Be careful with Android Auto: on many older phones it will stop working (after a few days).

You won’t like Google’s latest move with Android Auto if you have an older phone. The company made a promise long ago, which it has not kept for the sake of users for several months: promised to stop supporting devices with Android 8.0 Oreo. Thus, to connect a mobile phone to a car, it was necessary to have a device with at least Android 9.0 Pie, but the reality is that this requirement was not necessary.

Google has left this support issue moot, allowing older phones to continue using Android Auto. So far this is: Big G became serious and decided to fulfill his promise. Android 8.0 Oreo will no longer be compatible with car screens.

When? In a few days, as confirmation will come after receiving details about Android Auto 15.5 in beta stage, version that already requires a more modern device to use the service. Therefore, when you update the application, you may lose access on your mobile phone forever.

Connecting the device to the car would be useless and Android Auto not working properly. And while this is negative news, the truth is that Google has given a good head start: this requirement (Android 9.0 Pie) was supposed to go into effect several months ago, but was put on pause, giving a little more time to lagging users.

Is there a way to get Android Auto back?

Well, if your phone is running Android 8.0 Oreo or earlier, chances are you won’t be able to use Android Auto anymore. To do this, you will need a more modern version of your mobile phone, so you have two options.

• Check for updates. Android 8.0 Oreo may not be the latest operating system compatible with your mobile phone. If you go to settings and go to the “System updates” section, you can check for new updates. If you’ve ever given up on installing a new version, Android 9.0 may be waiting for you. If yes, then all you need to do is install it to be able to use Android Auto.
• Update. On the contrary, if Android 8.0 Oreo is the latest system available for your mobile phone, you will have to change your device to use Android Auto. If you’re looking to buy a used phone, just keep in mind that it should have at least Android 9.0, although it’s best to opt for a more modern handset to avoid being left stranded any time soon.

The good news is that even if your mobile phone is old, you are probably using a more advanced version of Android. Version 8.0 has been around for a long time and only a few devices in the world use it, so the most normal thing is that you still have a few years to continue using Android Auto on your terminal.