Android Auto customers are reporting a bug that’s making their automobiles disappear from the highway—okay, not actually, however inside Google Maps. On each Reddit and Google’s own support forums, drivers now say their automotive icons are sporadically disappearing from their navigation screens whereas utilizing the Google Maps app by means of Android Auto. Some customers have found workarounds, however the fixes do not seem like constant for everybody. Here is what’s taking place, and what you are able to do to attempt to repair it.
Why are automotive icons disappearing in Google Maps in Android Auto?
The information first began popping up six days in the past, on a Reddit thread the place a number of customers reported issues with their automotive icons disappearing whereas utilizing the Google Maps app by means of Android Auto. In response to these drivers, when the bug was triggered, the map would transfer round usually, and visitors information and navigation directions continued to show as anticipated. Nevertheless, the icon indicating their automotive’s place would out of the blue disappear from their display, making it troublesome to know the place precisely they had been compared to the highway. That is not preferrred in the event you’re making an attempt to evaluate when your subsequent flip is developing.
In response to the thread’s authentic poster, the difficulty popped up for them on the Android Auto model 16.1 launch, though others talked about the difficulty occurring way back to version 15.9. The bug would not seem to occur on a regular basis, however “reliably” seems when leaving Google Maps, opening one other app in fullscreen, and both returning to Google Maps in fullscreen or pulling it up alongside the brand new app in a splitscreen view. To get their icon again, the unique poster needed to pressure give up Google Maps on their telephone, however this would not cease the bug from occurring once more sooner or later. Google itself has not but provided public touch upon the difficulty, though I’ve reached out to the corporate and can replace this put up once I hear again.
The right way to repair Google Maps in Android Auto
If you happen to’re encountering a disappearing automotive icon whereas utilizing Google Maps by means of Android Auto, there are just a few fixes which have labored for neighborhood members, though whether or not they’ll work for everybody seems to be inconsistent.
Attempt updating or downgrading your Android Auto model
The timing of this bug seems to line up with the Android Auto v16.1 launch, which launched final week. Whereas the bug has been reported showing on older variations of the app, like Android Auto v15.9, it might be value making an attempt out one other model of Android Auto to see if it clears up the difficulty. For example, one consumer talked about that putting in Android Auto V16.0.66 fastened the difficulty for them. If you happen to’re on an older model, you’ll be able to replace to a latest one from the Android Auto listing on the Play Store. If you happen to’re on a latest model and wish to attempt an older one, although, you may have to uninstall your Android Auto app and manually sideload the older version using a trusted APK file. As a result of these may be tough to confirm, this won’t be the most suitable choice for most individuals.
What do you suppose thus far?
Attempt altering your Android Auto automotive icon
A number of users within the authentic Reddit thread, together with the original poster, identified that the bug solely appears to have an effect on them when utilizing a non-default automotive icon. Till Google points a repair, one answer is likely to be to vary your automotive icon again to the usual white arrow inside a blue circle. To change your car icon in Google Maps, open the app in your telephone whereas not linked to Android Auto. Begin navigating to a location. Faucet in your automotive icon, and swipe left or proper to regulate the icon till you land on the default white arrow inside a blue circle. The following time you join your Google Maps app to Android Auto, your automotive’s icon needs to be up to date. Notice that this is not a assured repair. One user on a Google help discussion board, as an illustration, stated that their arrow icon additionally disappeared from Google Maps in Android Auto when coming back from one other app.
Keep away from triggering the bug, or use another navigation app
If there’s one saving grace to this bug, it is that the circumstances for triggering it appear to be fairly constant. Meaning you’ll be able to largely keep away from it in the event you merely do not go away the Google Maps app when you open it. However whereas that is likely to be OK for brief journeys, it is not preferrred for longer ones, the place you may wish to regulate a podcast or playlist throughout your drive. You’ll be able to manually restart your Google Maps app in your telephone each time the bug pops up, however not solely is that annoying, it is presumably harmful in the event you’re in the midst of a drive.
If not one of the above fixes be just right for you and also you wish to retain the flexibility to exit your fullscreen navigation app with out shedding your automotive icon, it is likely to be value placing Google Maps to mattress for now and utilizing an alternative navigation app. Google’s personal Waze app, as an illustration, works with Android Auto and doesn’t appear to have this bug proper now. Different navigation apps do have their very own professionals and cons, as Waze focuses much less on complete mapping and extra on real-time crowdsourced visitors data when figuring out routes. Nevertheless, it is likely to be value a shot. If Waze would not be just right for you, different fashionable navigation apps appropriate with Android Auto embrace Sygic GPS and TomTom – Maps & Traffic (previously TomTom AmiGo).
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