Android Auto now needs Android 11 or higher for wired USB connections. Google has updated its official requirements page, so phones stuck on Android 9 or Android 10 are no longer supported.
The change to the support page was spotted by Android Authority. Some owners of affected phones say Android Auto has already stopped working when they plug in.
In October, Google showed an in-app warning to Android 10 users, which we covered before Google had confirmed anything. The help page now settles it. The cutoff also covers Android 9, not just Android 10.
What Google’s Android Auto requirements page now says
The USB section of Google’s Get started with Android Auto help page lists this requirement:
An Android phone with Android 11.0 (Red Velvet Cake) or higher and an active data plan.
Until now, the floor for a wired connection was Android 9 Pie. Wireless Android Auto already required Android 11. In practice, this change hits drivers who connect with a USB cable.
Android Auto is built into the phone, and Google’s page says you do not need to download it. That means there is no standalone app version to hold on to.
Which phones lose Android Auto
Any phone whose last major update was Android 9 or Android 10 now falls below the minimum. These are the models reported so far:
- Samsung Galaxy S series: Galaxy S9 series
- Samsung Galaxy Note series: Galaxy Note 9 series
- Samsung Galaxy A series: Galaxy A50, Galaxy A80
- Sony Xperia: Xperia XZ2 Compact
The Galaxy S9, Galaxy Note 9 and Xperia XZ2 Compact all got the October warning. All three officially stopped at Android 10. SamMobile notes that many more Samsung phones ended on Android 10 too.
Still supported:
- Wired (USB): any phone on Android 11 or newer with an active data plan
- Wireless: any phone on Android 11 or newer with 5 GHz Wi-Fi and an active data plan
Phones running Android (Go edition) remain excluded. That rule is not new.
When does it stop working?
Google’s page gives no cutoff date. Outlets reporting the change say Google has not shared an exact date for every affected device. Meanwhile, some users say wired Android Auto already fails on their phones.
That leaves owners guessing. A Galaxy S9 that still connects today could lose Android Auto on any drive, with only an October pop-up as notice.
How to check your Android version
Google’s Android Help page gives the steps:
- Open your phone’s Settings app.
- Tap About phone (or About tablet).
- Tap Android version.
If it shows Android 11 or higher, nothing changes for you. If it shows Android 9 or 10, check whether a system update is available. If your phone has none, the only fix is moving to a phone on Android 11 or newer.
Running Android 11 or newer but still can’t connect? Our guide to Android Auto connection problems after One UI 9 covers a separate issue some Galaxy owners have hit.
Sources: Google Android Auto Help, Android Authority, SamMobile, Google Android Help
