Android Auto or CarPlay won't connect

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay show maps, music and calls from your phone on the car's screen. When the screen stays on the car's own menu, the cause is usually the cable, a setting on the phone or car, or a stale saved connection.

Before you start

Do these checks in a parked car. Do not change settings while driving.

• Is your car supported? Android Auto and CarPlay work only with compatible cars or stereos. For CarPlay, Apple says your country or region must also be supported. If you are unsure, check the car's manual or ask the car maker.
• Wired or wireless? Wireless connection works only on cars and phones that support it. If wireless fails, plug in a cable to see whether the wired link works.
• Android Auto needs Android 11 or later and a data plan, according to Google. It is built into the phone, so there is no separate app to download from the Play Store on current phones. Keep Android up to date.
• CarPlay needs an iPhone running current iOS, according to Apple.

Try these fixes in order

Fix 1: Check the cable and port

1. Use the cable that came with your phone, or a good-quality certified one. Google recommends a short cable, ideally under 3 feet (1 meter), with no hubs or extensions.
2. Some cables only charge and cannot carry data. If Android Auto or CarPlay worked before and has stopped, Google says replacing the cable is the first thing to try.
3. Try a different USB port in the car if it has more than one, as Apple suggests for CarPlay. Some cars mark the right port with a phone or CarPlay symbol. Check the car's manual.
4. If the cable and the car or phone have different connector shapes, see USB-C cables and adapters explained.
5. Check the phone's charging port for lint, and plug the cable in firmly at both ends.

Fix 2: Restart the phone and the car's system

1. Unplug the phone, then restart it.
2. Restart the car's system by turning the car off and on again. Apple and Google both advise this. Your car's manual may describe another way to restart the screen.
3. Plug the phone in again and wait a minute. On first connection, the phone may ask for permission, so unlock it and accept what it asks.

Fix 3: Check the phone's settings

iPhone with CarPlay

• Check that Siri is on. Apple lists this as a requirement. Open Settings then Siri (the name varies by iOS version).
• Check that CarPlay is not blocked: open Settings then Screen Time then Content & Privacy Restrictions then Allowed Apps and make sure CarPlay is on, if Content & Privacy Restrictions is on.
• For wireless CarPlay, turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. In Settings then Wi-Fi, tap the info button beside the CarPlay network and make sure Auto-Join is on. Set the car's stereo to wireless or Bluetooth mode, and hold the steering-wheel voice button as the car's manual describes. If CarPlay does not start by itself, select the CarPlay logo on the car's display.

Android phone with Android Auto

• Make sure Android Auto is turned on in the car's system. Google lists this as a check.
• Wireless Android Auto needs Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on, a phone that supports 5 GHz Wi-Fi, and a car that supports wireless projection. See Wi-Fi bands explained.
• Android Auto settings are usually under Settings then Connected devices then Connection preferences then Android Auto. Menus vary by maker, so search Settings for Android Auto if you cannot find it.

Fix 4: Update the phone and the car

• Install the latest system update on the phone: Settings then General then Software Update on an iPhone, or search Settings for system update on Android.
• Cars and aftermarket stereos have their own software. Apple says to use the latest firmware from the car maker. Google advises checking the manufacturer's website for updates if you have an aftermarket stereo. The car's manual explains how.

Fix 5: Forget the car and start again

iPhone

1. Open Settings then General then CarPlay.
2. Tap your car.
3. Tap Forget This Car.
4. Restart the iPhone and the car, then connect again, by cable or wirelessly, following the car's manual.

Android

1. Unplug the phone from the car.
2. Open Settings then Connected devices then Connection preferences then Android Auto then Previously connected cars.
3. Tap the menu at the top right, then Forget all cars.
4. Plug the phone back in and follow the prompts on the phone and the car screen.

If Bluetooth pairing is part of the problem, see Bluetooth won't pair or connect. If you only want music and calls without the full car screen, see connect your phone to a car by Bluetooth.

If it still does not work

• Try a different phone or a different cable in the same car, to see whether the phone or the car is at fault.
• If the phone charges but does not connect, see phone won't charge for cable and port checks.
• For the car's own screen or software, use the support page on the car maker's website. For an aftermarket stereo, use the stereo maker's site.
• Third-party apps that fail inside Android Auto or CarPlay should be reported to the app's developer, as Apple advises.

Frequently asked questions