I stopped an Android Auto disconnect loop by modifying one background power setting

I use Android Auto practically every time I drive, and it's been infinitely useful for longer drives where I want easy access to my media and navigation.

So understandably, random disconnects have quickly become one of my biggest frustrations with Android Auto.

Here's how it goes.

The connection drops without warning, interrupts my navigation, music, and calls before reconnecting a few moments later.

Sure, I could connect it via USB, but I like my wireless Android Auto.

After trying the usual fixes, I found one overlooked battery setting on my phone that was causing this problem.

Changing the setting took less than a minute, and since then Android Auto has stayed reliably connected. Here's what I changed.

The Android Auto settings that stopped my calls from cutting out

After endless cable swaps and resets, I found the real reason Android Auto kept disconnecting

Posts 2
By  Ben Khalesi

Why Android's battery optimization was causing the problem

Allowing unrestricted background use is the fix

Initially, when I started facing Android Auto disconnections, I assumed the problem to be a bad USB cable, my car's infotainment system, or a bad software update.

I tried everything from disconnecting and restarting the entire system to clearing app caches.

However, none of these things made a big difference. The disconnections always kept coming back.

Turns out the real problem was Android's battery optimization.

Most Android phones automatically manage how apps behave in the background.

Part of the reason modern smartphones deliver such great battery life, despite packing more powerful processors and more processor-intensive applications, is this aggressive battery management.

Apps that aren't being actively used get fewer system resources, and the operating system limits what they can do in the background wherever possible.

That approach works well for most apps, but Android Auto is a little different.

It might appear that the interface on your car's display is where all the processing happens, but your phone is doing all the work behind the scenes.

Your phone must maintain a constant connection with the car while handling navigation, streaming music, and processing voice commands, as well as notifications.

None of this is running on your car's infotainment screen.

So if Android becomes too aggressive about restricting background activity, that connection can become unstable and eventually disconnect, as it did in my case.

Google recommends removing battery restrictions from Android Auto if you're dealing with repeated connection issues, because background optimization can interfere with how the app operates during a long drive.

On my phone, Android Auto was using the default optimized battery mode. Generally, this setting is perfect for balancing performance and battery longevity.

However, it was also this setting that let Android decide when it should limit the app's background activity.

Switching it to allow background use tells the operating system to leave Android Auto alone while it is running.

How to fix Android Auto's battery restrictions

The setting takes mere seconds to change

Changing the app's battery optimization setting takes only a few seconds. You open your phone settings, navigate over to the app section, and select Android Auto.

From there, open Battery and change the battery mode from optimized to allow background usage.

The exact menu names might change depending on your phone, but the option should be available on most devices.

While I was concerned that removing battery restrictions might noticeably affect battery life, that hasn't been my experience.

Moreover, since I almost always use Android Auto while the phone is charging in my car, any additional battery usage doesn't make a difference.

What did make a difference, however, was the change in my user experience. The phone stopped disconnecting from my infotainment system.

I got in my car, went on a long drive, and navigation continued without interruption, and my music kept playing normally throughout the trip.

Still, this isn't a guaranteed fix for every Android Auto issue.

If you're using wired Android Auto, you could be facing a faulty USB cable, or the wireless connection in your car might not be perfect.

Sometimes outdated infotainment software and software bugs can cause similar issues.

While those issues are certainly worth investigating, I would start by enabling this setting to make sure your phone isn't wreaking havoc on your Android Auto experience.

The best part is that you don't need to install another app or service to fix it. The setting is built into your phone.

And while it has good intentions, it can occasionally interfere with how your phone operates.

So if you're facing a similar issue on another app as well, you might want to toggle the setting there too.

The first setting I recommend changing if you're facing Android Auto connectivity issues

Android Auto is one of those services where a disconnection or interruption is non-negotiable for me.

When I'm driving my car, I do not want to fiddle with my phone or toggle settings.

I want an Android Auto experience that is flawless simply because it is not just a convenience feature but also a safety feature.

For me, changing Android Auto's battery mode from optimized to allowing background usage was all it took to stop the disconnect loop.

It took less than a minute, didn't affect my daily battery life, and solved a major problem with my Android Auto experience.

If you're facing the same or a similar issue, I highly recommend diving into your phone settings immediately to change this option.

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