How to fix Android Auto communication error 8

What is "communication error 8"

Error 8 is a communication issue. Most often the problem lies in the outdated Android Auto app or Google Play services.

Also, the error can occur due to the unsynchronization of date and time on the car and phone. Error 8 appears at any time of operation, both when connected and directly during the trip.

By the way, if you have never connected Android Auto to a head unit before, be sure to check the compatibility of your car with this navigation system.

Step 1: Restart the phone and head unit

The easiest step to fix communication error 8 in Android Auto. Many minor system glitches resolve themselves after that.

If your mobile device is frozen, do the following:

1. Tap the power button and the home button, if your phone has one
2. (or) Tap the volume down button and the power off button.
3. After 10 seconds, Android will reboot automatically.

Rebooting the head unit.

There is usually a Reset button on your car stereo, and a small button below that is recessed into the casing. You can tap it with a pin or paper clip. It is not recommended to do it with a toothpick - it easily breaks and can stay inside.

Tap the button until the device turns off completely.

If you don't have a reset button, tap the button to turn the radio off for 10 seconds. Sometimes you need to tap the volume down button at the same time.

If your car stereo has a disk drive, try taping its button simultaneously with volume down and power off. This method is rare, but on some cars it works.

If neither method helps, you can try disconnecting the power in the car stereo via the cord. But most likely, with this problem you will have to contact the service.

You can also turn the car off and on again after a couple of minutes.

Step 2: Check for mechanical damage

If there is no physical connection between Android Auto and the head unit, this can result in a "communication error 8" message.

Try connecting the phone remotely first and then via USB cable. If either method works - e.g. the phone connects via Bluetooth, but gives an error when connecting via cable - the problem is in the cable.

Buy a new USB cable (Android Auto compatible one) or check the USB cable and device connectors. There is a high risk that they are simply loose or clogged with dust.

If the problem is related to Bluetooth, separately check the operation of both devices: the phone with Android Auto installed and the voice device.

1. Connect your phone to headphones or speakers.
2. Try to connect another phone to the head unit.

If it works that way, then the problem is in the receiver and can only be solved through the service.

Step 3: Date and time settings

Usually the time and date are set automatically. But if you have it wrong or if you use a local time zone, you get a communication error 8

Do the following on your Android mobile device:

Step 1. Open the "Clock" app;

Step 2. Tap on the three dots in the top right corner;

Step 3. Go to "Settings";

Step 4. Select your time zone.

Step 5. On newer Android versions (10+), you don't need to go to Settings - just tap on "World clock" at the bottom.

To set your time zone automatically:

Step 1. Go to Settings - General management;

Step 2. Go to the "Date and time" section;

Step 3. Tap on "Automatically detect time zone".

You can do the same on the Android FM radio app. The fixing method is the same.

On the car stereo the time is much more likely to get lost due to constant disconnections, or due to the inaccessibility of mobile communication.

Step 4: Reset Bluetooth settings

As with resetting, sometimes just disconnecting and reconnecting the Bluetooth device is enough to fix Android Auto.

How to remove the car from your phone memory:

Step 1. Go to Settings;

Step 2. Select the "Connections" section;

Step 3. Tap on the Bluetooth section, be sure to turn it on;

Step 4. Find your vehicle in the list below; Tap the Settings gear icon;

Step 5. Tap on "Unpair".

It is recommended to do this also with all unnecessary devices. After that you can reconnect the car to Android Auto.

The same should be done from the car, the algorithm does not change. Delete your device and any phones that are not currently in use.

To do this more quickly, you can do the following:

Step 1. Pull down the curtain on the home screen,

Step 2. Long Tap on Bluetooth,

Step 3. Select the device from the drop down list.

Step 5: Update Android

It's worth checking for updates. Although the app works with android version 9, there may be problems due to the lack of updates on your phone.

Usually they happen automatically, you can see an update notification at the top in the bar.

If it's not there, do the following:

Step 1. Open the Settings;

Step 2. Go to the "Software update" section;

If an update is available, the corresponding information will appear.

Step 3. Tap on "Download and install". Follow the further instructions.

To view the android version you need to

Step 1. Go to Settings,

Step 2. Open "About phone" section,

Step 3. Tap on "Software information".

Also, if you have OC android 9, it could be the outdated Android Auto app. Find it on Google Play, use the search, go to the page and Tap on "update". Or update it through the app manager.

You can also Tap on "clear cache" and "clear data".

Step 6: Update Google Play services

All phones on the android system work inseparably from the services of Google Play.

To work properly, the services need to be constantly updated.

1. Open the Settings;

2. Go to "Apps" or "App manager";

3. Select Google Play services;

4. Clear the cache and data;

5. Tap "About the app in the store";

6. Update the app in the store.

Step 7: Change the cable to a certified cable

If after step 2 you are convinced that the cable is faulty, then purchase a certified cable.

Often the problem is not the faulty cable, but its quality - cheap Chinese models sometimes can not properly transfer information from one device to another.

You can find a certified cable on ebay.

1. Go to the official website of ebay in your country;
2. Enter "usb c" or whatever version you need into the search. One trusted certified brand is Anker.

Step 8: Update the head unit firmware

This is already more difficult to do, because you'll need a flash drive, access to a computer and minimal knowledge of working with electronics.

First you need to determine the head unit model:

1. Open the radio's settings.
2. Locate the "Information" section:
3. The MCU section will indicate the specific model.

You can also find the information via the "android settings" section:

Step 1. Tap on the "About phone" tab;

Step 2. Select the "Software information" section;

Step 3. The current OS version will be there.

Next, the hardest part is finding the updates. You will have to find them from your PC, preferably on the official website of the device and download them to a flash drive of at least 8GB. The file system must be FAT32.

Keep in mind that reflashing deletes all your data.

After plugging the flash drive, some car stereo systems provide you with a window where you can update your device. It is enough to tap the "Start" button.

If the "Start" button does not appear, do the following:

1. Go to the Settings;
2. Open the System tab;
3. Select the "Updates" section;
4. Tap on "USB update source".
5. Wait for the update.

Step 9: Clear Android Auto cache

There are several ways how you can get rid of Android Auto system cache. Google Play offers special optimizing apps. They increase the performance of your phone and clear Android Auto system garbage.

Let's take a closer look at all methods of clearing system cache. Before deleting files, make sure to close every running apps except clearing apps or phone settings.

Clean Master is a special app aimed at improving the performance of your phone, deleting old and unnecessary files and fixing communication error 8.

Video:

In order to clear Android Auto cache:

1. Download Clean Master from Google Play and wait for it to be installed;
2. Launch the app, tap "Clean Now" (this button can be found at the top of the menu) and then choose "Clean Junk";
3. On its own Clean Master will analyze and remove every unneeded file which interferes with the stable operation of your phone.

The app has additional features, for example, switching inactive apps such as Android Auto to sleep mode. This feature allows you to free up some memory for productive work.

What is Android Auto?

Android Auto is a handy software for using your phone while driving your car. The mobile screen will be duplicated on the head unit, and a large voice functionality will allow you to control it without safety risks.

Android Auto allows you to use the classic features of Google Assistant - calls, notes, alarm clock, search in the browser. All you need to do is set up a response through the command "Ok, google."

The app synchronizes well with google maps or Waze - a popular foreign navigator. Allows you to quickly find the points of interest - gas stations, parking lots, hotels, etc.

A classic feature - listening to SMS or answering calls using voice commands.

Android Auto is available on phones with an OS higher than 9. On Android 10 the app is built into the OS and requires no additional settings.