Fix: Android Auto Communication Error 8

Android Auto Communication Error 8 usually shows up as a red screen or a message that says the connection failed, right after you connect your phone to your car. This error means that your phone and your car couldn’t properly connect to each other.

The most common reason for this is that the date and time on your phone and your car’s system don’t match, which stops them from talking to each other securely. Other things that can cause this problem are old versions of Google Play Services, problems with the Android Auto app, or damaged app data.

There are several common reasons why Android Auto may not connect properly. Let’s go through the possible causes and their solutions:

1. Change the USB Cable

If your USB cable is broken, damaged, or not compatible, it may cause communication errors. Using a new or original cable can often resolve this issue.

1. Try using a different cable to connect your phone to your car. If possible, use the original cable that came with your phone.
2. Then open Android Auto and check if it works properly.

2. Change Date and Time Settings

If the date and time settings on your phone or car’s head unit are incorrect, Android Auto may display a communication error. This is especially likely if you live in an area that uses daylight saving time and one of your devices hasn’t updated accordingly. Adjusting these settings can fix the problem.

1. Go to your phone’s Settings.
2. Tap on Date and Time.

   

3. Check that your device’s date and time are correct. You can look up the correct time for your area online.
4. On your car’s display unit, adjust the date and time to match your phone.
5. If your car’s unit uses GPS Sync time, try disabling it. If it’s already disabled, try enabling it instead. After changing this setting, disconnect your car’s battery for 30 minutes to fully reset.
6. Make sure both your car unit and phone are set to the same time zone.
7. After making these changes, restart Android Auto and check if it’s working correctly.

3. Update or Reinstall the Android Auto App

Android Auto receives frequent updates to support new features and fix bugs. An outdated app version can lead to the communication error. Sometimes, fully uninstalling and reinstalling the app works better than just updating it.

1. Open your phone’s Settings.
2. Go to Applications (or Apps / Application Manager) and find Android Auto.

   

3. Tap on Storage and choose Clear Cache and Clear Data.

   

4. Press the back button, then tap Force Stop.

   

5. Tap Uninstall and confirm to remove the app.

   

6. Once uninstalled, power off your phone, wait 1 minute, and restart it.
7. After the restart, open Google Play Store and search for “Android Auto”.
8. Select Android Auto from the results and tap Install.

   

9. Open Android Auto and pair it with your car to see if the problem is resolved.

4. Update Google Play Services

Google Play Services is a vital part of Android, helping other apps run correctly. Using an outdated version can cause issues like communication error 8. Here’s how to refresh or update it (steps may vary based on your device):

1. Open your phone’s Settings and go to Applications (or Apps / Application Manager).
2. Find and select Google Play Services.

   

3. Go to Storage and tap Clear cache.

   

4. Select Manage Space, then tap Clear All Data.

   

5. Now, open the Chrome browser on your phone and search for “Google Play Services”.

   

6. Tap the three vertical dots in the top right and check Desktop Site.

   

7. Select the link from Google Play (play.google.com) in the results.

   

8. If an update is available, tap Update. If not, tap Deactivate and then Activate to refresh the service.

   

9. Now, try using Android Auto again and see if the issue has been fixed.

5. Update Google Play Store

Google Play Store is essential for updating all apps and system services on Android devices. If you’re running an outdated version, it could cause Android Auto to show error 8.

1. Open the Play Store app and tap the menu, then Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap on Play Store Version.

   

3. If an update is available, install it. If not, you’ll see a message saying Google Play Store is up to date.

   

4. Once the Play Store is updated, open Android Auto and check if the error is resolved. Restart your phone after updating the Play Store for best results.

6. Update Your Device’s Operating System

Android system updates fix security holes, improve performance, and solve bugs that might cause communication errors with Android Auto. Keeping your device up to date is always a good idea.

1. Open your phone’s Settings and tap on About Phone.

   

2. Tap System Update, then Check for updates.

   

3. If an update is available, download and install it.
4. After updating your phone, open Android Auto again to see if it works as expected.

7. Turn on USB Debugging

USB debugging helps your Android phone communicate smoothly with other devices, including your car’s system. If USB debugging is turned off, Android Auto might not work correctly.

1. Disconnect your phone from your car and force stop Android Auto as shown in Solution 3.
2. Go to your phone’s Settings and tap on About Phone.
3. Scroll down and tap “Build number” seven times.

   

4. You’ll see a pop-up message that says “You are now a developer.”
5. Press the back button and go to Developer Options.

   

6. Scroll down until you find USB Debugging.
7. Toggle “USB Debugging” to enable it and confirm.

   

8. Now relaunch Android Auto and connect your phone to your car unit to see if the error is gone.