Android Auto - Phone Calls Not Working

uxisimportant

I'm having trouble with initiating phone calls on Android Auto. I use Google Phone as my dialer app.

When I try to make a call from my car's head unit through Android Auto, it visually indicates that the call is happening—I see the call screen and the hang-up button—but the call never rings or connects.

However, if I initiate the call directly from my Pixel 8 Pro, everything works fine, and I can talk normally through the car. I can also hang up using the head unit, but I have to start the call on my phone.

Device Details:

Device: Pixel 8 Pro
Android Version: 15
Build Number: 2024102400
Google Services: Enabled

In the Apps section under Sandboxed Google Play for Android Auto, all permissions are enabled, including those for handling phone calls.

MajorGlory

uxisimportant Goodmorning, did you figure out a fix for the situation as described by you? I use the default call-app from GrapheneOS, but other than that the behaviour I see in Android Auto is exactly the same. Hope to hear from you!

Byku

Are you using more than 1 sim card perchance?

Pixelpioneer88

Was your issue fixed?

dzervas

Pixelpioneer88 actually yes! In a very vague and random manner too:

I allowed contact access to the car (my thought process was that bad enough software might not know how to show a call without the contact that's calling)
I re-paired the phone via bluetooth
Phone reboots (due to updates etc.)

The main thing that I understood is that the call is processed by the car itself and not by android auto. It's as if you have bluetooth headphones and accept a call, same with the car. Android only handles the device side - redirecting mic & audio out to the bluetooth device, pauses anything playing and shows a UI "you're in a call" with the ability to choose where the call is delegated to (speaker/device/bt). So during the call you're redirected to the car UI that shows the contact name, phone, etc. and not android auto.

There's also a notable "lag" when you first pick up, maybe 10s for the call to be correctly directed to the car speakers.

Given that my car is as close to a bucket as possible, the bad software of the panel doesn't shock me (2020 Toyota Aygo)