Android Auto gone

[sajurcaju]

From Ford: "Connected Built-in Navigation service for Lightning ended on 1/5/2026"
I expected what this meant was that I could no longer use Nav. I still have Nav maps, but Android Auto is inaccessible.
WTF?

How do I get AA back without subscribing?

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[Zprime29]

AA does not go away. It's more likely that your phone just wasn't connecting properly. Are you attempting to use wireless AA or are you plugging in? Does your phone say you are connected and nothing on the screen? We need a little more detail to help troubleshoot.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Make sure the apps on your phone are all up to date, also might be a temporary glitch due to auto-update of related apps like Ford App releasing v6.4.0 yesterday.

 

[bc1]

FYI. Was going to start a new thread but will add to this one. I ran across an Android Auto change some of you may be interested in. It allows you to add other apps to the A A menu besides the ones authorized or allowed by the app and/or Ford.

Android phone. Go to settings and then to Connected Devices and select Android Auto. This screen allows you to connect a vehicle and has switches to start automatically, start while locked, start music automatically, and show quick controls for apps, and all of which should be switched on.

Further down are switches for messaging and notifications which I have all turned on but your preference may vary.

Down at the very bottom is the Version tab which upon first tap/click on it will say Version and permission info and list all the updates below it and the permissions at the very bottom. At this point keep tapping/clicking for 10 times to open the Developer mode. You will get a warning at 3 taps/clicks away that you are going to developer mode. Tap/click OK to open into developer mode.

At this point everything will still look the same on the screen. Go to the 3 vertical setting dots at top right and tap/click to open settings.

Tap/click on Developer settings to enter the Developer Settings screen.

Wireless Android Auto should be checked. On mine the rest were unchecked boxes that I'm not sure what all they do. However if you check the box for "Unknown sources" down towards the bottom that will give permission and allow other apps to populate or get added to your A A screen to allow opening. I have a website player app for a particular radio station I want to add.

Once checked tap/click the back button of your phone to go to the previous screen. At this point you can tap/click on the 3 dot settings at the top right again and it gives you the option to Quit developer mode. It may or may not be necessary to quit developer mode, I don't know but I did.

I just did this last night and so far haven't had a chance to see what happens after this, etc. Taking wife to hospital for Afib ablation so I may not get a chance today. This should allow other apps such as your own games, etc. but I believe you have to go in and individually add them to the A A app screen but will see.

 

[rugedraw]

Down at the very bottom is the Version tab which upon first tap/click on it will say Version and permission info and list all the updates below it and the permissions at the very bottom. At this point keep tapping/clicking for 10 times to open the Developer mode. You will get a warning at 3 taps/clicks away that you are going to developer mode. Tap/click OK to open into developer mode.

At this point everything will still look the same on the screen. Go to the 3 vertical setting dots at top right and tap/click to open settings.

Tap/click on Developer settings to enter the Developer Settings screen.

Wireless Android Auto should be checked.

I did this to purposely uncheck wireless Android Auto; I only used a wired connection. I just got the OTA for SYnc 25094 yesterday, so I am not sure if this newer Sync version plays nicer with wireless phone projection. What I have noticed throughout the 4 years I have been dealing with Sync 4 is that a wired connection is the way to go if you want to have the most reliable experience.

 

[bc1]

Definitely wired to avoid the latency delays with wifi or bluetooth, etc. and to have a quicker more stable connection particularly if using maps and playing any tunes from the phone, but you can hook up direct with usb cable anytime but leaving wireless on at least allows for times until you get plugged in and if you are using a usb drive to play music.

 

[sajurcaju]

False alarm. I had no AA for two trips, happened just after no more Ford navigation, so I tied the two together. This morning we pulled into the market parking space and my wife pointed to the screen-AA was back. So just a coincident glitch.
Thanks for the reponses!

 

[Tfarrell73]

Sometimes a Sync screen reset is needed. Far left and right buttons on steering wheel for about 10 secs

 

[chriserx]

If it's wireless AA ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ gremlins
If it's wired AA and happens again try flipping the connector, happens occasionally on my Lightning cable for CarPlay

 

[davehu]

FYI. Was going to start a new thread but will add to this one. I ran across an Android Auto change some of you may be interested in. It allows you to add other apps to the A A menu besides the ones authorized or allowed by the app and/or Ford.

Android phone. Go to settings and then to Connected Devices and select Android Auto. This screen allows you to connect a vehicle and has switches to start automatically, start while locked, start music automatically, and show quick controls for apps, and all of which should be switched on.

Further down are switches for messaging and notifications which I have all turned on but your preference may vary.

Down at the very bottom is the Version tab which upon first tap/click on it will say Version and permission info and list all the updates below it and the permissions at the very bottom. At this point keep tapping/clicking for 10 times to open the Developer mode. You will get a warning at 3 taps/clicks away that you are going to developer mode. Tap/click OK to open into developer mode.

At this point everything will still look the same on the screen. Go to the 3 vertical setting dots at top right and tap/click to open settings.

Tap/click on Developer settings to enter the Developer Settings screen.

Wireless Android Auto should be checked. On mine the rest were unchecked boxes that I'm not sure what all they do. However if you check the box for "Unknown sources" down towards the bottom that will give permission and allow other apps to populate or get added to your A A screen to allow opening. I have a website player app for a particular radio station I want to add.

Once checked tap/click the back button of your phone to go to the previous screen. At this point you can tap/click on the 3 dot settings at the top right again and it gives you the option to Quit developer mode. It may or may not be necessary to quit developer mode, I don't know but I did.

I just did this last night and so far haven't had a chance to see what happens after this, etc. Taking wife to hospital for Afib ablation so I may not get a chance today. This should allow other apps such as your own games, etc. but I believe you have to go in and individually add them to the A A app screen but will see.

Tried it. could not detect any difference.

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