Solved: How do I fix “Android Auto encountered an error” Communication Error 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, and 16?

Android Auto automatically provides helpful information, such as suggested destinations, upcoming appointments, and weather conditions, to your vehicle’s information system dashboard as you need it.

Recently, users have reported encountering communication errors while attempting to connect their Android smartphone to their vehicle’s information system with a USB cable. Android Auto is experiencing communication errors with several different error codes, including 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, and 16.

The following error message was displayed in detail:

Communication error 4

This message means the vehicle has disconnected with Android Auto. The car system has malfunctioned and disconnected from your phone.

Communication error 7 – Your car’s software didn’t pass Android Auto security checks. For details and support, contact the manufacturer.

This error means that Android Auto is unable to establish secure communication with your vehicle’s information system. Possible causes are either the USB cable is not properly connected or damaged, or Google Play Services is not up to date.

Communication error 8 – Your can’s software didn’t pass Android Auto security checks. Make sure the car’s date and time are set correctly, and that Google Play services has been updated.

Potential causes of authentication failure between the car and the phone may include incorrect date and time settings in the vehicle’s display, incorrect Region Settings in the phone, daylight savings time settings differing between the car and the phone, or mismatch time zones set on your car and phone.

Communication error 11 – Something’s wrong. When it’s safe, unplug and plug in your phone.

Communication error 12 – Something’s wrong. When it’s safe, unplug and plug in your phone.

It appears that this may be a temporary software issue. Should this issue happen frequently, it may be due to faulty USB cable or not properly connected.

Communication error 14 – Your can’s software didn’t pass Android Auto security checks. Make sure the car’s date and time are set correctly, and that Google Play services has been updated.

Communication error 16 – Something’s wrong. When it’s safe, unplug and plug in your phone.

This article outlines the steps for resolving the Android Auto encountered a communication error issue on Android smartphones.

Content Summary

Solution 1: Reconnect device
Solution 2: Enable Android Auto on your Car
Solution 3: Correct Date and Time Settings
Solution 4: Uncheck Enable Wireless Display
Solution 5: Change Default USB configuration in Developer Mode
Solution 6: Clear Cache and Data
Solution 7: Delete Dua App
Solution 8: Update Android Auto App
Solution 9: Update Google Play Services
Solution 10: Reconnect or Replace USB Cable
Solution 11: Factory Reset

Solution 1: Reconnect device

Step 1: Restart your smartphone.

Step 2: Turn on the Android Auto app.

Step 3: Disconnect your phone from the car and try connecting them again.

Solution 2: Enable Android Auto on your Car

Step 1: Go to your Car Settings > Smartphone > Enable phone device for Android Auto.

Step 2: Check to see if your phone is enabled for Android Auto.

Solution 3: Correct Date and Time Settings

Step 1: Park your car, disconnect your phone from the car, and set your car and phone to the same Date and Time manually instead of the GPS Sync Time.

Step 2: Set your car and phone to the same Time Zones Setting, Daylight Savings Time Setting, and Region Setting. Make sure all date and time-related settings in the car matches the setting on your phone.

Step 3: Save the settings and reconnect your phone to the car.

Solution 4: Uncheck Enable Wireless Display

Note: This solution applied for BlackBerry KEY2.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Connected Devices > Cast.

Step 2: Tap on the hamburger menu located at the top right.

Step 3: Uncheck Enable wireless display.

Solution 5: Change Default USB configuration in Developer Mode

Step 1: Open phone Settings > System > About phone > Tap 7 time on the Build number.

Step 2: Open phone Settings > System > Developer options > Toggle on USB debugging.

Step 3: Connect your phone to the car.

Step 4: When USB Preferences prompted on the phone, select USB tethering or MTP and check if Android Auto launches.

Alternatively, go to Developer options > Select USB configuration, choose USB tethering or MTP then check if Android Auto launches.

Solution 6: Clear Cache and Data

Step 1: Open phone Settings > Apps & notifications > Android Auto > Storage > Clear cache and clear data.

Step 2: Open phone Settings > Apps & notifications > Google Play services > Storage > Clear cache.

Solution 7: Delete Dua App

Android will clone Google Play services for the app when using the Dual / Clone / Parallel / Twin app feature (which happens on Asus ZenFone, Xiaomi, Oxygen, and OnePlus) which causes this issue.

Step 1: Open phone Settings > Dual Apps.

Step 2: Tap on the gear icon then select Delete dual app accounts.

Step 3: On the popup window, tap on Remove and reboot.

Alternatively, delete all cloned apps individually.

Solution 8: Update Android Auto App

Make sure the Android Auto app updated to the latest version. The most recent release has corrected this particular error message.

Step 1: Open Settings > Application Manager.

Step 2: Locate and click Android Auto.

Step 3: Tap on Storage.

Step 4: Click Clear Cache and Clear data from the preceding window.

Step 5: Tap on the back button.

Step 6: Tap on Force Stop, then Uninstall, and then confirm to uninstall the app.

Step 7: Off your phone and wait for 1 minute before restarting.

Step 8: Launch Google Play and search for Android Auto.

Step 9: Tap on Android Auto from the search results, and then tap on Install.

Solution 9: Update Google Play Services

Step 1: Go to the Google search bar and type in Google Play Services.

Step 2: Click on the Google Play Service icon to open a window that will allow for to upgrade.

Alternatively, go to Settings > Application Manager or Apps & Notifications > See All Apps > Google Play Services. Tap on the Advanced drop-down menu and select App Details. You should see the option to update your Google Play Services app.

Follow the below steps if you like to uninstall Google Play Services previous updates to trigger a clean update:

Step 1: Open phone Settings > Fingerprints and Security > Phone Administrators.

Step 2: Disable Find my device.

Step 3: Go to Settings > General > Apps > Google Play Services.

Step 4: Tap the three vertical dots located at the top-right and select Uninstall updates.

Step 5: You can find the Google Play Services on the Play Store or a Notification will appear on your phone to update the Google Play Service.

Solution 10: Reconnect or Replace USB Cable

Step 1: Check that the USB cable is intact.

Step 2: Replace your USB cable with a recommended USB cable. make sure you are using a working USB cable. Note: You should use an original USB charging cable supplied with the smartphone.

Refer to below guide to choosing the right USB cable for Android Auto:

• Choose a cable that is no longer than 6ft and avoid using cable extensions.
• Make sure your cable has the USB icon.
• If you have Pixel phones, Pixel accessory USB-C to USB-A cable would be the best choice.
• For Micro USB:
  • AmazonBasics Micro USB Cable (6ft, 1.8m)
  • Anker Micro USB Cable (6ft, 1.8m)
  • Cablex Nylon Braided Micro USB Cable (6ft, 1.8m)
  • iOrange-E Micro USB Cable (6.6ft, 2m)
  • iSeeker Micro USB Cable (6ft, 1.8m)
  • Monoprice Micro USB Cable (3ft, 1m)
• For type C:
  • Anker USB Type C to USB 3.0 Cable (3.3ft, 1m)
  • Cable Matters USB Type C to Type A Cable (6.6ft, 2m)
  • CHOETECH USB Type C Cable USB Type C to USB Type A (3.3ft, 1m)
  • FRiEQ USB 3.1 Type C Cable (3.3ft, 1m)
  • Inateck USB C Cable (3.3ft, 1m)
  • iOrange-E USB C Cable (6.6ft, 2m)
  • LTNLab USB Type C to USB 2.0 Cable (3.3ft, 1m)

Solution 11: Factory Reset

If the above solution steps are unsuccessful, it is recommended to perform factory reset for both the phone and the car’s head unit to their factory settings and attempt to reconnect again.

Source

Chevrolet > How-to and Support > Entertainment and Connections > Bluetooth, Smartphones and Wi-Fi > Android Auto > A Simple Way to Use Your Phone in Your Vehicle
techtrickz > How to Solve Android Auto Communication Error 16 on Xiaomi Phone
Android Auto Help > Android Auto is not working with my Galaxy S10 and 2019 Honda Ridgeline
OnePlus Community > One Plus 6 communication error 16 android auto
Mi Community > [Q & A] Android auto communication error 16
Android Auto Help > communication error 8 for android auto
CrackBerry > Android BlackBerry Phones & OS > BlackBerry KEY2 > USB Connectivity