Android Auto To Get A Diagnostic Tool To Detect Faulty USB Cables

Last Updated on March 18, 2022 by Anu Joy

Android Auto has been way ahead of the competition with the number of features it brings to your fingertips. However, if you have used it in your car, you might have frequent connection issues. This problem is quite common with wired Android Auto use cases and is usually caused by a faulty USB cable. Finding a faulty USB cable on your own is quite tricky. To ease things out, Google appears to be working on a diagnostic tool baked into the Android Auto app that will notify users about faulty USB cables.

Esper’s Senior Technical Editor Mishaal Rahman has spotted this tool in the latest version of Android Auto (7.5.121104) that checks whether data can be sent through the cable or if the Android Auto is performing as it should. USB Type-C cables are pretty common on Android smartphones these days, and while they all look the same, they come in multiple specs. This could be one of the reasons Android Auto isn’t working for you. This diagnostic tool has been tucked under the Connection Help panel in the Android Auto app.

Alternatively, Google recommends using a USB cable that is under 3 feet in length, preferable to the one that is supplied with the smartphone. The ones you get within the smartphone box are pretty high-quality cables that can take in both charge and data simultaneously. If you still plan to use a third-party cable, make sure it adheres to the USB-IF standards.

The Diagnostic Tool is expected to pop up in future stable builds of the Android Auto app and might take a few weeks to reach a wider audience.