Google has updated its support documentation to require Android 11 or newer for Android Auto, dropping support for operating systems older than 2020.
The updated requirement was spotted by SamMobile and confirmed when Google removed both Android 9 and Android 10 from its list of supported operating systems. Wired connections now require Android 11 as a baseline, matching the wireless connection standard that already required Android 11 or later.
Drivers began receiving notifications in October 2026 warning that their phones would soon stop being supported, as reported by Android Authority and other outlets. Google’s Android Auto app version 18.1 still supports Android 10, but the updated system documentation officially cuts off older devices from the platform.
On its official support page, Google explicitly outlines the updated criteria, stating that users need an active data plan and a smartphone running Android 11.0 (Red Velvet Cake) or higher. Previously, wired connections supported Android 9 and newer.
This shift follows a historical pattern of hardware phase-outs. Google previously raised the wired minimum from Android 6 to Android 8 in 2022, and then advanced it to Android 9 in 2024. In comparison, Android 11 was initially released in the year 2020.
Wider operating system trends reflect similar deprecations, as Google ended security support for Android 10 in 2023, Cisco dropped support for its Duo Mobile authentication app the following year, and financial institutions such as Malaysia’s RHB began blocking Android 10 users from accessing mobile banking applications.
Popular older hardware impacted by the change includes the Samsung Galaxy S9 series, the Galaxy Note 9, the Galaxy A80, and the Galaxy A50, according to SamMobile. Google’s first-generation Pixel and Pixel XL devices, OnePlus 5 and 5T, and Motorola’s Moto E also lose support.
Additional affected models include the Essential Phone PH-1, Sony Xperia XZ3, and Xperia XZ2 Compact, SlashGear reported. Many of these devices launched with Android 8 and reached their final major system updates at Android 9 or Android 10.
For Samsung specifically, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 received Android 10 as their final official operating system update and continued receiving security patches until 2022. Essential Phone PH-1 users have maintained custom ROMs up to Android 14 through enthusiast communities, though officially supported configurations stop short of Android 11.
Older operating systems remain widely used as the transition begins. Approximately half of all active Android devices globally were running Android 13 or older as of October, highlighting the stubborn persistence of legacy software among billions of users.
Users running Android 9 or Android 10 must check for available software updates on their devices, YugaTech noted. Phones that cannot be updated to Android 11 require a replacement device to continue using the driving platform.
Drivers who rely on the in-car infotainment system for essential daily tasks—such as maps, hands-free phone calls, text message management, and music streaming—must verify vehicle compatibility and device software status. Google provides dedicated hub pages and recommends contacting vehicle manufacturers directly to check dashboard compatibility, while advising motorists to use a quality USB cable for wired connections.
Google has steadily tightened system requirements for the in-car infotainment platform over recent years. Wired minimums rose from Android 6 to Android 8 in 2022, then to Android 9 in 2024.