Android Auto needs emergency update as users lose essential features

Google Assistant is responsible for processing voice commands, so users can make phone calls and respond to text messages without even looking at the screen.

However, if you’re part of Android Auto’s user base, you’re probably aware that we’re constantly losing the ability to make regular phone calls. This is usually due to updates received by the Google app that powers Android Auto’s voice command interactions.

Android Auto needs another urgent update as users are now unable to make phone calls via voice commands following a mysterious change that happened about a week ago.

Users explain in posts on Google forums that Google Assistant keeps asking “Who do you want to call?” even when it gives the full name of the contact, as if it no longer understands names. Sending messages works fine, as the problem seems to only affect the ability to make phone calls using voice commands.

The issue isn’t specific to Android Auto, car model, or phone brand, so I think the Google app is the culprit. Users say they’ve tried the usual workarounds in the Android Auto world, including swapping cables with wired Android Auto, clearing cache and data, and forcing an app update by sideloading the latest APK. None of it worked, as the feature remains broken in the car.

However, given that the issue affects interactions with Google Assistant, the bug may be in the Google app. This means that any workarounds should be aimed at that app – for example, you should try downgrading the Google app to an earlier version; make sure you install a build older than last week’s version to avoid the bug, which was introduced recently.

Google has already reached out asking for more information about the bug, but as with anything that goes wrong in the world of Android Auto, you shouldn’t hold your breath for a fix. Google typically takes weeks or even months to fix issues with Android Auto, and I doubt this bug is any exception.

The good news is that the Google app receives updates more frequently, so if Google is aware of these reports, it could release a temporary fix in a few days. The company has not made an official statement, so if you have already discovered a workaround, share it with our readers in the comment box below.

In the meantime, if you want to update Android Auto to the latest version, the latest stable build is 12.5 and is available now on the Google Play Store.