Hi, newbie to the forum and to my car. Just took delivery of a 2025 IS500F about 2 weeks ago and can't figure out how to get Android auto to work.

I've driven many cars with Android Auto and it's usually as simple as plugging in the phone and following the prompts. I've dug through menus and searched the forums, but no luck.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

 

Try a different cable.

You might want to check the "Previously Connected Vehicles" in the AA menu on your phone.

Also check Menu → Setup → Projection Settings → Android Auto on the infotainment system.

https://support.google.com/androidauto/answer/6348190

 

I had to try several cables, the one I used in my Ford that worked every time did not work in the Lexus for some reason. It seems to be picky.

 

Incidentally, are you using the top USB port or the bottom one? I have heard some folks have issues with the bottom one.

 

Two years and it still doesn't consistently work in my car. I'd love to know what cables are less sensitive than others.

 

Clear the cache for your Android Auto app.

 

I believe I got my cable from a gas station and have been using it since I got the car, over two years ago. As a matter of fact, I think it was my travel USB cable before I started using it in the car. I don't know what brand it is. I use the top USB port.

May just have to try different cables if you have them laying around. Maybe cleaning the tips as well.

 

I know this may not be entirely helpful, but I've had essentially no issues with my Android Auto from the jump. My blue vector came with supplied cables so if you can get those that may fix it but can't guarantee. Only thing I can say is the connection is very sensitive. If I move around the phone while attached it can disconnect Android Auto until I let it rest again.

 

Same, mine has worked perfectly every time. The only problem I have is permissions on my phone which has nothing to do with AA. I keep locations off so I have to turn that on and then open Maps before plugging my phone in or I won't have map access.

I use a cheap USB A to C Anker cable from Amazon. It does say its only USB 2.0 so maybe that's the trick?

 

Anyone have any good luck with a wifi adapter for AA? I'm tired of plugging in my phone, then having to manually select Menu > andriod auto to just get it launched properly......

 

Color me confused I was under the impression that the IS500 had wireless Android Auto and CarPlay. I don't have an IS, I have an '18 LC, but I visit all forums that have users with the 2UR-GSE. Anyway, my LC has wired CP. I have a dongle that gives me wireless AA. My truck came with wireless CP & AA. I use wireless AA on both. All this talk about cables has me confused. Once wireless AA or CP is set up, no cable is required❓ Please enlighten me

Lou

 

Nope. 2021-2025 IS all have wired AA and CP only. There was even an error on 2024 window stickers that called out wireless. Oops.

 

^^^^Oh If that's the case - I would advise all of you folks to get a dongle for wireless operation . I can attest that they work, and they are really not that expensive

Lou

 

If you want to be able to use the touchpad I'd recommend looking at the less expensive units on Amazon - almost any of them should do so long as they are Android Auto at both ends (for your phone and for the car). It probably won't boot up very fast (could take up to 30 seconds from when you start the car to when you have AA active), and it almost surely won't "automatically" activate if you're in reverse when it tries to sync with the car (in those instances you'll need to manually select it from the menu), but everything should "just work" (touchscreen, steering wheel controls, and touchpad). The cheap units I've tried were all Android Auto only, and I suspect that may be why they "just worked". Many of the new adapters on offer (even some of the cheap ones), use CarPlay to talk to the car, but allow you to connect to them with Android Auto or CarPlay. I don't know if it's the CarPlay interface interfering with the touchpad, or something else, so it seems to be a bit hit or miss atm.

I've had no luck getting the touchpad working with the more expensive units that provide the ability to switch between AA *and* their own interface - none of the manufacturers I've tried have worked with the touchpad. I haven't tried any of the units that provided screen mirroring yet, but that's next on my list. I've tried OTTOCAST (a mid-range unit from them, and their top-of-the-line Nano unit), and while I could get their custom interface up, the trackpad didn't work, and I never could get the phone to sync with either unit or get Android Auto working. I'm still working with another brand's (ATOTO) tech support to see if their mid-high-range unit can be made to work with the touchpad, but it hasn't been promising so far.

I wish I could offer a specific manufacturer and model, but the stuff I've tested either isn't available anymore, or the units being sold aren't the units that I bought when I started my trip down the rabbit hole. I've heard both good and bad things about the AAWireless brand - they have their original unit and their AAWireless 2 unit variously available on Amazon - they aren't cheap, but they do have upgradable firmware, and the devs are pretty active with updates, so if the touchpad didn't work you could probably reach out to the devs and they might be able to get that working with an update. Right now it appears that the original unit is available on Amazon, but not the newer "2", so you might want to look around, or check their website.

 

I had a Carlinkit Mini SE Pro that worked very well until I got a new Samsung phone. It would intermittently go haywire and start stuttering. I tried every setting possible in Android to try and fix the issue.

I gave up and bought an OTTOCAST Mini and it works great with the Samsung and my Pixel.

Both auto start AA and touchpad works fine. No haptic feedback when using wireless AA unfortunately. Great for short daily driving. You'll want to go wired for long road trips.

For cables the Lexus kit works fine, but the cable jackets are kinda sticky and not that flexible. I recommend Anker cables. The ports randomly work. Sometimes the top port is the one to use, sometimes it's the bottom one. Really flaky. If you're still having issues go to your Android Settings > Apps > Android Auto > Storage > clear data.