Android Auto Night Mode Not Working? (Here’s The Fix!)

If the Android Auto Night mode not working, don’t worry. This guide contains the solution!

The Day/Night mode of your Android Auto is the natural cycle between the light/dark themes of your infotainment system.

Driving with a light theme during the night can be quite distracting and relatively dangerous.

So we’ve uncovered several solutions that will most definitely help you out.

Keep reading for a complete walkthrough of the solutions!

Android Auto Night Mode Not Working – Working Solutions

Tip: Have you tried rebooting the infotainment system and your vehicle?

1. Enable Day/Night Mode in the Settings

The first step is to ensure that the Android Auto application is allowed to change between day and night modes based on the current time.

The feature could be enabled by default for some Android devices, but you should still check the app’s configuration on the Android smartphone.

Here’s how to enable the Day/Night mode for the Android Auto app:

1. Open your smartphone’s “Settings” and go to “Apps.”
2. Select “Android Auto” from the installed apps listings.
3. Access “Advanced Settings” or “Extra Options” below.
4. Locate the “Day/Night Mode for Maps” in the section.
5. Set the feature to “Night” and check if there’s a change.

• By default, the feature should be set to “Automatic” or “Automatic Day/Night Mode” which works.

However, if there’s no difference after setting the feature to “Night,” switch it back to “Automatic” and proceed with the next step.

2. Dim the Infotainment System’s Display

Many users experiencing the same mode issue suggested slightly dimming the infotainment system’s display if the Night mode does not toggle automatically.

The brightness of most panels is responsive to sunlight, so if you’ve locked the dim level, the system won’t know when to work. 

Here’s how to dim the display of an Android Auto infotainment system:

1. Navigate to the homepage of the Android Auto panel.
2. Swipe downwards from the top of the system display.
3. Drag the brightness slider towards the left to lower it.
4. Select the “Theme Mode” on the right end of the slider.
5. Set the infotainment system’s theme to “Dark” and test.

Note: While testing, keep the brightness at the 20th-30th percentile of the slider to force the Night mode’s activation.

3. Update the Android Auto App’s OS Version

Another potential reason why the Android Auto Day Night mode not working is an outdated version of the AA smartphone application.

In order to synchronize all of the settings correctly, including the Day/Night mode, the application must be consistently up-to-date on your phone.

Here’s how to update the Android Auto app on most Android smartphones:

1. Access the Google Play Store and tap on your profile icon.
2. Tap “Manage apps & device” from the menu then “Manage.”
3. Locate Android Auto in the list of installed apps and select it.
4. Optional: Tap “Update” if a newer version for AA is available.

How to Clear the Android Auto App’s Cache?

You can address issues with Android Auto by clearing the app’s cache through the smartphone. 

Here are the detailed instructions on how to clear AA’s cache:

1. Open Settings on your smartphone and go to “Apps.”
2. Next, tap on “See All Apps” and select Android Auto.
3. Navigate to the “Storage & cache” tab in the settings.
4. Tap “Clear Storage” and then the “Clear Cache” tile.

Tip: It’s advised to clear the cache of all installed apps to maintain your phone’s performance.

4. Reduce the Dashboard’s Brightness Level

Some infotainment systems are reactive to the brightness level of your car’s dashboard.

If set to maximum brightness, the system may perceive that it is always daytime and will not enable the Night mode of the display whenever necessary.

So, let’s review how to operate the dashboard brightness on newer and older cars!

4.1 How to Reduce Dashboard Brightness On Older Cars?

Older cars rely on mechanical switches and adjustment wheels for controlling the dashboard’s features.

If your car was released prior to 2005, you may want to look for a wheel or a switch that dims or brightens the dashboard of the vehicle, including the speedometer and tachometer.

4.2 How to Reduce Dashboard Brightness On Newer Cars?

The dashboard brightness on most newer cars can be adjusted directly through the infotainment system’s settings.

This means that you must exit Android Auto and unpair the smartphone to set the dashboard’s brightness to a dimmer level. 

Then, wait for the Night mode to activate automatically and determine whether it works properly.

5. Set the Application to “Night” Mode Manually

The Night mode is an essential feature of any infotainment system, particularly for all navigation apps.

In most cases, external applications cannot influence the light theme on Android Auto, but you should still change the application’s theme manually.

Generally, Google Maps and Waze appear to be the most popular navigation apps available on Android Auto.

The theme must be adjusted through your Android smartphone, as not all settings from the app’s interface will be available through your infotainment system.

5.1 How to Adjust Light Theme On Google Maps?

1. Update the version of Google Maps and open it on your phone.
2. Next, tap your profile image situated in the upper-right corner.
3. Navigate to the “Settings” tab and select your “Theme” option.
4. Set the theme to the “Always in Dark Theme” setting and test.

5.2 How to Adjust Light Theme On Waze?

1. Open your Waze app and ensure the version is up-to-date.
2. Next, tap “Settings” and access the “Map Display” option.
3. Tap the Dark Mode function and change the value to “On.”
4. Optional: You can also set your feature to “Only at Night.”

Note: The dark mode of the other applications available through your Android Auto can be configured differently.

6. Reset Android Panel to Factory Defaults

If the Android Auto is still unable to function in Night mode, it’s recommended to proceed with a factory reset.

This procedure will restore all of the panel’s settings to defaults and address any issues with the system and the Night mode’s activation.

Tip: Before reset execution, check if the panel has a built-in “Factory Reset” button!

Universally, follow these steps to factory reset an Android Auto car panel:

1. Open the “Settings” page on the car’s infotainment panel.
2. Navigate to the “Factory Settings” or “System Info” tab.
3. Optional: Type down the required password for access.
4. Tap “Default Settings” or “Factory Reset” on the next tab.
5. Test the Night mode once the system has finished the reset.

Alert: Do not interact with the system before the factory reset has been finalized, otherwise you may cancel the procedure unintentionally. 

7. Enroll in the Beta Testing of Android Auto

You can enroll in Android Auto’s beta testing program and become the first to experience the app’s newest features and implementations.

It could also address issues with the Day/Night cycle mode, especially if hotfixes are coming with the newer versions.

How to Become a Beta Tester of Android Auto?

1. Access the beta test opt-in page of Android Auto on your phone.
2. Select the “Become a tester” button from the functionalities page.
3. Head to the Google Play Store and update Android Auto’s version.
4. Check the new features and test whether the Night mode is working.

Important: The user positions for beta testing are limited, so you may be unable to join the program immediately!

Already a Participant in the Beta Testing Program?

In case you’re already enrolled with Android Auto’s beta test, we strongly recommend switching back to the app’s regular version to test the Day/Night mode.

There could be a problem with one of the app’s features preventing the Day/Night mode from working on your infotainment system.