I must be missing a trick somewhere but, if I have the radio on and THEN I plug in my phone and use Android Auto, all is well and I can listen to the radio and use Google Maps just fine.
BUT, if I am using Google Maps and THEN press the central button below the display to turn on the radio all I get is a dialog box saying that Audio is Off! There seems to be no way to turn the radio on without unplugging my phone first! I've tried pressing the various icons down the side of the screen but to no avail.
Can someone please tell me what is happening and how I can get control back of my car?!
Thanks

 

Based on your comments, it sounds like you are referring to a 1st gen NX (2015-2021) and this particular forum is for the 2nd gen NX (2022+). I say this because there is no radio button below the display for 2nd gen NXs and the audio systems between the 1st gen and 2nd gen are completely different. Try posting in the 1st gen forum would be my suggestion.

 

Verbal command, press the steering wheel "talk" button briefly (preferred) or call out "hey, Lexus" and then dictate the frequency desired, "tune 93.1 FM".
Much more awkward is to: a) tap the "Rubik's cube" icon at the lower left, b) tap the Lexus Arrowhead Logo icon, c) tap the quarter note musical icon, d) tap source, e) tap Radio (above your phone name(s) and Apple Music/Google Music), f) tap AM or FM or XM, g) use the left/right arrows on the bottom banner to find your station. {Press the overhead SOS button to report the accident you caused using this method LOL}

 

Hi Droid13, I'm referring to the arrowed button which - normally - all we need to do is press that and the radio comes on with the last-played station.

 

I'll try that the next time I go out - thanks!

 

Ah, ok. Well that kind of makes sense, I thought you were referring to a "radio" function button that some cars have that specifically returns you to the Radio screen. This isn't that, this is an Audio On / Off button when quick pressed. So if you are already listening to (or have connected) Android Auto as an audio source, pressing this button turns the audio off, and why you see the message saying audio is off. If the audio system is off, pressing this button returns you to the previous audio source normally. This is not a "radio" button (ie to call up a radio audio source specifically), it just toggles the entire audio system. If you find that connecting your phone takes control of the audio system, you need to go into your phone's AA settings and turn off "automatically start media" (or something like that), so that connecting your phone doesn't forcibly grab control of the audio system. Otherwise, if you connected to AA media, to switch to radio, you can use the voice command, use the mode steering wheel button, or minimize the AA screen and return to the radio screen pressing the "music note" option on the Lexus interface screen and manually pick a new "Source" (ie the radio). Unfortunately, the Lexus touch interface itself is not kind to easily and quickly getting back to the radio. Voice control can be easier, sometimes...

 

Thanks for that detailed description. I can now understand what's happening! Your mention of auto media start also, I think, explains why connecting my wife's phone to the car with the USB cable immediately resumes her Audible book reading over the car's audio system even when the program was paused on her phone. I think it's what we call "over-reach of functionality". We've had the car coming up 3 years and, so far, have not used any voice commands: I think that's going to change . . .