PSA: December Android update, wireless Android Auto, and Spotify...

[LoboDelRio]

So ten days or so ago my Pixel phone updated with the December security/feature update. All of the sudden every time I got in the Bronco, Spotify would play to the end of whatever song was loaded and then the play controls would disappear and wireless Android Auto would freeze. Cut the Bronco off, open door, close door, restart Bronco and it would happen again. Wired everything worked correctly.

I started troubleshooting and tried every fix I could find. Turned off battery optimization, changed Bluetooth settings in developer options, removed phone from the Bronco and reconnected... Finally got to the point where I Master Reset the Bronco and wiped and reloaded the phone. Nothing worked. Finally after getting deep in the weeds on some obscure Android forums, I found some information about how Android had made some changes in their security model for apps requesting location services that didn't really need it. It seems they are now instead using a permission called "Nearby Devices". My understanding is this setting is used to control other connected devices.

Sure enough, once I removed access to this permission for Spotify everything worked. I'm not sure what else this change may affect. My Bluetooth headphones work, My Bluetooth speaker still controls Spotify, and I can't really think of a situation where I would want Spotify controlling another device, but I just thought I would post this for anyone else that might run into a similar situation.

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[dcaero]

Wow my Spotify has been a mess using Android Auto recently and sure enough 'nearby devices' was allowed. Turned it off and we'll see if things improve over the next few days.

Edit: didn't do it for me. My near 100% fix is to turn airplane mode on and off, and that fixes it.

 

[Bronco_Mo]

So ten days or so ago my Pixel phone updated with the December security/feature update. All of the sudden every time I got in the Bronco, Spotify would play to the end of whatever song was loaded and then the play controls would disappear and wireless Android Auto would freeze. Cut the Bronco off, open door, close door, restart Bronco and it would happen again. Wired everything worked correctly.

I started troubleshooting and tried every fix I could find. Turned off battery optimization, changed Bluetooth settings in developer options, removed phone from the Bronco and reconnected... Finally got to the point where I Master Reset the Bronco and wiped and reloaded the phone. Nothing worked. Finally after getting deep in the weeds on some obscure Android forums, I found some information about how Android had made some changes in their security model for apps requesting location services that didn't really need it. It seems they are now instead using a permission called "Nearby Devices". My understanding is this setting is used to control other connected devices.

Sure enough, once I removed access to this permission for Spotify everything worked. I'm not sure what else this change may affect. My Bluetooth headphones work, My Bluetooth speaker still controls Spotify, and I can't really think of a situation where I would want Spotify controlling another device, but I just thought I would post this for anyone else that might run into a similar situation.

I saw that on my phone and also turned it off. "nearby devices". I hope the cool walk feature opens up

 

[JohnnyBronco]

Don't use Spotify but my SiriusXM for awhile was loading the preview free channel every time I started vehicle and I would have to search for the station I was last on

 

[VIRUS]

I can't use wireless at all. It won't work for more than a few minutes. Switched off wireless in Android Auto settings. Everything has worked for around a month or so until this week. Now when I try to use Amazon Music, it goes through the motions but I get no sound. If I unplug the USB cord and plug it back in, it works until I unplug my phone. Have to do this every time I use Amazon Music.
The nearby device setting is off.
Anybody have an idea of what setting I need to change to fix this?
I believe this started after an Amazon Music App update

 

[acarzt]

So ten days or so ago my Pixel phone updated with the December security/feature update. All of the sudden every time I got in the Bronco, Spotify would play to the end of whatever song was loaded and then the play controls would disappear and wireless Android Auto would freeze. Cut the Bronco off, open door, close door, restart Bronco and it would happen again. Wired everything worked correctly.

I started troubleshooting and tried every fix I could find. Turned off battery optimization, changed Bluetooth settings in developer options, removed phone from the Bronco and reconnected... Finally got to the point where I Master Reset the Bronco and wiped and reloaded the phone. Nothing worked. Finally after getting deep in the weeds on some obscure Android forums, I found some information about how Android had made some changes in their security model for apps requesting location services that didn't really need it. It seems they are now instead using a permission called "Nearby Devices". My understanding is this setting is used to control other connected devices.

Sure enough, once I removed access to this permission for Spotify everything worked. I'm not sure what else this change may affect. My Bluetooth headphones work, My Bluetooth speaker still controls Spotify, and I can't really think of a situation where I would want Spotify controlling another device, but I just thought I would post this for anyone else that might run into a similar situation.

I know this is a really old thread but I just found it and this helped me!

I must have spent 2 hours trying to figure this out! Thank you so much for posting this!

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