Android updates are like a dice roll—sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. This time? It’s a big miss, especially if you rely on Android Auto. Let me break it down for you.
The Problem
The December 2024 update for Android is causing chaos. Audio in Android Auto is broken—completely. Not just music, but all sounds. It’s like your car went mute after this update.
Here’s what’s happening:
- Pixel Phones Hit Hard: Google’s Pixel series, which got the feature drop, is at the center of this mess.
- Other Brands Affected: Samsung and Xiaomi users are also reporting similar issues, though it’s unclear if they installed the same update.
- Beyond Android Auto: Some users say even Bluetooth audio outside of Android Auto is glitchy. Calls work fine, but music and other sounds don’t.
The Workaround (But It’s Weird)
Someone on Google’s forums found a temporary fix, but it’s not ideal:
- Open your phone’s notification center.
- Enable the microphone toggle (you might need to add it first).
- Keep the microphone on at all times to restore audio in Android Auto.
If you turn off the microphone, the audio breaks again. Why does your car audio depend on your microphone? Nobody knows yet—but it worked fine before this update.
Google hasn’t released a fix yet, and with the holidays here, don’t expect one soon. If you haven’t updated your phone yet:
- Hold Off: Avoid the December update if you use Android Auto regularly.
- Stay Informed: Keep an eye out for Google’s official patch or announcements.
This update feels like a step backward instead of forward. Bugs like this make people wary of trusting updates that are supposed to improve their devices. If you’ve already updated, try the workaround for now—but if you haven’t, consider waiting until Google sorts this out.