How to Fix Android Auto Bluetooth Not Working
Applies to
Android Auto, Android phones, Bluetooth pairing, wired Android Auto, wireless Android Auto, compatible cars, and compatible infotainment systems
Last updated
9 July 2026
Problem
Android Auto is not working properly because Bluetooth will not connect, keeps disconnecting, or does not handle calls and audio correctly. Your phone may connect to the car by USB, but calls do not work. Wireless Android Auto may also fail because the phone and car cannot complete the Bluetooth pairing stage.
Bluetooth is especially important for calls, initial wireless connection, contact access, and some car controls.
Solution
Remove the existing Bluetooth pairing from both your phone and car, restart both systems, then pair them again. After pairing, approve all permissions for calls, contacts, messages, and audio so Android Auto can work correctly.
Step by step instructions
Check Bluetooth is turned on
Open Settings on your Android phone.
Go to Bluetooth or Connected devices.
Make sure Bluetooth is switched on.
Then check your car infotainment system and make sure Bluetooth is enabled there as well.
If either side has Bluetooth turned off, Android Auto may not connect correctly.
Restart your phone and car
Turn Bluetooth off on your phone.
Restart the phone.
Turn the car off fully.
Open and close the driver door if needed so the infotainment system shuts down.
Start the car again.
Turn Bluetooth back on and try reconnecting.
This can clear temporary pairing problems.
Remove the old Bluetooth pairing from your phone
Open Settings on your Android phone.
Go to Bluetooth or Connected devices.
Find your car in the list of paired devices.
Tap the settings icon next to it.
Choose Forget, Unpair, or Remove.
This clears the old connection from the phone.
Remove the phone from your car
Open your car’s Bluetooth or connected devices menu.
Find your phone in the paired device list.
Delete or forget the phone.
If your car has several old phones saved, remove any you no longer use.
Too many stored devices can sometimes cause pairing confusion.
Pair the phone and car again
Put your car into Bluetooth pairing mode.
On your phone, open Bluetooth settings.
Search for available devices.
Select your car from the list.
Confirm the pairing code on both the phone and car screen.
Approve the connection.
Once paired, check that the car shows your phone as connected.
Approve call and contact permissions
After pairing, your phone may ask whether the car can access calls, contacts, messages, and notifications.
Allow the permissions needed for Android Auto.
These permissions help with:
- Hands-free calls
- Contact names
- Recent call lists
- Message alerts
- Voice replies
- Caller ID on the car screen
If these permissions are denied, Bluetooth may connect but Android Auto features may not work properly.
Check Bluetooth permissions for Android Auto
Open Settings on your Android phone.
Go to Apps.
Find Android Auto.
Open Permissions.
Make sure Bluetooth related permissions are allowed.
Also check permissions for:
- Phone
- Contacts
- Messages
- Google Maps
The exact permission names can vary depending on your phone and Android version.
Check Android Auto settings
Open Settings on your phone.
Search for Android Auto.
Open Android Auto settings.
Check Previously connected cars.
If your car is listed but Bluetooth still does not work, remove the car and set it up again.
This is especially useful if the car was previously connected but has stopped working after a phone update.
Check wireless Android Auto requirements
Wireless Android Auto normally uses Bluetooth to start the connection, then Wi-Fi for the main Android Auto session.
Make sure both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are turned on.
Do not disable Wi-Fi just because the phone is not connecting to a normal Wi-Fi network.
If Bluetooth works for calls but wireless Android Auto does not start, the issue may be with the wireless Android Auto setup rather than Bluetooth alone.
Test calls separately
Pair the phone with the car using Bluetooth.
Make a safe test call while parked.
Check whether:
- The call audio comes through the car speakers
- The microphone works
- The contact name appears
- Steering wheel call controls work
- The phone remains connected
If normal Bluetooth calls do not work, fix that first before troubleshooting Android Auto further.
Check media audio settings
Some phones allow separate Bluetooth controls for calls and media.
Open Bluetooth settings.
Tap the settings icon next to your car.
Check that call audio and media audio are enabled if available.
If call audio is off, hands-free calls may not work.
If media audio is off, music apps may not play through the car correctly.
Update your phone and apps
Open the Google Play Store.
Update:
- Android Auto
- Google Maps
- Google Play services
- Phone app
- Messages app
- Music apps used with Android Auto
Then check for phone system updates in Settings.
Restart the phone after updating.
Check for car infotainment updates
Some Bluetooth issues are caused by the car’s infotainment software.
Check your car manufacturer’s website, app, or dealer support page for updates.
Some cars can update over Wi-Fi, while others need a USB update or dealer visit.
If Bluetooth stopped working after a phone update, an infotainment update may help.
Test with another phone
If Bluetooth still does not work, try pairing another Android phone with the car.
If the second phone works, the issue is likely with your phone settings, Bluetooth profile, or apps.
If no phone works, the car infotainment system may be the cause.
Optional methods or tools
- Remove and re-pair the phone from both the car and Android phone
- Use wired Android Auto if wireless Android Auto will not start
- Check the car manual for Bluetooth pairing limits
- Update your phone system software and Google apps
- Check whether the car manufacturer provides infotainment updates
- Test another phone to separate phone issues from car issues
Best practices or tips
- Keep only current phones saved in the car’s Bluetooth list
- Approve call, contact, message, and notification permissions during setup
- Keep Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled for wireless Android Auto
- Restart both the phone and car after changing pairing settings
- Avoid pairing the same phone repeatedly without deleting the old connection first
Android Auto Bluetooth problems are often caused by old pairings, denied permissions, or confusion between the phone and car after an update. Removing the pairing from both sides and setting it up again is usually the cleanest fix.
For wireless Android Auto, Bluetooth is only part of the connection, but it is still important because it helps start the session and manage calls. Keeping Bluetooth permissions, Wi-Fi, Android Auto, and car software up to date gives you the best chance of a reliable connection.
