The last few weeks have been rough for Android Auto users, with various bugs and issues popping up. Just last week, Google rolled out an update to address the Android Auto disconnection issues that Pixel and Galaxy users have been reporting. Unfortunately, users can’t seem to catch a break, as a new bug is causing the mobile network signal strength icon to disappear from Android Auto’s status bar.
Based on Reddit reports (2), it appears users have been facing this bug for at least a couple of weeks now (via Android Authority). It may be linked to Android Auto 16.5, as downgrading to an older build (v16.3) resolved the problem for some users.
The bug appears to be widespread, frustrating Android Auto users to no avail.
The problem is that the missing signal icon may seem like a minor visual glitch, but it can have huge real-world implications. Without the indicator, there’s no way of telling if your phone has access to a stable mobile network, which impacts almost every key activity: music streaming, navigation, calling, and voice commands.
This can be especially frustrating if you frequently drive through areas with spotty network coverage.
The bug does not appear to be limited to a specific Android phone or version. The only workaround to get the network signal to return is to roll back to an older Android Auto build. Clearing the app data only works temporarily.
Google is supposedly working on revamping Android Auto icons. So, it’s likely that the missing network signal strength is linked to it.
Wait for Google to roll out a fix
The company is yet to acknowledge the bug; it rarely does for such Android Auto issues. Instead, expect a fix to directly roll out, either through a server-side push from Google or through an updated Android Auto build.
Amid the recent wave of bugs, Google has rolled out a couple of useful improvements to Android Auto. The first is the redesigned media controls, which are finally seeing a wider rollout and aim to make playback easier to manage at a glance.
Secondly, YouTube is now officially available on Android Auto, albeit in a limited form. It works as an audio-only experience, so you can listen to content but not watch videos. While that restriction makes sense for safety reasons, it still adds a handy way to catch up on podcasts, interviews, or long-form content while driving.
