Android Auto users lost the signal icon. The fix is finally here

When a podcast starts stuttering or route recalculation gets stuck in the car, we usually immediately try to find out if we have a signal. However, Android Auto has not been showing this information to many drivers on the car display in recent months, and for many, it was frustrating. But now, the missing mobile network icon is returning to the status bar.

The signal icon suddenly disappeared and is now returning

The signal strength indicator disappeared with one of the updates several months ago. Navigation, calls, and music playback continued to work without issues, but only the battery and Wi-Fi remained in the status bar. Drivers thus lost a quick overview of whether their phone had network coverage. Moreover, the bug did not affect everyone; some users claimed they never lost the icon.

Google acknowledged the problem after a long time and announced that it had released a fix. However, it did not reach most users at that time. That is changing in recent days: on Reddit, more and more users are reporting that the icon has returned for them, across various phones and car infotainment systems. The Android Authority server reported this.

When will the icon return for you?

Several users report seeing the icon with Android Auto version 17.8.663874. However, the fix likely doesn’t depend solely on the app version. Google often activates similar changes gradually on its servers, so even the latest update doesn’t guarantee the icon will appear immediately.

If you don’t have the signal icon yet, update Android Auto and Google Play Services in the Play Store. Then, all that’s left is to wait. Based on previous experience with similar fixes, full deployment could take several more weeks.

Did you miss the signal icon in Android Auto?

Sources: Android Authority, Android Police