Key Facts

• Dhruv Bhutani, a seasoned technology journalist with over a decade of experience covering the Android ecosystem, encountered random disconnects with Android Auto despite trying various fixes such as cable swaps and resets.
• The disconnections were caused by Android's battery optimization feature, which restricts background activity for apps, but in the case of Android Auto, this led to an unstable connection and eventual disconnection.
• To resolve the issue, Bhutani changed the battery mode for Android Auto from "optimized" to "allow background usage", which can be done in a few seconds by navigating to the app section in phone settings, selecting Android Auto, and then changing the battery mode.
• This change did not noticeably affect battery life, and since Bhutani usually uses Android Auto while his phone is charging in the car, any additional battery usage was negligible.
• By allowing Android Auto to run in the background without restrictions, Bhutani was able to achieve a flawless Android Auto experience, with navigation and music playing continuously during his drives.