How to Fix Android Auto Not Showing on Your Car Screen
Applies to
Android Auto, Android phones, wired Android Auto, wireless Android Auto, compatible cars, and compatible infotainment systems
Last updated
9 July 2026
Problem
Android Auto connects to your phone, but it does not appear on the car screen. Your phone may charge through the USB cable, Bluetooth may connect for calls, or the car may detect the phone, but the Android Auto interface does not launch on the infotainment display.
This usually happens because Android Auto is disabled in the car settings, the wrong USB port is being used, the cable only supports charging, or the phone has not completed the required permissions.
Solution
Check that Android Auto is enabled on the car system, use the correct USB port and cable, unlock the phone, approve all prompts, and remove the car from Android Auto settings before reconnecting if needed.
Step by step instructions
Check that the car supports Android Auto
Not every car screen supports Android Auto.
Check the car manual or infotainment system for terms such as:
- Android Auto
- Smartphone projection
- Phone projection
- App projection
- Mobile device projection
If the car does not support Android Auto, the phone may still charge or connect by Bluetooth, but Android Auto will not appear on the screen.
Make sure Android Auto is enabled in the car
Open the car infotainment settings.
Look for phone, connectivity, smartphone projection, or app projection settings.
Check that Android Auto is enabled.
Some cars allow Android Auto to be turned off for specific phones.
If your phone appears in a blocked, disabled, or rejected list, remove it and approve it again.
Use the correct USB port
Many cars have more than one USB port.
Some ports only provide power for charging.
Others support data and Android Auto.
Use the port marked with a phone, data, USB, or smartphone symbol if available.
Avoid plugging into rear seat charging ports, USB hubs, or adapters unless the car manual confirms they support Android Auto.
Use a USB data cable
A charging only cable will not work properly with wired Android Auto.
Use a good quality USB cable that supports data transfer.
If Android Auto does not appear, try another cable.
A short, reliable cable is usually best.
Avoid damaged, loose, very long, or low quality cables.
Unlock your phone and check prompts
Unlock your Android phone before connecting it.
Plug the phone into the car.
Watch the phone screen for setup prompts.
Approve permissions for Android Auto, calls, messages, contacts, notifications, microphone, and location if asked.
If you dismiss or deny a prompt, Android Auto may not appear on the car screen.
Select Android Auto on the car display
Some cars do not launch Android Auto automatically.
Look for a menu option such as:
- Android Auto
- Projection
- Smartphone
- Apps
- Connected devices
- Phone projection
Select your phone from the car screen.
If the car asks whether to use Android Auto, approve the request.
Restart the phone and car system
Disconnect the phone.
Restart your Android phone.
Turn the car off.
Open and close the driver door if needed so the infotainment system powers down fully.
Wait briefly.
Start the car again.
Reconnect the phone and check whether Android Auto appears.
Check Android Auto settings on your phone
Open Settings on your Android phone.
Search for Android Auto.
Open Android Auto settings.
Check Previously connected cars.
Make sure your car has not been rejected or disabled.
If your car is listed but Android Auto does not appear, remove the car and reconnect it.
Remove and pair the car again
On your phone, remove the car from Android Auto settings.
Then remove the phone from the car’s Bluetooth or connected devices list.
Restart both the phone and car system.
Reconnect using USB or wireless pairing.
Approve all prompts again.
This gives Android Auto a clean setup.
Update your phone apps
Open the Google Play Store.
Update:
- Android Auto
- Google Maps
- Google Play services
- Your preferred music apps
- Messaging apps used with Android Auto
Then restart your phone and try again.
Outdated Google apps can stop Android Auto from displaying correctly.
Check wireless Android Auto settings
For wireless Android Auto, make sure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are both turned on.
Pair the phone with the car using Bluetooth first.
Keep Wi-Fi enabled, even if you are not connecting to a normal Wi-Fi network.
If wireless Android Auto does not appear, try connecting by USB cable if your car supports wired Android Auto.
This helps identify whether the problem is wireless only.
Test another phone
If possible, test Android Auto with another compatible Android phone.
If the second phone works, the issue is likely with your phone, cable, permissions, or Android Auto settings.
If no phone works, the problem may be with the car’s infotainment system, USB port, or Android Auto support.
Optional methods or tools
- Try a different USB data cable
- Use the car manual to identify the Android Auto compatible USB port
- Update the car infotainment software if the manufacturer provides updates
- Remove old Bluetooth pairings from both the phone and car
- Use wired Android Auto to test whether a wireless issue is causing the problem
Best practices or tips
- Always unlock the phone during first time setup
- Use a reliable USB data cable, not a charging only cable
- Keep Android Auto and Google Play services updated
- Do first time setup while parked
- Avoid repeatedly switching between multiple phones during setup
When Android Auto is not showing on the car screen, the cause is usually the car settings, USB port, cable, or initial permission setup. A phone can still charge or connect for calls without successfully launching Android Auto on the display.
The best fix is to check the car’s projection settings, use the correct USB data port, approve all phone prompts, and reconnect the car from scratch if needed. Once Android Auto is properly approved by both the phone and infotainment system, it should appear on the car screen automatically or through the car’s projection menu.
