Google Rolls Out Fix for Android Auto’s Missing Signal Icon

Restoring the vanished icon will let drivers quickly check their phone connection and reduce a frustrating usability gap.

Overview

Users had reported the phone cellular signal icon intermittently disappearing from Android Auto for several weeks, leaving the in-car status corner incomplete.
Google confirmed in a public Reddit comment that a fix is being rolled out and advised users to enroll in the Android Auto beta to get the update sooner.
Android Auto version 17.8 has been identified by users as carrying the repair and is appearing on the stable track, with many people reporting the icon has returned for them.
Distribution remains uneven because Google is staging the update, the Android Auto beta was full at the time of reporting, and sideloading the update is an option that carries stability and security risks.
Because the status corner shows battery, time, notifications and signal, the missing icon was a notable usability regression and the staged rollout means some drivers will wait longer for the fix to reach their phone and head unit.