Android (non auto)???????

[CuriousIslander]

I am having the utmost difficulty in persuading my Mg4 and smartphone to talk to each other in order to use Android Auto. The dealership has been very helpful, and 2 of their staff have given me an hour of their time to no avail. They are as baffled as me.

I have not owned a smartphone until recently, so this is all new to me, but now have a Motorola e14 phone which is running Android version 14 - which according to various sources says that Android Auto is included and does not need to be downloaded. Indeed, when we try to download AA it gives a message about incompatability, suggesting that this is indeed correct, ie it does not need to be downloaded. When I connect the phone with a USB lead I get a message on the phone screen saying "No installed apps work with this USB accessory". We have tried several different USB leads including some high quality ones pinched from the dealership boss's PC! There is no problem with Apple Carplay, that connects instantly on the car salesman's iphone, which suggests that the problem is not with the car software. Tapping Android Auto on the infotainment home screen simply asks for the phone to be connected via a USB lead. Somewhere in the phone settings "file transfer" is also set, as we read somewhere that this is the correct setting. The infotainment system is the R59 version, I don't know if this is significant. I should add that there is no issue with Bluetooth connection and I have a suitable Internet package for use on the phone.

Poking around in settings and apps reveals some Android apps that are present, but there is no Android Auto app anywhere to be seen.

I have viewed several YT videos, but all of them appear to assume that the fundamental connection 'twixt car and phone is established, so are not any help. I will try to find someone locally who has an AA setup working correctly on their car and see if we can persuade their phone to work with mine, but, in the meantime, any words of wisdom from any of you will be very welcome.

Yours in frustration

Andy

 

[mg4mc]

Are you plugging into the USB-A or the USB-C port in the car?
You must use the USB-A port for AA.

 

[webhiker]

Is Android Auto installed st your phone?
Go to Android Settings and search for it.
In my (Danish) set up is the bottom one for Android Auto Settings.
If that's not there that's your problem

 

[CuriousIslander]

Are you plugging into the USB-A or the USB-C port in the car?
You must use the USB-A port for AA.

The left hand one, whichever that one is.

Is Android Auto installed st your phone?
Go to Android Settings and search for it.
In my (Danish) set up is the bottom one for Android Auto Settings.
If that's not there that's your problem
View attachment 34801

There is no Android Auto app icon anywhere on the phone that we can find. Since AA is meant to be included in Android 14 I don't know whether there should be an icon somewhere. If it is there but hidden/inactive, how do I reveal it/make it active?

 

[BpoolZS]

Your phone uses android 14 go - a lightweight version for budget phones, not android 14.
It likely does not support android auto.

 

[CuriousIslander]

Your phone uses android 14 go - a lightweight version for budget phones, not android 14.
It likely does not support android auto.

Aha! Maybe that is the problem. I will have to do some more investigation. Thank you for this lead.

 

[dsimpkins]

Quick Internet search reveals this:

Android Auto is built into phones with the Android 10 operating system and newer versions. If you have Android 9 or older versions, download the Android Auto app on your phone from the Google Play™ store. If you have devices that run Android (Go edition), which is a stripped-down version of the Android operating system, Android Auto is not available.

 

[Martinonline]

My Motorola G84 (Android Auto) works but it is a more expensive version than the e range

To see your Android version go to settings/about phone; it should tell you the android version.

On my phone AA is listed under Settings/Apps then See all Apps. See what permissions are set.

 

[CuriousIslander]

Quick Internet search reveals this:

Android Auto is built into phones with the Android 10 operating system and newer versions. If you have Android 9 or older versions, download the Android Auto app on your phone from the Google Play™ store. If you have devices that run Android (Go edition), which is a stripped-down version of the Android operating system, Android Auto is not available.

This appears to be the case. The phone has Android 14, but only some of the Android suite are present. I will take the phone back to where I bought it and see what they have to say. When I bought it I specifically said I wanted it to run Android Auto. I suspect the guy in the shop doesn't know about Android Go. AA not being available would explain the "No installed apps....." message that I am getting on the phone. Hmmmmm!

 

[dsimpkins]

The Moto G84 as someone else mentioned is a slightly more expensive, but good choice for Android Auto. My daughter has one, and uses AA in her car all the time. I've had lots of Motorola G series phones in the past. Currently using a Poco phone which is a brand of Xiaomi phones.

 

[Buster72]

I am having the utmost difficulty in persuading my Mg4 and smartphone to talk to each other in order to use Android Auto. The dealership has been very helpful, and 2 of their staff have given me an hour of their time to no avail. They are as baffled as me.

I have not owned a smartphone until recently, so this is all new to me, but now have a Motorola e14 phone which is running Android version 14 - which according to various sources says that Android Auto is included and does not need to be downloaded. Indeed, when we try to download AA it gives a message about incompatability, suggesting that this is indeed correct, ie it does not need to be downloaded. When I connect the phone with a USB lead I get a message on the phone screen saying "No installed apps work with this USB accessory". We have tried several different USB leads including some high quality ones pinched from the dealership boss's PC! There is no problem with Apple Carplay, that connects instantly on the car salesman's iphone, which suggests that the problem is not with the car software. Tapping Android Auto on the infotainment home screen simply asks for the phone to be connected via a USB lead. Somewhere in the phone settings "file transfer" is also set, as we read somewhere that this is the correct setting. The infotainment system is the R59 version, I don't know if this is significant. I should add that there is no issue with Bluetooth connection and I have a suitable Internet package for use on the phone.

Poking around in settings and apps reveals some Android apps that are present, but there is no Android Auto app anywhere to be seen.

I have viewed several YT videos, but all of them appear to assume that the fundamental connection 'twixt car and phone is established, so are not any help. I will try to find someone locally who has an AA setup working correctly on their car and see if we can persuade their phone to work with mine, but, in the meantime, any words of wisdom from any of you will be very welcome.

Yours in frustration

Andy

I have had very similar problems with AA. My phone is a Moto G7 but simply will not operate AA on my SE. I too have got the dealer to try but despite their efforts could not help. They only had iPhones by the way.

I have tried a number of new USB cables to no avail and have tried most of the recommended fixes on the web.
So I have given up. Nevertheless, my wife has a Moto g23 and that works perfectly on AA. So we use that.

Eventually I will get a new phone and hopefully that will work.

The left hand one, whichever that one is.


There is no Android Auto app icon anywhere on the phone that we can find. Since AA is meant to be included in Android 14 I don't know whether there should be an icon somewhere. If it is there but hidden/inactive, how do I reveal it/make it active?

Correct.

 

[dsimpkins]

Your G7 is probably running Android version 9 or lower, which requires you to install the Android Auto app. If you already have that installed then it could be that this earlier version of AA isn't supported by the MG4 infotainment.

 

[siteguru]

FWIW my previous phone was a Moto G8 Plus which came natively with Android 9, so AA was an app that had to be added. Even when it upgraded to Android 10 then AA was still a separate app (because it was an upgrade rather than a native, fresh install of Android). My phone worked fine with my MG4, both wired (initially) and wireless when I got an adapter, so this suggests that the separate AA app for older Android works OK with the MG4.

My new Xiaomi Redmi phone came with Android 13 (MIUI 14) and quickly upgraded to Android 14 (HyperOS 1.0) - I've never actually tried this phone wired as it connected right away to my wireless adapter.

 

[Fluffykins]

I've never actually tried this phone wired as it connected right away to my wireless adapter.

Is your wireless AA connection via built in wireless or are you using a dongle? How do you get on with patchy mobile phone coverage? I'm using a dongle in my MG5 PFL and AA disconnects the wireless connection when mobile data drops out. There's a lot of people with various phones in various cars complaining about the issue - but no apparent action from Google.

 

[siteguru]

I'm using a dongle - this one linked below to be precise. (The MG4 doesn't have built-in wireless AA/CP). I've never noticed the connection drop out ... the dongle presents a wireless AP connection for the phone, and they also sync via Bluetooth LE. Mobile data (from the phone) is only used so that live data can be updated (e.g. when using Google Maps or a streaming service).

Wireless Carplay Adapter Android Auto Wireless Smart Dongle 2in1 For Volvo Benz Audi Kia Hyundai VW Mazda Cadillac MG Peugeot - AliExpress 34

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www.aliexpress.com

 

[OriginalBigAl]

I have an Android 9 phone with Auto as an app. Also a cheapish cable. Can be a bit glitchy when connecting but once working is absolutely fine. Cannot find a dongle which supports my phone so will stick with the cable until the weakest link dies.

 

[Deleted member 2148]

I seem to recall that Motorola phones aren't compatible with MG.

 

[siteguru]

I seem to recall that Motorola phones aren't compatible with MG.

You recall wrong ... my previous phone was a Moto G8 Plus (came native with A9, updated to A10) and it worked perfectly fine with my MG4.

 

[Deleted member 2148]

Ahh the all knowing site guru speaks again!!!

The internet says:

When using a Motorola phone with an MG car, users often report issues with Android Auto connectivity, including problems with the connection dropping, not launching properly, or experiencing glitches while using navigation, primarily due to potential compatibility issues between the phone's software and the car's system, sometimes exacerbated by a faulty USB cable or outdated software on either device.

 

[siteguru]

That response applies for any make of phone, especially the last part (cable).

The Internet can be wrong.