Google to drop Android Auto support for older smartphone operating systems

Google is preparing to end support for Android Auto on older smartphones, according to reports from Android Police, Pocket-lint, and Android Authority. Drivers using phones running Android 9 and Android 10 have started seeing notifications on their car dashboard displays, warning that support for their devices will end soon and that the service will eventually stop working. [3][4][5]

The alert has been spotted by multiple users on Reddit while starting Android Auto in their vehicles. According to Pocket-lint, the warning specifically targets wired Android Auto connections on Android 10 devices, including older smartphones such as Samsung models. Android Police reports that the change will affect millions of older devices running both Android 9 and Android 10. [3][4]

Android Auto connects an Android smartphone to a compatible vehicle infotainment system, projecting applications such as navigation and music playback onto the dashboard display. The platform requires a phone running Android 9.0 or higher with an active data plan and connects either wirelessly or through a USB cable. [8][10]

Separately, 9to5Google reported that Google has officially confirmed a fix is rolling out to resolve an issue with a missing signal icon on Android Auto. Meanwhile, Android Police noted that dropping older operating system versions is a typical progression for software platforms as technology advances. [4][7]