For those of us who drive around a lot, it’s hard to remember a time without Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which is weird, considering they haven’t been around for more than a decade. Regardless, they make life so much easier by having us keep our hands off our phones and on the steering wheel when we’re in transit. This helps combat distracted driving.
As of 2021, Google stated that Android Auto software was running on over 100 million cars, which has been quite an achievement since its launch in 2015. This makes it very easy to find a person with a car compatible with this platform.
Most people who use Android Auto are familiar with simply plugging it into the infotainment system with a USB cable to get it to work. However, many opt to use wireless solutions instead. In some cases, these people may decide that they don’t want to connect wirelessly anymore!
In these instances, they’ll be looking for how to stop Android Auto from turning on Bluetooth. The good thing is, if that is what you’re looking to find an answer to, there’s really a no better place for you to be than here. So let’s dive straight in.
Do you have a particular question about stopping Android Auto from turning on Bluetooth? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page.
Here's what we'll cover:
Does Android Auto work through Bluetooth?
And can Android Auto work without Bluetooth? Most people who use Android Auto are used to connecting it to their vehicle through a wired connection. After all, it’s so straightforward, and it doesn’t take any special know-how. However, if you didn’t know, you can connect Android Auto via a wireless connection, and yes, it uses Bluetooth. The best part is that the experience is no different from if you decide to plug the phone in with a USB cable.
This is a fantastic option if you don’t necessarily need or want your phone connected to the car for whatever reason. First, however, you need to make sure that your car supports Android Auto Wireless. Or you won’t be able to use Bluetooth to connect your phone to the infotainment system.
How to use Android Auto with Bluetooth?
First of all, before you can use Android Auto wirelessly with your vehicle, you need to make sure that the car supports it and your phone meets the necessary requirements. If you have a smartphone that runs on Android 11, it is automatically supported.
However, suppose you have a device from Google or Samsung on Android 10, or a Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+, or Note 8 on Android 9. In that case, you get special privileges, to put it one way, and you’ll still be able to use it!
Now, as long as you have 5GHz Wi-Fi and an active internet connection, you’ll be able to proceed. Just follow these steps to set it up:
- Turn on Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Location Services on your Android device.
- You will need to plug in your smartphone the first time around to set it up. Use a USB cable to plug it into the car’s infotainment system.
- A prompt will appear to download or update Android Auto. Complete the setup.
- You can then unplug the phone, and the next time you want to use the app, your smartphone will connect wirelessly.
Why might you not want to use Android Auto over Bluetooth?
There are some very valid reasons why you might not want to use Android Auto wirelessly instead of a USB cable.
First off, when you’re connected with a cable, you’re less likely to run out of juice on a long drive because your car is charging simultaneously. However, using wireless services while the internet is being used in the background? That can take a toll on your battery life!
Also, the sound quality gotten from connecting directly to your infotainment system with a USB cable is a lot better than what you get from a wireless connection.
How to stop Android Auto from turning on Bluetooth?
The downsides above are likely to make it so that you’d prefer your Android device not to connect automatically each time you enter your car. So if you’re looking for how to stop Android Auto from turning on Bluetooth, I’m about to tell you how to get it done.
You don’t even need to turn off your device’s Bluetooth to achieve this. You can stop Android Auto from connecting wirelessly in general.
- Open Android Auto on your Android phone.
- You should be in the Settings menu by default when you do so.
- Scroll down to the “System” section.
- You should see an option for “Wireless Android Auto,” toggled on by default.
- Switch it off!
That’s all you have to do! Now you know how to stop Android Auto from turning on Bluetooth!
Credits: Thanks for the photo to Canva.
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