Android Auto support abruptly stopped for older phones

Android Auto support has abruptly stopped for older phones. Google had previously revised the minimum version of Android required for the platform, but the company had allowed it to run on older versions of Android.

Google stopped support for Android Auto on older versions of Android

Android Auto is one of the most powerful platforms for in-car navigation. It allows using an Android phone’s functions via the infotainment console.

Modern versions of Android have Android Auto baked in. However, older versions of Android and the platform had a dedicated and optional app. In other words, before Android 9, users had to download the Android Auto app from the Google Play Store and then sync it with their vehicle’s infotainment system.

Google had ensured Android Auto worked all the way back on Android 6. However, back in July 2022, Google revised the minimum Android version required for Android Auto.

From Android 6, the search giant mandated Android 8 as the lowest version of the OS. The same happened recently. Google has reportedly stopped supporting Android Auto on Android 8 and lower versions of the OS.

What is the minimum version of Android needed to run Android Auto?

Earlier this year, Google raised the minimum requirement for Android Auto to Android 9. It is, however, interesting to note that several Android 8 users were able to use Android Auto on their devices. This concession seems to have stopped.

According to a Reddit thread, Google seems to be strictly enforcing the minimum requirement rule. In other words, smartphones running Android 8 are being greeted by a notification that says, “This phone no longer supports Android Auto.”

It seems Google had been lenient, and it was not enforcing the requirement, presumably to offer people more time for an upgrade. Although the chances are rather slim, there could be a few Android smartphones running Android 8 in 2024. After all, the version arrived way back in 2019.

Google could be enforcing the requirement because Android 9 and newer versions of the OS have Android Auto integrated within. This offers a streamlined experience. Additionally, it is possible that Google might be removing Android Auto from the Play Store as a standalone app, and keeping it as an updatable system app.

Android Auto has had multiple bugs recently, and it even stopped functioning in one of the beta versions of Android 15. Moreover, the app could be breaching EU rules. Google could be enforcing the rule to limit such issues as ensuring backward compatibility is often very complex.