CarPlay Technically, how does Car Play differ from Android Auto?

[Mildredop]

I'm having issues connecting my Pixel 3a to my 2020 VW Transporter. It all works fine except I can't hear music streamed from the phone (it shows it's playing, but no audio).

I tried my old iPhone 8 and it switched into Car Play and played music through the van's speakers fine.

I went back to my Pixel 3a and suddenly that also played music fine. But then I turned the volume down slightly on the van's head unit and it wouldn't turn back up. Once all the way down, that was it. No audio again. No amount of restarting phone or van would let me turn the volume back up.

Until I plugged in the iPhone.

So is there a technical difference between the way an iPhone and an Android phone talks to the car? Or is this just a weird bug of the VW/Pixel?

 

[akash.nu]

I mean the auto manufacturer need to official support Apple car play APIs for the car play functionality to work properly. It’s not just a Bluetooth connection thing.

 

[Mildredop]

I mean the auto manufacturer need to official support Apple car play APIs for the car play functionality to work properly. It’s not just a Bluetooth connection thing.

VW officially support both Car Play and Android Auto.

 

[chill991]

CarPlay and Android auto are totally different implementations on the head unit and phone. A car can have CarPlay or android support, just because it supports one system doesn't mean it will support the other. Basically think of it as different programs being loaded on the head unit. Sounds like you found a bug between your Android device and your car. Maybe check to see if there's an update for the car.

 

[Itinj24]

I had this come up too with my Audi A6. Think it’s the car and not the platform. Does the volume level on the car display say something like “Unavailable” when you try to adjust it?

 

[Mildredop]

I had this come up too with my Audi A6. Think it’s the car and not the platform. Does the volume level on the car display say something like “Unavailable” when you try to adjust it?

It doesn't say "unavailable". It comes up on the main display but not on the small LCD display in the middle of the instrument cluster (when normally it would and does when playing live radio or when the iPhone is plugged in).

I just find it weird that it works with iPhone but not with Android. If it's the car's platform that's the problem, is it because iOS and Android somehow send the audio data differently?

 

[Mildredop]

I had this come up too with my Audi A6. Think it’s the car and not the platform. Does the volume level on the car display say something like “Unavailable” when you try to adjust it?

Experimenting further, I think you're correct. The problem seems to be, when in Android Auto, the vehicle isn't auto-selecting USB as an input, and it can't selected manually.

When in car play, pressing play on Apple Music (for example) causes the van to automatically switch to the necessary USB input.

 

[Itinj24]

Experimenting further, I think you're correct. The problem seems to be, when in Android Auto, the vehicle isn't auto-selecting USB as an input, and it can't selected manually.

When in car play, pressing play on Apple Music (for example) causes the van to automatically switch to the necessary USB input.

This drove me crazy with Android connected to a VAG car. My favorite sports team (LGI!!!) home games would start during my commute to work and I would try to play it on my Sling Box app for the audio but the audio would be silent. Had to play through the phone speakers. Same with YouTube. Never had such issue with the iPhone but I noticed this more with apps that play audio and video.

 

[Mildredop]

This drove me crazy with Android connected to a VAG car. My favorite sports team (LGI!!!) home games would start during my commute to work and I would try to play it on my Sling Box app for the audio but the audio would be silent. Had to play through the phone speakers. Same with YouTube. Never had such issue with the iPhone but I noticed this more with apps that play audio and video.

Interesting that you an I both had (had) the same problem, me in a VW, you in an Audi, but there's no other evidence of it online that I can find. Could I ask what Android phone you had? And how long ago this was?

I've emailed VW. Doubt I'll get a response.

 

[Itinj24]

Interesting that you an I both had (had) the same problem, me in a VW, you in an Audi, but there's no other evidence of it online that I can find. Could I ask what Android phone you had? And how long ago this was?

I've emailed VW. Doubt I'll get a response.

For the lease life of the car, I had an original Google Pixel from late 2016 to late 2017, then a Samsung Note8 from late 2017 to late 2018 when I switched to the iPhone XS. Can’t say with certainty that this issue was happening with the Pixel (it’s been a few years) but was definitely there with the Note8. My Audi was a 2017 A6. Audi and Volkswagen (VAG- Volkswagen Audi Group) use similar infotainment systems. This drove me crazy and was pleased that this wasn’t an issue with the iPhone. Another thing that drove me crazy with Android Auto was the inability to scroll through my list of songs infinitely.

You can bet on VW placing the blame on Google Lol.

I vaguely remember a way to temporarily correct this issue. If your van has voice control, try initiating a voice command and then canceling... or try the Google Assistant.

 

[Moakesy]

CarPlay and Android Auto do connect differently to your vehicle. I have a VW camper and this has come up a number of times on the owner forum I use. Sometimes Apple phones are the issue, sometimes Google.

Your iPhone’s software ‘talks’ to the radio and works out display sizing, controls etc. It is completely separate to the mirroring software that is used when you pair it to an Apple TV for example.

Android Auto does use Mirroring. Overall it works fine, but noticed a lot of complaints on Google regarding vehicles from the VW group (VW, Audi etc) are known to have issues.

Having done a bit more Googling, some users are reporting the volume issue was fixed in the latest update from google (around March this year?).

 

[Mildredop]

Having done a bit more Googling, some users are reporting the volume issue was fixed in the latest update from google (around March this year?).

I saw this too, but I think that may be a Spotify-only issue?

I've also read that Android Auto 5.3 has been released in the last few days, but my Pixel phone is all up-to-date and I'm still on 5.2.

But from my investigation, I'm still betting that the problem is the vehicle. The phone is sending the audio (as I can hear if I plug in an iPhone first and then plug in an Android) but the vehicle won't auto-switch to the USB audio input when in Android Auto mode.

 

[Moakesy]

I saw this too, but I think that may be a Spotify-only issue?

I've also read that Android Auto 5.3 has been released in the last few days, but my Pixel phone is all up-to-date and I'm still on 5.2.

But from my investigation, I'm still betting that the problem is the vehicle. The phone is sending the audio (as I can hear if I plug in an iPhone first and then plug in an Android) but the vehicle won't auto-switch to the USB audio input when in Android Auto mode.

I think you’re probably right. Seems to be vehicles from the VAG group that struggle a bit.

I did see this on one forum, was talking about an Audi issue where AA stopped working altogether, not sure if that will help you or not.....

”This fix worked for me:
I was having the same problem, as far as I know I hadn't changed any settings so it was a bit weird that it randomly stopped anyway, here's what I did...

Specific for Samsung Galaxy S9 but will likely work for android in General, just different terminology:

After ensuring your USB cable actually works, and your Android Auto and USB settings are still enabled via your car settings then, on your phone go to:

1. Settings > Software Information
2. Tap Build Number seven times > phone will enable developer mode.
3. Exit Build Number > Exit Software Information
4. Select Developer Options
5. Scroll to Networking options, select Default USB Configuration
6. Toggle transferring files to on (what I'm about to say may not be necessary but I'm sharing as it was a part of my process - I actually toggled charging only, then toggled transferring files, following that I restarted the phone).
7. Check Android Auto is working on your car screen, then turn developer mode back off in the settings.
8. Thank me later with a thumbs up 👍🏽”

 

[Mildredop]

I think you’re probably right. Seems to be vehicles from the VAG group that struggle a bit.

I did see this on one forum, was talking about an Audi issue where AA stopped working altogether, not sure if that will help you or not.....

”This fix worked for me:
I was having the same problem, as far as I know I hadn't changed any settings so it was a bit weird that it randomly stopped anyway, here's what I did...

Specific for Samsung Galaxy S9 but will likely work for android in General, just different terminology:

After ensuring your USB cable actually works, and your Android Auto and USB settings are still enabled via your car settings then, on your phone go to:

1. Settings > Software Information
2. Tap Build Number seven times > phone will enable developer mode.
3. Exit Build Number > Exit Software Information
4. Select Developer Options
5. Scroll to Networking options, select Default USB Configuration
6. Toggle transferring files to on (what I'm about to say may not be necessary but I'm sharing as it was a part of my process - I actually toggled charging only, then toggled transferring files, following that I restarted the phone).
7. Check Android Auto is working on your car screen, then turn developer mode back off in the settings.
8. Thank me later with a thumbs up 👍🏽”

Thanks for this info. I know this was a problem, especially with Samsung phones. But I'm pretty sure that was all fixed with Android 10. Now Android Auto is part of the OS it takes contol of the USB Config.

But I'm desparate, so I'll give it a try!

 

[Mildredop]

I vaguely remember a way to temporarily correct this issue. If your van has voice control, try initiating a voice command and then canceling... or try the Google Assistant.

Didn't work for me sadly. Had a thought though - selecting USB as an input and then plugging in the phone allows me to hear music, but the vehicle says "No audio source" and the volume will only decrease, not increase.

I've realised this is probably a thing that stops you turning the volume up when there's no music and then suddenly blasting your ears when you select a different input. So the problem is that the vehicle thinks there's no music when there is.

 

[Mildredop]

Just tried Android 5.3. No change. Still doesn't work.