Android Auto Randomly Disconnects

[Elsmandino]

Hi there.

I would be really grateful for some general advice with an issue I am having with my Android Auto Screen.

It is an aftermarket one that I bought from Amazon and is mounted to my Dashboard (it shows up, in Bluetooth, as T86PRO-8A35). My phone (a Xiaomi Poco M6 Pro) connects wirelessly.

It worked fine for about 9 months but now it randomly disconnects - only for 15 seconds or so and only once or twice per 30-minute trip.

I have looked at every guide and tried everything to stop it:

1. I do have the Wireguard app on my phone but made sure that my VPN is turned off.
2. I have tried wiping all my BT and Wifi connections
3. I have turned off BT and Wifi Scanning
4. I have turned off Wifi throttling

Is there any way I can enable logging to see exactly what is causing the disconnect?

There does not seem to be any pattern as to when the disconnect happens, in terms of when or where the disconnect happens.

 

[mustang7757]

Welcome to AC!

Since you’ve already done the basics , here are a few deeper things to check on your Xiaomi Poco M6 Pro and your T86PRO unit:

Likely causes
Wi-Fi band switching (2.4 5 GHz) or interference
Aggressive power management killing the Wi-Fi session briefly
Background network apps (VPN/ad blockers/firewalls) interrupting routing
Firmware quirks on aftermarket head units (very common)

Things to try next
1. Lock Wi-Fi behavior
Disable any “smart network switch” / adaptive connectivity
If your phone allows it, prefer 5 GHz only (more stable for AA)
2. Battery optimization
Settings → Apps → Android Auto → Battery → set to Unrestricted
Do the same for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi system services if available
3. Check background apps
Even with VPN off, apps like WireGuard can briefly hook into networking
Try temporarily uninstalling/disable to test
4. Head unit reset/update
If possible, reset the T86PRO or check for firmware updates
Aftermarket units are known for intermittent Wi-Fi drops
5. Test wired (if supported)
If wired Android Auto is stable → confirms it’s a wireless link issue

 

[Elsmandino]

Welcome to AC!

Since you’ve already done the basics , here are a few deeper things to check on your Xiaomi Poco M6 Pro and your T86PRO unit:

Likely causes
Wi-Fi band switching (2.4 5 GHz) or interference
Aggressive power management killing the Wi-Fi session briefly
Background network apps (VPN/ad blockers/firewalls) interrupting routing
Firmware quirks on aftermarket head units (very common)

Things to try next
1. Lock Wi-Fi behavior
Disable any “smart network switch” / adaptive connectivity
If your phone allows it, prefer 5 GHz only (more stable for AA)
2. Battery optimization
Settings → Apps → Android Auto → Battery → set to Unrestricted
Do the same for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi system services if available
3. Check background apps
Even with VPN off, apps like WireGuard can briefly hook into networking
Try temporarily uninstalling/disable to test
4. Head unit reset/update
If possible, reset the T86PRO or check for firmware updates
Aftermarket units are known for intermittent Wi-Fi drops
5. Test wired (if supported)
If wired Android Auto is stable → confirms it’s a wireless link issue

Thanks very much for the response (and the welcome ) - gave everything I could a go:

1. Network acceleration was already off and there is no option to prefer a band.
2. I do not have any option to manager battery usage for Android Auto, Bluetooth or Wifi.
3. I disabled VPN completely.
4. I completely reset the Android screen.
5. Wireless connection is my only option - no usb option available.

Unfortunately, I still had the glitch.

I wish I could just live with it but it is really bugs me - it happened three times, last night, on the commute home and two of these were in quick succession.

The fact that this is a recent thing gives me hope that it is fixable.

Is there any way to log exactly what is happening on my phone, so I can try and see exactly what is causing the disconnect?

 

[mustang7757]

Thanks very much for the response (and the welcome ) - gave everything I could a go:

1. Network acceleration was already off and there is no option to prefer a band.
2. I do not have any option to manager battery usage for Android Auto, Bluetooth or Wifi.
3. I disabled VPN completely.
4. I completely reset the Android screen.
5. Wireless connection is my only option - no usb option available.

Unfortunately, I still had the glitch.

I wish I could just live with it but it is really bugs me - it happened three times, last night, on the commute home and two of these were in quick succession.

The fact that this is a recent thing gives me hope that it is fixable.

Is there any way to log exactly what is happening on my phone, so I can try and see exactly what is causing the disconnect?

For AA logs I'm not aware
Is this wireless AA done through a USB dongle like Motorola M1?

 

[Elsmandino]

I have no idea that this thing existed that that dongle existed.

Unfortunately, my particular screen is is Herilary P1-104k.

It can only connect directly to my phone via wireless.

I wish I had bought something that connected via USB, now.

 

[mustang7757]

I have no idea that this thing existed that that dongle existed.

Unfortunately, my particular screen is is Herilary P1-104k.

It can only connect directly to my phone via wireless.

I wish I had bought something that connected via USB, now.

You can give that Motorola dongle a try

 

[Elsmandino]

That is a shame - it won't work with my setup. My screen does have a USB-C port but it is used for powering the device only, from a 12v car power supply.

 

[mustang7757]

It should plug into regular USB port , no options for that with your set-up?

 

[mustang7757]

Unfortunately not. It was an aftermarket Android Auto screen that I bought from Amazon and sticks to my dashboard with a mount. The USB-C port on the device connects to a cigarette adapter that has a USB port on the top of that. Unfortunately, that is for power only (not data as well).

Ahhh ..I see

 

[Elsmandino]

Thanks for your suggestions. I had a look on Reddit and there are loads of people with the same issue - i.e. random AA disconnects. There are various setting changes that people have suggested but it seems that an actual Android update is needed.

I guess I shall have to put up with the glitches for the time being - really irritating but they are bearable, as long as they do not happen to often.

 

[mustang7757]

Thanks for your suggestions. I had a look on Reddit and there are loads of people with the same issue - i.e. random AA disconnects. There are various setting changes that people have suggested but it seems that an actual Android update is needed.

I guess I shall have to put up with the glitches for the time being - really irritating but they are bearable, as long as they do not happen to often.

Yeah AA definitely has issues through the versions it's not perfect hopefully next update helps you .