Google Sets Android Auto Wired Minimum at Android 11
The change removes official support for many older phones and has created confusion because Google’s documentation and in‑car behavior do not match.
Overview
- Google updated its Android Auto support page to require an Android phone running Android 11 or newer plus an active data plan for wired USB connections, making Android 9 and 10 phones officially unsupported.
- Some drivers reported seeing 'Phone will no longer be supported' warnings before the documentation change, and a number of users say wired Android Auto has already stopped working on their older devices.
- The current Android Auto app release (version 18.1) reportedly still allows Android 10 in some cases, producing inconsistent experiences while the platform enforces the new minimum.
- Practical options for affected drivers include updating to a phone that runs Android 11, using a second, newer device dedicated to Android Auto, or losing wired integration and relying on alternative in‑car solutions.
- This raise continues Google’s multi‑year pattern of phasing out older Android releases for Android Auto, a move that aims to keep the service compatible with newer platform features but forces older, otherwise usable phones out of official support.