Android Auto signal bars return in beta after months-long bug

The missing signal indicator became an issue earlier this year, when users reported that Android Auto had stopped showing their phone’s cellular signal strength. Android Authority said the bug was mostly cosmetic because calls, mobile data, and navigation continued to work normally. Even so, the missing bars frustrated drivers who use the indicator to judge whether their connection is holding up.

For drivers passing through patchy coverage areas, the signal bars can be useful. A quick glance at the Android Auto dashboard can show whether the connection is stable before a call starts breaking up. For some users, that glance has been useless for months because the cellular signal indicator simply disappeared.

Version 17.8.1638 appears to be bringing the indicator back, according to Android Authority. The publication said the fix is showing up for some users, but the rollout is not consistent. Because the version is a beta build, stable users may have to wait a little longer for the change.

Editor's Summary

Android Auto's cellular signal bars are returning for some users in beta version 17.8.1638, according to Android Authority. The missing indicator was mostly cosmetic but frustrated drivers who use it to monitor coverage. The fix is not widely available yet, so stable users may have to wait.