Why does music automatically play in my car android?

Many Android users have noticed that music or media will automatically begin playing when connecting their phone to their car’s infotainment system via Android Auto. While convenient in some cases, this automatic playback can be annoying and distracting, especially if you were just hoping to use Android Auto for navigation or hands-free calling.

The automatic music playback seems to occur due to the default media apps and settings on Android devices. In this article, we’ll explore the potential causes and solutions for stopping media from automatically playing when using Android Auto.

Default Media App

Android Auto utilizes the default music or media app set on your Android phone to provide audio playback while connected to your car’s infotainment system. When Android Auto is launched, it will automatically begin playing audio from whichever app you have designated as the default on your phone [1]. This allows you to seamlessly listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, etc. from your preferred app without needing to manually open it in Android Auto.

To check which app is set as your phone’s default, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps. Under “Media,” you will see the current default music app. Tapping on it allows you to change the default selection. Setting your most-used audio app as the default ensures the best Android Auto experience.

Auto-Resume Feature

Many media apps like Spotify, YouTube Music, and podcast apps have an auto-resume feature that causes them to automatically start playing the most recently played content when launched. This can cause music or podcasts to suddenly start playing when connecting a phone to Android Auto, which some users find annoying or distracting.

According to a discussion on Reddit, the auto-resume feature in apps like Spotify works independently of Android Auto, so even if you disable media auto-resume in Android Auto’s settings, the app itself will still auto-resume the most recent content upon opening (Source).

One user reported on the Google support forums that despite turning off the “Automatically resume media” setting in Android Auto, their music still resumed automatically because the apps themselves were designed to pick up where they left off (Source). So the auto-resume setting in Android Auto does not control the individual media apps’ behavior.

Therefore, to prevent automatic media playback in Android Auto, users may need to disable auto-resume in the apps themselves in addition to in Android Auto settings.

App Permissions

Android apps require certain permissions in order to access features and data on your device. When an app is granted the “media” permission, it allows the app to control media playback remotely, including through connected devices like Android Auto. As noted in the Android developer documentation, media apps need to request broad permissions in order to integrate properly with Android Auto.

Once an app has been granted the media permission, it can automatically resume playback when connecting to Android Auto without any additional prompts or consent. While convenient, this means any media app on your phone could potentially start playing audio in your car without you explicitly starting it. The broad media permission gives apps a lot of control.

Developer Settings

Android Auto has some hidden developer settings that can influence media playback behavior. One of the most relevant settings for automatic music playback is “Media audio autoplay.” This developer setting allows media apps to automatically begin playing audio when connected to Android Auto, without requiring any user input.

To access the developer settings, first open the Android Auto app on your phone. Then go to Settings > Developer and enable “Developer mode.” This will reveal additional options like “Media audio autoplay.”

Enabling this setting allows apps to circumvent the normal Android Auto behavior of waiting for user input before beginning playback. So with “Media audio autoplay” enabled, your default music app may automatically start playing music each time Android Auto launches.

Some users have reported this developer setting causing music to automatically play even after disabling auto-resume in the main Android Auto settings (Source: Reddit). So if you want to prevent automatic playback, this developer option should be disabled.

Overall, the “Media audio autoplay” developer setting gives apps more control over playback behavior in Android Auto. Disabling it can prevent unwanted auto-playback of music.

System Settings

The ‘Auto-start media’ setting in Android’s system preferences can impact whether media automatically starts playing when connecting your phone. This setting allows apps to automatically begin playback when peripherals like Bluetooth devices or USB cables are connected. To adjust it, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Auto-start media and toggle it off. This prevents apps from autoplaying media when peripherals are connected without your permission.

There are also auto-start settings for individual apps under Settings > Apps & notifications that you can adjust. Disabling auto-start for apps like Spotify or your preferred podcast app can prevent them from beginning playback automatically in your car. Android Auto’s own auto-start settings are under Settings > Apps & notifications > Android Auto > Advanced > Auto-launch. Toggling this off may help prevent Android Auto from starting media without input.

Adjusting the autoplay and auto-start settings both in your system settings and in individual audio apps can help prevent media from beginning to play in your car without you actively starting it. However, issues like Bluetooth connections triggering playback may require adjusting settings in your car’s infotainment system as well.

Troubleshooting

If your Android Auto app is automatically playing music when connected to your car, here are some troubleshooting tips:

Check that Android Auto is enabled and working properly in your car’s infotainment system settings. Sometimes toggling Android Auto off and back on can fix connection issues (Source: https://support.google.com/androidauto/answer/6348190?hl=en).

Try restarting or rebooting your car’s infotainment system. This may clear any bugs that are causing Android Auto to autoplay music incorrectly (Source: https://www.lifewire.com/fix-android-auto-not-working-5093747).

Check the default music app set for Android Auto in your phone’s settings. Make sure it is the app you want to use. Restrict permissions for music apps you don’t want automatically playing.

Go into Android Auto’s settings and disable the auto-resume media feature if available. This prevents Android Auto from automatically resuming the last played music.

Disabling Automatic Playback

To fully disable automatic music playback in Android Auto, you’ll need to adjust settings in both your phone and in the Android Auto app. Here are the steps for specific music apps:

Spotify

On your Android phone:

Open the Spotify app and go to Settings > Autoplay.
Toggle off “Autoplay” and “Start playlists radio after songs finish playing.”

In the Android Auto app:

Go to Settings > Music.
Turn off “Resume media when Android Auto starts.”

This will prevent Spotify from automatically playing music when connecting to Android Auto.(Source)

Google Play Music

On your Android phone:

Open the Google Play Music app and go to Settings > Autoplay.

Toggle off “Start radio” to disable autoplay after songs.

In Android Auto:

Go to Settings > Music.

Turn off “Resume media when Android Auto starts.”

This will stop Google Play Music from automatically playing when connecting to Android Auto. (Source)

Alternative Apps

If the default Android Auto media playback behavior is frustrating, there are some highly customizable alternative media apps to try for more control.

CarStream Media Player (https://developer.android.com/training/cars/media) allows granular settings like disabling auto-resume, customizing the home screen layout, changing background images, and more. As an open source app, CarStream offers a lot of flexibility compared to the default Android Auto experience.

Automate (https://www.slashgear.com/1367108/how-to-customize-android-auto-display/) is another alternative with highly customizable options for media playback, UI themes, auto-resume toggles, and additional features like custom voice commands. The pro version unlocks even more personalization.

Trying a different media app from the Play Store like these options can provide more user control over playback behavior and interface in Android Auto.

Conclusion

In summary, music may automatically start playing in your Android car stereo for a few key reasons. The default media app likely has an auto-resume feature that remembers your last played audio and resumes it when connected. The app may also have broad permissions that allow it to take over your car’s media controls and begin playback without asking. While this can be frustrating, there are ways to disable automatic music playback by adjusting developer settings, app permissions, or switching to a different media app altogether. The core solutions covered were changing the default auto-resume behavior in your media app settings, restricting app permissions so media cannot start unprompted, disabling media app notifications, and using a different app that requires manual audio prompting. With the right combination of settings and apps tailored to your preferences, you can enjoy music in your car without any unwanted surprises.