer appears on the car screen, and it no longer starts when you plug the phone in or sit in the car.
• Navigation apps, messages, and music apps no longer project to the car display through Android Auto. You can still use them on the phone itself.
• Voice commands through Android Auto stop. Saying “Hey Google” in the car will no longer route through Android Auto, although the Google Assistant on the phone itself still works when you pick the phone up.
• The car no longer reads your messages aloud or shows them on its screen through Android Auto.

What keeps working

• Bluetooth hands-free calling and Bluetooth audio keep working, as long as you did not also delete the Bluetooth pairing. Disabling the Android Auto app does not touch Bluetooth at all.
• Your phone keeps charging from the car’s USB port. Charging is a function of the cable and the port, not of Android Auto.
• Navigation on the phone itself keeps working. Google Maps and Waze run on the phone exactly as they do outside the car. For the background on how the phone knows where it is, see our guide to what GPS stands for.
• The car’s own built-in navigation, radio, and infotainment system keep working. Disabling Android Auto on the phone does not change anything in the car.
• Mobile data keeps working. Android Auto uses your data plan while it runs, which is one reason some people disable it, and turning it off does not turn off mobile data. If your phone shows a 5G UC icon and you are unsure what it means for your connection, see our guide to what 5G UC means.
• Messages keep arriving on the phone. They simply stop appearing on the car screen. If you are unsure what a message status means when it arrives, our guide to sent as a text message meaning explains the wording on iPhone and Android.

One thing that does not change is safety. Disabling Android Auto does not disable any safety feature of the car, and it does not disable emergency calling. If you want to keep using your phone hands-free in the car without Android Auto, the Bluetooth pairing alone gives you calls and audio, which is the setup many drivers used before Android Auto existed.

10. Charge Your Phone Without Starting Android Auto

This is the single most searched variation of this problem, and it has the simplest answer: Android Auto needs a data connection to start, and charging does not. Give the phone power without data, and it charges quietly.

Use a charge-only cable

A charge-only cable carries power but no data, so the car sees a device that wants charging and nothing else. These cables are sold as charge-only or power-only cables. Plug in with one, and Android Auto cannot start, because the phone and car never exchange data. Keep one in the car if this is a daily annoyance. Mark it, or keep it in a different place from your data cables, because the two look identical.

Set the USB mode to charging only

If you only have a normal data cable, change what the phone does with it. On a Samsung Galaxy phone, plug in, swipe down to open the Quick panel, tap the USB charging notification, and leave the mode on charging only instead of choosing Transferring files / Android Auto. Samsung’s own support page documents that choice, and the logic runs the other way too: Android Auto only starts when the data mode is selected. On other Android phones the same choice appears as a USB notification with options such as Charging this device, Transferring files, or Android Auto. Choose charging only.

Use a charge-only USB port

Many cars have more than one USB port, and they are not all the same. One port, usually marked with a phone or data symbol, is the Android Auto port. Another, often in the back seat or marked only with a battery symbol, may be charge-only. Try the other port. If Android Auto does not start from it, you have found a charge-only port. Your owner’s manual will say which port does what, and it is worth checking, because the port layout differs by model.

A note on cable quality

Google’s troubleshooting page gives specific cable advice that is worth following even when you do want Android Auto to work: use a cable under 3 feet (1 meter) long, use a high quality cable, and do not use USB hubs or cable extensions. A worn or overlong cable is the most common cause of Android Auto connecting and then dropping, and it is also the most common cause of a phone that charges slowly in the car. If Android Auto starts and then stops, or the phone charges slowly, try the cable that came with the phone before changing any setting.

11. How to Turn Android Auto Back On

Every method in this guide is reversible, and turning Android Auto back on is the same steps in reverse.

If you only changed the auto-start setting, open Android Auto settings and set Start Android Auto automatically back to Always.

If you forgot a car, plug the phone into the car with a USB cable, or pair it over Bluetooth for a wireless connection, and follow the setup screens. Google’s setup page advises parking with the infotainment system on and allowing time for setup before you start driving, and keeping Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Location Services on while you complete it.

If you disabled the app, open Settings, Apps, See all apps, Android Auto, and tap Enable. If Android Auto does not appear in the list, tap the three dot menu and choose Show system apps. After enabling, you may also need to forget and re-add the car, because the saved car list can go stale while the app is disabled. Section 3 covers that step.

If you turned Android Auto off in the car, go back to the same infotainment menu and turn it on again, or re-add your phone to the car’s device list. On a Lincoln with SYNC 4, that is Phone, Phone List, then Connect Android Auto. On SYNC 3, it is Settings, Android Auto Preferences, then Enable.

If Android Auto still does not start after you have reversed the change, work through the checklist in section 12. The most common cause is a second setting you changed at the same time and forgot about, usually the Bluetooth pairing or the USB mode.

12. It Keeps Starting Anyway: The Checklist

If you have changed the settings and Android Auto still opens when you plug in, work through this list in order. Do not change two things at once, or you will not know which one fixed it.

1. Check the auto-start setting again. Open Android Auto settings and confirm Start Android Auto automatically is set to If used on the last drive, not Always. Check it after every major Android update, because updates can reset settings.
2. Check whether you forgot the right car. Open Previously connected cars and confirm the car you are sitting in is not listed. If it is listed, forget it. Some cars appear twice, once for the wired connection and once for wireless, so forget both entries.
3. Check the car side. Open the car’s infotainment settings and confirm Android Auto is off for your phone. Some cars keep a per-phone setting that overrides the phone, and some reset it after a software update.
4. Check the USB mode. On a Samsung phone, the USB notification must not be set to Transferring files / Android Auto. On other phones, check that the USB mode is charging only.
5. Check the cable and port. Try a different cable, preferably the one that came with the phone, and a different USB port. A faulty cable can cause Android Auto to start, drop, and start again, which looks like the setting is being ignored.
6. Check for a second phone. If another phone in the car has Android Auto enabled and is paired to the car, the car may be starting Android Auto with that phone, not yours. Turn off Bluetooth on the other phone, or forget it from the car’s device list.
7. Check the app is actually disabled. Open Settings, Apps, Android Auto and confirm it says Disabled or shows an Enable button rather than a Disable button. If it shows Disable, the app is still enabled, and your earlier tap did not register.
8. Check Bluetooth itself. If the wireless connection keeps starting, forget the car’s Bluetooth pairing entirely, as described in section 7. If Bluetooth on the phone or in the car behaves oddly in general, the same forget and re-pair sequence used for computer Bluetooth faults applies here too, and our guides to Bluetooth radio driver errors and PC Bluetooth not working describe that sequence in detail. Both are Wave 113 articles in the same production batch as this one, so confirm they are live before relying on these two links at build time.

If none of these steps stops it, the cause is usually the car rather than the phone. Some cars and aftermarket head units have their own auto-start behavior that no phone setting overrides, and the only fix is the car-side toggle in section 8, or a firmware update from the car maker or the head unit maker. Google’s troubleshooting page says the same thing in plainer terms: if the car is not compatible, or its software is out of date, contact the vehicle manufacturer.

13. Android Auto Is Not the Same as Android Automotive

This distinction causes real confusion, and it decides whether the steps in this guide can work for you at all.

Android Auto runs on your phone and projects apps to the car’s screen. It needs a phone, a cable or Bluetooth, and a compatible car. Everything in this guide applies to it.

Android Automotive OS is a different thing entirely. It is a standalone operating system built into the car itself, and it does not need a phone at all. The RAC explains the difference directly: Android Automotive is used by car makers that preferred buying into a technology company’s in-car system rather than building their own. If your car runs Android Automotive, with or without Google’s Automotive Services, disabling Android Auto on your phone will not change what the car screen shows, because the car is running its own system, not projecting your phone. In that case, look for the car’s own app settings on the infotainment screen, and check the owner’s manual for how to sign out of or disable the built-in apps.

Most cars on the road today use Android Auto with a phone, not Android Automotive, so for most readers this section is a footnote. It matters if you drive a newer Polestar, Volvo, or Renault, or certain General Motors models, where the built-in system is the default. If you are unsure which one your car has, the owner’s manual will say, and the presence of a Google Play Store on the car screen itself is a strong sign of Android Automotive rather than Android Auto.

FAQ

Can I disable Android Auto on just one car and keep it on another?

Yes. Forget just that car in Previously connected cars, or turn Android Auto off for your phone in that car’s infotainment settings. Your other cars are not affected, and Android Auto will keep working with them exactly as before.

Will disabling Android Auto delete my apps, messages, or maps?

No. Disabling the app only stops it from running. Your apps, messages, contacts, and maps stay on the phone, and they reappear in full when you enable the app again. Forgetting a car only removes the saved link to that car, not any of your data.

Can I uninstall Android Auto completely?

On phones running Android 10 or later, no. Android Auto is built into the operating system, so the only options are Disable and, from the three dot menu, Uninstall updates. On older phones where Android Auto was installed from the Play Store, an Uninstall option may still be available. Disabling it has the same practical effect as uninstalling it: it cannot run, and it will not start when you plug the phone in.

Why does Android Auto start every time I plug in my phone to charge?

Because the default auto-start setting is Always, and plugging in with a data cable is the trigger. Change Start Android Auto automatically to If used on the last drive, or charge with a charge-only cable or a charge-only USB port. On a Samsung phone, leaving the USB mode on charging only instead of Transferring files / Android Auto has the same effect.

Does disabling Android Auto turn off Bluetooth?

No. Bluetooth is a separate setting, and disabling Android Auto does not change it. Hands-free calls and Bluetooth audio keep working. If you want wireless Android Auto to stop but Bluetooth calls to keep working, forget the car in Previously connected cars and leave the Bluetooth pairing in place. If you turn Bluetooth off yourself, wireless Android Auto stops too, but so do hands-free calls.

Will Android Auto come back after a phone update?

It can. Major Android updates sometimes reset app settings, and Android Auto updates arrive through the Play Store even though the app is built in. If Android Auto starts opening on its own again after an update, check the auto-start setting first, then check Previously connected cars, then check the car-side setting. Section 12 has the full checklist.

Is it safe to disable Android Auto while driving?

Change the settings while the car is parked. Disabling Android Auto does not disable any safety feature of the car, and it does not disable emergency calling, but changing settings on the phone or the infotainment screen while driving is a distraction. If Android Auto starts during a drive and you want it off, wait until you are parked, or ask a passenger to change the setting. For a single trip, simply unplug the cable.

Sources & references

• Google Android Auto Help, "Set up Android Auto", support.google.com/androidauto/answer/6348029. Android Auto is integrated into phones and does not need to be downloaded; the first wireless connection pairs through Bluetooth; Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Location Services should stay on during setup; the car should be in park with the infotainment system on. Read 12 November 2026.
• Google Android Auto Help, "My Android Auto app isn't working", support.google.com/androidauto/answer/6348190. Android Auto is built into the phone and no separate app install is needed; the current page states a phone running Android 11.0 and up with a data plan; a high quality USB cable under 3 feet (1 meter) long, no USB hubs or cable extensions; check that Android Auto is turned on in the car's infotainment system; the page's final section covers a second car that will not connect. Read 12 November 2026.
• Samsung Support (United States), "Unable to connect Galaxy phone to a car", samsung.com/us/support/troubleshoot/TSG10001557. USB connection steps including the Quick panel USB notification and the "Transferring files / Android Auto" mode; high quality cable, different USB port, no hubs or extensions; Android Auto compatible with phones running Android 8.0 and later with a data plan; Bluetooth pairing steps. Read 12 November 2026.
• Samsung Support (United Kingdom), "What to do if Android Auto is not working on your Galaxy device", samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/what-to-do-if-android-auto-is-not-working-on-your-galaxy-device. Updated 7 October 2026. Check that Android Auto is switched on in the vehicle's settings; phone running Android OS 8.0 or higher; active data plan and 5 GHz Wi-Fi support for wireless Android Auto. Read 12 November 2026.
• Samsung Support, "How to connect your Samsung Galaxy device to other devices", samsung.com/ae/support/mobile-devices/how-to-connect-your-galaxy-device-to-other-devices-using-connected-devices. The Connected devices menu on Galaxy phones running Android 13 (One UI 5) or later, and Android Auto listed among its features. Read 12 November 2026.
• Lincoln Support, "How does Android Auto work with my Lincoln?", lincoln.com/support/how-tos/sync/getting-started-with-sync/how-does-android-auto-work-with-my-lincoln. Enabling and disabling Android Auto on Lincoln Digital Experience, SYNC 4, and SYNC 3; device requirement stated as Android 8.0 and up with a data plan; wireless Android Auto requires a compatible Android 11.0+ phone and data plan. Read 12 November 2026.
• RAC, "What is Android Auto? Everything you need to know", rac.co.uk/drive/advice/know-how/what-is-android-auto. Updated 23 April 2026. Android Auto first launched in 2015; phones running Android 10 and onwards have Android Auto built in; the Forget all cars steps quoted from Google's troubleshooting guidance; turning Android Auto off through the app settings; Android Auto versus Android Automotive OS; Tesla and Rivian never offering Android Auto, General Motors phasing it out. Read 12 November 2026.