Android Auto reading Galaxy Watch notifications

[superheroine]

I have a Galaxy Watch 4 Classic with WearOS v5, a Samsung Galaxy S25 which is running Android v15 and Android Auto v14.3 (I think).

Recently while I've been driving Android Auto has started automatically reading my text message notifications from my watch. It'll say, "Messages, Sender Name, Full message". It even read a message from Slack, which isn't supported by Android Auto. "Slack, Sender Name, Full message".

There's no way to stop it once its started reading the message, which is really annoying if it's a spam message with a full URL in the text. I've tried hitting the voice command button on my steering wheel, which usually makes the phone notifications stop, but it does nothing.

I think it's the notifications from my watch and not my phone because the voice reading it sounds different than when I click on the pop-up that shows up on the car screen. And I still get that pop-up with the option to read it and reply. And the fact that it read a Slack message.

The watch is not connected to the car bluetooth. Android Auto notifications are disabled in WearOS, which probably means the notifications TO the watch. The setting in WearOS is not set to read notifications aloud.

I'm confused. Anyone else have this happening? Anyone have any ideas about how to turn it off?

 

[SpookDroid]

Sounds like the issue is with the car unit (it's reading from your phone, not the watch). The voice is probably from the car's own voice controls. You should disable notifications (or disconnect BT from your car, not the Android Auto connection).

 

[superheroine]

Sounds like the issue is with the car unit (it's reading from your phone, not the watch). The voice is probably from the car's own voice controls. You should disable notifications (or disconnect BT from your car, not the Android Auto connection).

Thanks for the reply. I do think it has to do with Android Auto, because when I unplug the phone it doesn't read the messages. I get the Hyundai pop-up which requires me to press a button to have it read aloud.

 

[notforhire]

Android Auto/Car Play seem like a remarkable pain in the posterior. (I'm so old )

 

[SpookDroid]

Do you have any TalkBack or options to read notifications out loud on your phone? I really don't think this can come from the watch as it cannot connect to AndroidAuto directly. You can try it by just putting the watch in airplane mode and test a notification while in the car.

 

[Bkdodger1]

I would reset Android auto connection to your phone and try to set it up as new again. I remember seeing some option on initial setup if I wanted messages read out loud and I said no to that.

 

[superheroine]

Do you have any TalkBack or options to read notifications out loud on your phone? I really don't think this can come from the watch as it cannot connect to AndroidAuto directly. You can try it by just putting the watch in airplane mode and test a notification while in the car.

I don't have the phone set up to read my messages. This only happens when I'm in the car. I will try putting my watch in airplane mode to see if that has any effect.

 

[superheroine]

I would reset Android auto connection to your phone and try to set it up as new again. I remember seeing some option on initial setup if I wanted messages read out loud and I said no to that.

I have "Notifications with Assistant" turned on. If I turn that off I get a pop-up that says I'll no longer get notifications on my car's screen. I still want the messages on my car, I just don't want them to be automatically read... What am I missing?

 

[Bkdodger1]

I have "Notifications with Assistant" turned on. If I turn that off I get a pop-up that says I'll no longer get notifications on my car's screen. I still want the messages on my car, I just don't want them to be automatically read... What am I missing?

View attachment 370229

View attachment 370230

When I get a chance I'm going to check my Fold 6 settings and AA to see if I can find a setting.

 

[Bkdodger1]

Also under accessibility settings in the watch is there an option to read out loud messages ? I don't have my Samsung watch on me so that's another place to look

 

[superheroine]

Also under accessibility settings in the watch is there an option to read out loud messages ? I don't have my Samsung watch on me so that's another place to look

After putting my watch in Airplane mode, I believe @SpookDroid is correct and it has nothing to do with my watch as the messages continued to be read aloud.

That said, I turned off "Notifications with Assistant" and ironically two messages behaved in two different ways, which just adds to my confusion. One message was neither read aloud or gave me an on-screen notification. The only reason I knew I had a message is because my watch vibrated. The other message was read aloud (??), but still no on-screen notification. I'll need to have someone message me a few more times to see what is supposed to happen with that setting turned off. I don't really understand why it would be reading my messages when that setting is turned off.

It's baffling, but I appreciate both of you for trying to troubleshoot with me!

 

[SpookDroid]

The biggest 'tell tale' here is that you said the messages are being read out loud in a different voice than your Assistant's, so it has to be either coming form the car's head unit or the phone. Since you have an S25, open Bixby and check if that matches the voice you're hearing; if so, you know it's a 'read notifications aloud' setting either with Bixby or the Accessibility settings of your phone. If it doesn't match, then try your car's head unit. Does it match that voice? If neither, then we can keep trying (but if neither, then chances are you have a 3rd party app doing it on the phone side).

 

[SpookDroid]

I don't have the phone set up to read my messages. This only happens when I'm in the car. I will try putting my watch in airplane mode to see if that has any effect.

You may have that option set as part of a 'mode' (i.e. Driving mode and it sets notifications to be read out loud). When you exit that mode, the setting is disabled, which would explain why you only get it in the car.

 

[superheroine]

You may have that option set as part of a 'mode' (i.e. Driving mode and it sets notifications to be read out loud). When you exit that mode, the setting is disabled, which would explain why you only get it in the car.

Holy smokes, I think you've found it! I didn't set up Driving Mode, but sure enough it's there and its set to turn on automatically when connected to Android Auto. Next time I'm in the car I'll see if getting rid of that worked.