Google’s Android Auto platform is facing user frustration over the sudden disappearance of key features in its latest update, even as the tech giant pushes forward with integrating advanced artificial intelligence capabilities.
Users have widely reported that taskbar widgets, including the Spotify playback control, have vanished entirely in version 15.2 of Android Auto. Complaints are flooding Google’s official forums, with many users expressing extreme dissatisfaction over the unexpected changes.
In addition to missing widgets, some users are experiencing a bug that causes the taskbar to automatically switch between horizontal and vertical orientations. The issue began surfacing in late September but became more widespread in recent weeks as the version 15.2 update was gradually rolled out.
Google has reportedly acknowledged that the disappearance of taskbar widgets is a bug. The company states it is investigating the problem and working on a future fix.
Currently, users have no immediate official solution, leading some to install older versions of the software to regain lost functionality.
These regressions occur as Android Auto is slated to receive significant upgrades. Google’s Gemini AI is set to completely replace Google Assistant on the platform.
Some users can already switch to Gemini within Google Maps while driving. Google plans a full replacement of its virtual assistant with its own language model, with an update to version 3.0 expected soon.