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Google is drawing one more line within the sand for Android Auto customers with older telephones. The corporate has formally bumped up the minimal Android model required for wired Android Auto connections to Android 11, so gadgets on Android 9 and Android 10 will now not be supported.
When you go to the official Android Auto help web page, you’ll now see the up to date language, which beforehand required Android 9 Pie at a minimal. Meaning Android 11 is the brand new baseline for anybody attempting to attach their telephone to a suitable automobile through USB. An lively information plan can also be required.
Not that this ought to be a whole shock. Google has been slowly phasing out help for older variations of Android, eradicating Android 6 in 2022 and Android 8 in 2024. This newest change follows warnings that began showing in October 2026, informing some Android 10 customers their telephones would quickly cease working with Android Auto.
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Some older telephones are nonetheless working Android Auto simply positive
Nonetheless, Android Auto 18.1, the newest model of the app, continues to help Android 10, in response to 9to5Google. Meaning the transition isn’t essentially being enforced throughout each machine simply but. However the brand new Google documentation makes it clear that long-term, it’s not going to vary.
Android Auto makes use of a telephone’s software program and providers to carry navigation, calls, messaging, and media controls to a automobile’s infotainment show. Elevating minimal necessities retains Google suitable, however it additionally means individuals with completely usable older telephones are caught with an pointless {hardware} expense.
The response from affected drivers suggests this alteration could be extra of a nuisance than a traditional software program cutoff. On Reddit, one person who owns a Galaxy Word 9 stated that they acquired Google’s warning message each time they began the automobile, however Android Auto nonetheless labored positive of their 2023 Kia Rio. Others aren’t overly enthusiastic about swapping out their telephones, notably when their present {hardware} remains to be as much as the duty for his or her each day actions.
Some have even tried putting in older variations of Android Auto to bypass the restriction, however no less than one Galaxy S9 proprietor reported that rolling again to releases as previous as model 1.0.x did not assist. Others suspect that Google Play Companies is imposing the restriction no matter which model of the app you will have. And a few drivers wish to use low cost, newer telephones only for Android Auto as an alternative of changing their important gadgets.
Some commenters level out that Google shouldn’t deliberately break performance that also works. Others say that older variations of Android that now not obtain safety patches can go away customers uncovered to vulnerabilities. In any case, in case you’re nonetheless utilizing an older Galaxy or Sony telephone in your automobile, your acquainted dashboard expertise may very well be on borrowed time.
