Fix arrives for Android Auto pixelated display issue

Update (September 10): Going by user reports, the problem isn’t fixed yet. While some users say they are still waiting for the Android Auto update (containing the fix) that Google started rolling out in July, many who did get the update say it failed to resolve the issue for them.

Original story follows:

For nearly a year now, Google’s in-car infotainment system Android Auto has been displaying pixelated or blurry images on the car’s head unit (for many users, if not all) while accessing the Google Maps app.

The company acknowledged the glitch back in January (this year), following which they diagnosed the problem had something to do with the chipset firmware and promised to deliver a solution for the same by the end of June. However, the roll out for the fix got delayed due to some unknown reason.

Complaints, meanwhile, never stopped pouring. And here’s a quick sneak peak of some of those lately posted (1,2,3,4,5,6):

The map view in AA becomes pixelated after a few minutes. Refreshing the screen (e.g., switching to music view, then back) temporarily returns the map to a normal, clear view. But after a short time, the map returns to pixelation and blotchy colors.

Where is the update / fix for this? There was supposed to be a Google update at the “end of June” to address it.

Pixels. The map gets very pixelated. Been waiting for a fix that I thought was to be ready at the end of June but no luck. Please fix.

The display is pixelated and maps gets glitchy.

Just recently, one of the Community Specialists on the Android Auto help forum acknowledged the problem couldn’t be resolved in time, at least not for all.

We missed our original target for getting this fix out to everyone.

But, better late than never

The good news is that Google has finally started pushing out the promised fix. The roll out is staged, meaning the fix will reach to all of those affected in a few weeks.

Here’s what the same Community Specialist (from Android Auto team) said while confirming the news:

Rest assured, however, that the fix is now being deployed in stages. Give us a few more weeks to complete the rollout and then let us know if you are still seeing this issue.

We hope the fix successfully eradicates the problem form root. In case you have already received the fix in question, do let us know if it resolved the issue for you by dropping us a comment below.

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