Can't hear Google maps directions through car speakers

[Android Central Question]

I have a Samsung note 10+ and a 2018 Subaru Forester. I am unable to hear Google Maps directions through my car speakers. I've read so many forum discussions and tried countless 'fixes' which didn't work. Does anyone have a fix for this??

 

[VidJunky]

Welcome to Android Central.

We need a bit more info to really try to help and not just offer you the same advice you've already gotten.

How are you connecting to the radio? Bluetooth, USB?

Do you have maps set to read out turn by turn directions? So if not connected to anything it will read out the directions? There's a speaker shaped button on the navigation screen that changes what alerts are given.

Do you get any sound through your radio from the device? Can you play music, make calls, get alerts from notifications or anything like this?

If you're using Bluetooth I'm sure at least some of the advice you're already gotten was to ensure that the BT setting for that device is set to Audio at minimum or Calls and Audio?

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Please include a brief description of what you've tried and the results if any thing changed.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Open Google Maps, tap your profile pic at the upper right, then Settings>Navigation Settings, and make sure Play Voice Over Bluetooth is turned on. Depending on your car stereo system, you might also have to make sure the input is set to Bluetooth (in other words, if you're listening to the radio or a CD on your car stereo, you won't be able to hear the nav voice).

 

[jcgc]

Welcome to Android Central! Open Google Maps, tap your profile pic at the upper right, then Settings>Navigation Settings, and make sure Play Voice Over Bluetooth is turned on. Depending on your car stereo system, you might also have to make sure the input is set to Bluetooth (in other words, if you're listening to the radio or a CD on your car stereo, you won't be able to hear the nav voice).

I realize this is a few months old but I'm having the same problem. The phone is connected via Bluetooth and USB. Navigation settings have sound and voice set to louder. Play over Bluetooth and Play voice during calls is turned on. The phone has to be connected via USB for maps to show on the display. Playing a test sound on the phone you hear loud clear audio. Playing a test sound using the settings when plugged into the Honda head unit I hear nothing even though it appears to be trying. I do get turn by turn visually just no audio.

The phone is a Samsung Galaxy S10E, running OS 11. I have the latest versions of maps and AA. Sounds for Google Assistant, Pandora, Spotify and my podcast app work without issue. The car is a Honda CRV 2019 EXL.

 

[B. Diddy]

The car stereo has Android Auto built-in, right? You've also toggled through the various mute settings for Android Auto on the car screen? I can't remember off the top of my head, but options generally include to play all navigation, play only alerts, or mute all.

 

[jcgc]

The car stereo has Android Auto built-in, right? You've also toggled through the various mute settings for Android Auto on the car screen? I can't remember off the top of my head, but options generally include to play all navigation, play only alerts, or mute all.

The AA selection doesn't show up on the car screen until you plug the phone into the USB connection. When you first plug it in the first time it takes you through a number of options but none had anything to do with muting sound. So, there are no options for AA until you've plugged in the phone and I see no way to see options for the radio from that source. Also, like I said every other phone app that generates audio is clearly heard through the car speakers.

I've seen it suppress music when it should be giving me turn by turn but nothing is heard and then once it's finished the music comes back on.

 

[jcgc]

I was wrong in my earlier post. I've just looked at it again and there are mute functions but it is not muted and guidance audio is turned up to the max.

 

[jcgc]

These are the audio settings I have turned on in the phone application.

 

[B. Diddy]

Hmm. Have you checked with Subaru to see if there are any firmware updates for the car system?

 

[jcgc]

Hmm. Have you checked with Subaru to see if there are any firmware updates for the car system?

It's a Honda. I've checked with the dealer and the service writer claims not to have heard of this problem and wasn't aware of any firmware updates.

 

[jcgc]

I've been working on this and installed the Waze app to try that as an alternative and again get no audio for the directions. Yesterday I learned that when the phone is connected only via Bluetooth, not Android Auto, I still do not get sound when I click in navigation settings to play a test sound. Disconnect and you hear the test sound. Tried AA again while playing music and it suppresses the music audio while trying to play the test sound which can't be heard.

 

[B. Diddy]

Sorry, I was looking at the OP, which mentioned Subaru, and forgot that you mentioned Honda in your post.:-\

Have you tried different USB cables?

 

[jcgc]

I solved the problem today. If you look at the screenshot of the Navigation Settings that I posted earlier you see that by default the "play voice over Bluetooth" is turned on. Since the phone has to be connected by a cable to use AA, I thought it could be the issue. I turned that off and now I get the audio directions.

The only other issue that I haven't figured out is when I have music playing now the turn by turn does suppress the music but you can't hear the directions. Not a big issue but I hope to figure it out. Perhaps I need to turn Bluetooth off when I am connected via the cable?

 

[jcgc]

I think you missed my solution posted above your comment?

 

[VidJunky]

I think you missed my solution posted above your comment?

I opened this before that time and was called away. As always I'm long winded but I was right so it's all good. It's weird that BT would need to be off or at least the setting for it but it's good information to have for anyone else looking at the same issue.

Best wishes.

 

[jcgc]

I opened this before that time and was called away. As always I'm long winded but I was right so it's all good. It's weird that BT would need to be off or at least the setting for it but it's good information to have for anyone else looking at the same issue.

Best wishes.

Thanks. Coincidentally, I had tried everything you suggested before getting to this. Today I learned that when directions are being given it mutes any source that originates in the head unit like AM/FM or Sirius. However, when the music source is coming from the phone like Pandora, Spotify or podcasts it mutes those but you don't hear directions. I tried disabling Bluetooth but it turned it right back on while plugged into the USB connection. I'm just happy to have audible directions working so I can live with it. I didn't try selecting Bluetooth from the source menu to listen to the apps on the phone.

 

[Pegleg6942]

Jcgc I'm having the exact issue your having. I have never had an issue with my radio before and now it's doing the same thing yours is. I am un-installing my head unit and sending it back into the manufacture to have it looked into. I'm using just the FM tuner and mine suppresses the music when directions are being given. I took my phone and the cable I use in my truck to my wifes truck and it works just fine with my phone on her AA. I tried her phone in my truck and it just keeps shutting down Google Maps. I hope I can get this issue fixed at the manufacture.