Android Auto 17.2 audio stuttering: causes and fixes

© A. Krivonosov

Android Auto 17.2 is turning into an update drivers may want to hold off on. After complaints about random disconnects and connection issues, users are now reporting a new bug — stuttering audio and dropouts during music playback.

Not everyone is affected, but those who are describe almost the same scenario: after installing Android Auto 17.2, in-car music starts stuttering, micro-pauses appear, and normal listening becomes annoying. Drivers have already tried the usual fixes — setting battery optimization for the app to Unrestricted, clearing the cache, toggling Bluetooth off and on — but that does not always help.

One user on a Google forum wrote that they had already set the app’s battery optimization to Unrestricted, cleared the app cache and toggled Bluetooth on and off, but the micro-stutters persisted. Other users confirmed similar behavior in their own cars. Even so, Android Auto 17.2 cannot be called broken across the board.

For some owners the update runs fine, especially on newer phones with factory-supported wireless Android Auto. So the bug likely depends on a combination of phone, car, firmware version, Bluetooth module or a specific infotainment system. The good news is that Google has already noticed the complaints.

A community specialist responded in the thread and asked users to share more data about the audio glitch. That means the issue has at least reached developers’ radar, even though no fix timeline has been given yet. For drivers, the main risk with updates like this is not just the annoyance. Android Auto has long been part of everyday driving — navigation, calls, music, voice commands. When the system starts losing its connection or ruining the audio, it quickly turns from a minor bug into constant irritation behind the wheel.

If Android Auto 17.2 is already installed and issues appeared afterward, the simplest temporary fix is to roll back to the previous version. Those who have not received the update yet would be wise to wait for the next release or patch. On Google’s usual schedule, a beta of Android Auto 17.3 could arrive as early as next week.

Google is meanwhile preparing a bigger Android Auto update with widgets and support for video apps, including YouTube while parked. Ahead of that, Google has also been testing other Android Auto features — for example, controlling a phone alarm right from the car display. But right now, users care less about new features than about the stability of what already exists: connection, audio and navigation without surprises.