Android Auto 16.0 Update Launches with Messaging Bug
▼ Summary
– Google has begun rolling out Android Auto 16.0, an update with no noteworthy user-facing or under-the-hood changes.
– A significant bug is currently breaking message reply functionality for some users, particularly those with Google Workspace accounts.
– The bug causes an error message about administrator permission when users try to reply to messages through Android Auto.
– Google has acknowledged this server-side issue, which started in late December, but has not yet provided a fix timeline.
– The stable version 15.9 remains widely available, with version 16.0 expected to roll out more broadly in the coming weeks.
Google has begun distributing the Android Auto 16.0 update, yet the launch is overshadowed for many by a significant messaging bug that disrupts the ability to reply to texts from the car’s interface. This latest version, surprisingly, introduces no visible new features or user-facing improvements, continuing a trend where major version numbers sometimes bring minimal change. The anticipated arrival of features like a dedicated light mode remains absent, and a technical examination of the app’s code reveals no hidden additions either.
The update from version 15.9, which became widely available in December, appears to be a routine iteration. While the full stable release of Android Auto 16.0 is expected in the coming weeks, it currently offers little for users to anticipate. The primary value in such updates often lies in underlying bug fixes and stability improvements, which makes the emergence of a new problem particularly frustrating.
A growing number of users have reported a critical issue where attempting to reply to a message notification triggers an error. The system displays a message stating, “to do that you’ll have to ask your Google Workspace administrator for permission.” This problem does not affect standard Gmail accounts. It specifically impacts individuals who use a Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) account as their primary login on their device.
The root cause of this messaging failure is still unclear. Evidence suggests it is likely a server-side configuration problem rather than a flaw in the Android Auto app itself. User reports began surfacing in late December and have increased in frequency recently. Google has officially acknowledged the issue is under investigation, but a timeline for a permanent resolution has not been provided. For affected drivers, the workaround involves using their phone directly to send replies, which defeats the core purpose of the hands-free system.
(Source: 9to5 Google)
