Your Android Auto Greyed Out? (Don’t PANIC, Easy Fix!)

If the Android Auto greyed out on your vehicle, keep reading, because this guide is for you!

Your car’s infotainment system has an Android Auto icon that only becomes available after a compatible Android smartphone is connected.

If it remains unclickable or gray, this often means that there’s either a connection fault or an Android Auto app issue.

These would be the best methods to address the problem:

That’s only an introduction, so keep reading to get a detailed walkthrough!

Android Auto Greyed Out – 7 Working & Proven Ways to Fix!

Note: Have you made sure that your car’s infotainment system supports Android Auto?

1. Download & Install the Android Auto App

If you didn’t know until now, Android Auto works through an application on your Android phone.

The app functions as a dependency or rather a link platform through which your phone and the car can exchange information packets.

Your car uses the application’s graphic interface to operate all of Android Auto’s features, so not having it installed will gray out the icon.

Follow these steps to set up the Android Auto app on your smartphone:

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Android smartphone.
2. Search for “Android Auto” in the search field of the platform.
3. Next, download the first app in the results, posted by Google.
4. Follow the steps to install the application and then launch it.

Once you’ve launched the app, you will be prompted to connect with your car and if you already did, you will be taken straight to the dashboard.

Then, the Android Auto app’s icon on your car’s infotainment system should no longer be grayed out. 

2. Inspect the Smartphone’s Connection

You can only access the Android Auto service if a smartphone is already connected to the car’s infotainment system.

The application will be grayed out if your Android smartphone fails to connect to Bluetooth or USB.

So, based on your smartphone’s connection, proceed with the appropriate instructions!

2.1 How to Reconnect Smartphones to AA Over USB?

1. Plug your phone’s charging cable into the phone’s charging port.
2. Install the other end into the USB port on the infotainment system.
3. Follow the on-screen steps to set up the connection of the device.
4. Check if the Android Auto application is still grayed out in “Home.”

2.2 How to Reconnect Smartphones to AA Over Bluetooth?

1. Access the “Settings” → “Bluetooth” settings of the smartphone.
2. After that, activate the pairing mode of your infotainment system.
3. Optional: Hold the Voice Command button on the steering wheel.
4. Establish a wireless connection with the system from your phone.

If you’re uncertain how to activate the system’s “Pairing” mode, there are two possibilities:

• Check the car’s user manual if the Android Auto came built-in with your vehicle.
• Check the manufacturer’s user manual if the system was purchased separately.

Note: You would have to follow the on-screen instructions provided by the system to finalize the wireless pairing of your smartphone.

3. Adjust Android Auto App’s Permissions

The Android car “greyed out” problem could be permission-related, as the application requires multiple permissions to access a variety of services on your smartphone.

Hence, the next step is to verify that the Android Auto app is granted permission to necessary services on the phone.

Here’s how to configure Android Auto’s permissions on your phone:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android smartphone.
2. Enter the “Apps” section and find Android Auto below.
3. Press on the tap to access the advanced settings page.
4. Optional: Tap “All Apps” if Android Auto does not show.
5. Tap “Permissions” once in the app’s advanced settings.
6. Ensure all permissions from the list are set to “Enabled.”
7. Save the changes and exit the app’s configuration menu.

Note: You should still test granting Android Auto with all available permissions, although not all of them are mandatory. 

4. Check if There’s an Existing Connection

If you’re still wondering why is Android auto greyed out in the infotainment system’s navigation menu, it could be due to a connection conflict.

Be aware that up to 20 Android devices can be registered on most infotainment systems, but only one can have an active connection at a time.

How to Check if a Device is Paired to Android Auto?

When paired over Bluetooth once, some Android phones tend to pair automatically once within the infotainment system’s range.

If a friend or a family member has previously connected to your vehicle’s Android Auto, check the Bluetooth connection list of the suspected device to verify.

• Well, some users tend to use two phones with Android Auto, one connected over Bluetooth and one over USB.

This will leave only one device connected and check if the app is still grayed out.

Tip: To avoid future conflicts, forget your car’s profile from the external device’s Bluetooth list. 

5. Clear the Android Auto App’s Cache

Deleting the Android Auto app cache and data works as a type of factory reset for the settings and interface shown on your car.

This process won’t reset the infotainment system itself, but the connection between your Android smartphone and the Android Auto system on your vehicle.

Follow these steps to erase the cache and data of the AA app:

1. Head to “Settings” on the Android and go to “Apps.”
2. Press “Show All” to display all installed applications.
3. Find Android Auto from the list of installed platforms.
4. Tap “Storage” once within the app’s advanced settings.
5. Press on “Clear Cache” and then select “Clear Data”.
6. Exit the configuration panel and retry your connection.

Quick Tip: Periodically clear the cache of all installed apps, to ensure the performance is not slowed down or baffled.

6. Reinstall the Android Auto Application

If clearing the cache does not have any effect, we recommend uninstalling the Android Auto app and downloading it again through the Google Play Store.

In some cases, clearing the cache and data alone isn’t enough to address issues with the installation files or data directory.

• To uninstall Android Auto, hold the app’s icon on the homepage and choose “Uninstall” or “Remove.” Then, access the Google Play Store and install the app cleanly.

Note: By reinstalling the app, you will also ensure it runs the most current firmware version released by Google.

7. Restore the Infotainment System to Defaults

If you’re reading this far into the guide, it’s safe to assume that the Android Auto app is still inaccessible.

In such a case, there’s a strong possibility that the fault is with the infotainment system rather than the phone or the Android Auto app.

So, the best solution is to factory reset the infotainment system, using the options menu or the built-in “RESET” button!

7.1 How to Reset Infotainment System Via the Menu?

1. Navigate to the “System Info” tab from the navigational menu.
2. Choose “Default Settings” in the left or right corner of the page.
3. Optional: Type down the default stereo PIN – “0000” or “1234.”
4. Next, tap the “OK” button on the factory reset prompt to proceed.

Tip: Consult with the stereo’s user manual for exact reset instructions!

7.2 How to Reset Infotainment System Via a Button?

Most infotainment systems come with a physical “RESET” button that restores the settings of the stereo to factory defaults.

It’s typically located on one of the corners or underneath the panel and holding it for 5–10 seconds should factory reset the display.

Reminder: You will be prompted to undergo the initial setup and connect with your phone’s Android Auto from scratch.

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