I'll say one thing right off the bat. Don't get mad at Hyundai for this. Hyundai stepped up and was the first US car company to provide Android Auto to us. The problems with Android Auto are certainly not Hyundai's fault and we shouldn't discourage them from being progressive in the future by blaming them for Google's issues.
Here is how I've been able to get a fairly reliable connection of Android Auto in my 2015 Hyundai Sonata. These steps assume that you've already made the initial Android Auto connection to your car and your car and phone have Bluetooth setup as well.
Android Auto / 2015 Hyundai Sonata Connection Steps
- Enable Developer Mode on your phone. This is a ridiculous step to have to take, but nonetheless it is where we find ourselves. To do that:
- Open your phone's settings. You are looking for a piece of information called the Build Number. Depending on the brand of your phone, it could be found in a couple of different places. Try:
- Settings then About Phone
- Settings then About Device
- Settings then About Phone then Software Information
- Settings then About then Software Information (and then More possibly)
- Click on the Build Number at least 7 times in rapid succession. You're looking for a message that says "You are now a developer."
- Upon completion of this step you will now find a Developer Mode menu in your phone's Settings.
- In Developer Mode settings click USB Debugging.
- DO NOT CONNECT YOUR PHONE TO YOUR CAR.
- Start your car.
- The Android Auto connection is extremely unreliable if you connect it to your car before the car and your phone have completed their communications over Bluetooth. This includes the initial Bluetooth handshake, the exchange of data between the car and phone and can also include an updated download of the phone's contacts. Unfortunately, this exchange of information occurs every time you start the car and it take a couple of minutes. You can tell when this exchange of information is occurring by watching your car's screen. The phone symbol with the arrow on it shows that your car and phone are actively exchanging information. Don't connect your phone to the USB cable as long as this symbol or similar is on the screen.
- A blue colored Bluetooth symbol wrapped in a headset icon with a musical note icon next to it is the symbol that you want to wait for! Once you see that, only then do you stand a chance of starting a reliable Android Auto connection.
- At that point, plug your phone in and hope that you have an Android Auto connection. Even after waiting for this symbol there are times where I have to unplug and plug the USB cable back in 3 or 4 times (yes I've tried multiple cables) before I will get an Android Auto connection. However, if I don't wait for this symbol then there has been no instance of getting an Android Auto connection ever. This is your best shot.
The downside of this process is that you have to wait, often for several minutes before you can connect your phone and begin navigation with Google Maps. It doesn't take very many days before waiting 2 or 3 minutes every time you want to drive somewhere get really old. Read on:
How to being Google Maps Navigation before you have an Android Auto connection
- Connect the USB cable to your phone but connect the other end to a USB charger plugged into the DC power port in your dash. Do not plug that end into the car's USB port!
- Enable "OK Google" functionality on any screen of your phone.
- Open the Google app from your app drawer.
- Go to Settings, then Voice, then OK Google Detection and turn on the "From any screen" functionality.
- Start your car and begin your drive at your leisure.
- Activate your Google Maps navigation session by saying "OK Google, Navigate to ______."
- Google Maps will open on your phone and your navigation session will begin.
- As driving conditions allow, keep an eye out for the icon discussed above. Upon seeing the icon, unplug the car's end of the USB cable from the DC power adapter and plug it into the USB port in your car.
- With some luck you will have a reliable Android Auto connection and can activate Android Auto from your car's touchscreen.
- The Google Maps navigation session that you started on your phone will remain active when you switch to Android Auto! Your phone's screen will go blank and your navigation instructions will resume on your car's screen.
