Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
Installing Android Auto updates was, is, and will probably continue to be a risky game, as every new release could fix long-standing glitches but could also potentially introduce others.
This is precisely what happened in my case after installing Android Auto 12.3 stable.
The rollout of this stable update started last week, and while users are getting the new version gradually through the Play Store, anyone can install it by sideloading the APK.
That's what I did, and shortly after installing Android Auto 12.3, I discovered that my cabin was much quieter. Not because I forgot to pick up my kid from kindergarten but because an essential Android Auto feature was no longer working.
Users have been complaining about broken message notifications on Android Auto for several months, but everything worked correctly on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra until I installed this update. I no longer get message notifications when Android Auto runs in my car, and the only way to check if I have a new text to read is to open the notification center. This is also the only way to spot a new message landing on my phone, as I can look for the number in the lower right corner.
Android Auto 12.3 is acting in mysterious ways on my phone, as app notifications are also occasionally broken. While I originally thought that only the message notifications were impacted by the glitch, I sometimes don't get other notifications, making the time I spend behind the wheel significantly quieter.
Oddly enough, this isn't the experience that everybody gets after updating to the latest stable Android Auto build. I asked my colleagues to sideload Android Auto 12.3 on their smartphones, and message notifications work correctly, with no blocking bug whatsoever. However, considering the number of people reporting the same behavior in their cars, it's probably safe to delay the update if you need message notifications while you drive.
Otherwise, it doesn't look like the typical fixes in the Android Auto space improve the experience after hitting this bug. Clearing the cache and the data doesn't bring back message notifications, so the only solution I can think of is downgrading to an earlier app version. This isn't the most convenient workaround, especially for less tech-savvy people who just want a stable and reliable experience, but if you know how to sideload an app on Android, the process is similar with the right APK installer.
A Google Community Specialist said not long ago that the issue was investigated, but it's still unclear when and if Google plans to come up with a fix. Meanwhile, if you need message notifications, you'd better not hurry up to install this latest update. And if you find a fix to this problem, please share it with me.
The rollout of this stable update started last week, and while users are getting the new version gradually through the Play Store, anyone can install it by sideloading the APK.
That's what I did, and shortly after installing Android Auto 12.3, I discovered that my cabin was much quieter. Not because I forgot to pick up my kid from kindergarten but because an essential Android Auto feature was no longer working.
Users have been complaining about broken message notifications on Android Auto for several months, but everything worked correctly on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra until I installed this update. I no longer get message notifications when Android Auto runs in my car, and the only way to check if I have a new text to read is to open the notification center. This is also the only way to spot a new message landing on my phone, as I can look for the number in the lower right corner.
Android Auto 12.3 is acting in mysterious ways on my phone, as app notifications are also occasionally broken. While I originally thought that only the message notifications were impacted by the glitch, I sometimes don't get other notifications, making the time I spend behind the wheel significantly quieter.
Oddly enough, this isn't the experience that everybody gets after updating to the latest stable Android Auto build. I asked my colleagues to sideload Android Auto 12.3 on their smartphones, and message notifications work correctly, with no blocking bug whatsoever. However, considering the number of people reporting the same behavior in their cars, it's probably safe to delay the update if you need message notifications while you drive.
Otherwise, it doesn't look like the typical fixes in the Android Auto space improve the experience after hitting this bug. Clearing the cache and the data doesn't bring back message notifications, so the only solution I can think of is downgrading to an earlier app version. This isn't the most convenient workaround, especially for less tech-savvy people who just want a stable and reliable experience, but if you know how to sideload an app on Android, the process is similar with the right APK installer.
A Google Community Specialist said not long ago that the issue was investigated, but it's still unclear when and if Google plans to come up with a fix. Meanwhile, if you need message notifications, you'd better not hurry up to install this latest update. And if you find a fix to this problem, please share it with me.
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