By default, Android Auto doesn’t allow users to read messages on the car’s screen. The application fights behind-the-wheel distraction by making Google Assistant responsible for handling the content that usually demands users’ attention.
So if you ask Google Assistant to read the news, the assistant can search for your favorite sources and then tell you the latest stories.
Since November, this feature has been working in the worst possible way.
First of all, some users claim that Android Auto will automatically start playing Reuters TV every time the engine is started. This happens because Android Auto is loaded when the engine is turned on and the connection between the head unit and the phone is detected.
Users claim that they only needed Google Assistant once to read the messages, and they’ve had the same experience every time they launch Android Auto ever since.
Some Android Auto users claim they receive messages from sources they haven’t even marked as favorites. Others state that they listen to Reuters TV content even without having the Reuters app installed on their mobile devices.
The search for a workaround continues, and some users state that disabling the messaging component in Google Assistant is the only solution. It’s not the most convenient solution, especially if users want to hear news on demand.
To do this on Android Auto, go to Settings and look for the Customize Launcher section. Make sure the Messages option is disabled so that Android Auto should stop playing the messages.
Others show that clearing the cache and data for Android Auto and the Google app gets things back to normal. The Google app is responsible for powering the Google Assistant, which in turn reads the messages on Android Auto. Updating to the latest version of Android Auto doesn’t bring any improvement, and Google has yet to acknowledge the bug.
In the meantime, Google seems entirely focused on polishing up the experience with Coolwalk. The major redesign rolled out to users in January, and the latest updates brought subtle improvements. Android Auto 9.0 includes a new option that allows users to change the layout and choose between having the media or navigation map closer to the driver.
Coolwalk allows users to run multiple apps side-by-side in maps, regardless of screen size. Google is using a phased rollout for this update as the company wants to ensure full reliability for all configurations. This approach makes sense, especially since Coolwalk is targeting devices of all screen sizes and orientations, regardless of which phone supports Android Auto.
