Google Play Music not working on Android Auto is a common problem that can manifest as missing icon, choppy audio streams, or a non-responsive, blank screen.
This page covers all of the tested and proven solutions for how to fix it when Google Play Music isn’t working on Android Auto, in addition to some tips for how to stop the problem from happening in the future.
Why Google Play Music is Not Working With Android Auto
Here are some possible reasons why Google Play Music isn’t working with Android Auto:
- A poor internet connection
- Compatibility issue between Google Play Music and your car’s infotainment system
- Google Play Music is restricted from running in the background
- Incorrect settings in the Google Play Music app or Android Auto.
- A bug in the Android Auto app
- The app cache has become corrupted
How to Fix Google Play Music Not Working on Android Auto
Here are the best solutions for how to fix Google Play Music not working on Android Auto:
1. Check your phone’s Wi-Fi or cellular connection. The quickest way to do this is to open another app that needs an internet connection.
To troubleshoot the connection issues, you can switch between Wi-Fi and cellular connection and toggle airplane mode ON and OFF.
If Google Play Music stops playing music sometimes while you’re driving, and it happens at the same place every time, then it’s likely a signal issue that’s out of your control.
2. Restart your Android device. This can often clear up minor software glitches that may be causing problems with Google Play Music.
3. Park your car and restart it by turning the ignition off and on. Or, if you can’t do that, some infotainment systems can be restarted by pressing and holding the infotainment’s power button.
This is a recommended step to take, especially if you’re encountering this error.
Google Play Music doesn’t seem to be working right now.
4. Open Android Auto from your car. It’s possible for your phone to be plugged into your car and everything else running correctly, but Android Auto hasn’t been triggered. It must be turned on for your phone to put Google Play Music on your car’s display.
For example, with your phone plugged in, you might see an Android Auto button on your car’s head unit. Tap it to load the Google Play Music icon and icons for all your other Android Auto apps.
Not all cars work the same way. Consult your car manufacturer’s user manual for details specific to your vehicle.
5. Check to make sure your vehicle and your car stereo are compatible with Android Audio. The Android auto compatibility page will help you find out if your specific car and stereo are compatible. If they are not, there’s nothing you can do to get Google Play Music working on Android Auto in your vehicle.
6. Add Google Play Music to Android Auto if it’s not showing up as an option in your car. You shouldn’t need to do this because it happens automatically once Google Play Music is installed on your phone. However, it’s possible to hide apps from displaying in Android Auto, which might be why Google Play Music isn’t showing up in your car.
On Android phone, navigate to Settings > Apps > Android Auto > Open > Customize launcher > Tap Google Play Music app to add a checkmark next to it.
7. Turn off battery optimization to fix things like buffering issues and unresponsive screens.
Here’s how to stop restricting Google Play Music’s battery usage on a Google Pixel: Go to Settings > Apps > Google Play Music > App battery usage, then tap Optimized. If that doesn’t help, return to that final screen and select Unrestricted instead.
8. Enable autostart for Google Play Music. This will allow the Google Play Music app to start automatically when you connect your Android device to your car. To enable autostart for Google Play Music, go to Settings > Apps > Google Play Music > Autostart.
9. Update your Android apps and update the Android OS. If a known bug prevents Google Play Music from working correctly with your car, there’s a good chance an app update or operating system update will fix it.
10. Clear the cache for the Android Auto app and the Google Play Music app. Deleting an app’s cache clears away potentially corrupted temporary files that could be to blame for Google Play Music not working with Android Auto.
11. Uninstall and reinstall the Google Play Music app. If nothing else has worked to this point, take the time to completely uninstall Google Play Music from your Android phone. Then reinstall the Google Play Music app from Google Play Store.
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Veronica Dash is a technology writer with over 5 years of experience in the realms of Smart Living, Connected Life, and Home Automation.
From creating intelligent lighting systems to designing integrated smart home ecosystems, her experiments have consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the connected world.
Veronic’s expertise extends beyond technology; she recognizes the importance of user experience and the integration of smart solutions into everyday life.
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