Android Auto - On load displays only downloads section #250

New Issue

2026-04-24T23:14:31+02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:14:31 +02:00

Originally created by @andonevris on GitHub (Aug 4, 2022).

Steps to reproduce

Start Android Auto without AB running on phone
Android auto only displays download section.
Starting AB on phone and pressing play causes pink dot to appear
clicking on pink dot AB loads correctly from then on

Expected behaviour

Tell us what should happen
On first connect all sections should be available

Actual behaviour

Tell us what happens
Only downloads section available on Android Auto, need to manually start stream from phone for proper functionality

Environment data

Audiobookshelf Version:
2.1.1

[x ] Android App?
iOS App?

Android Issue

Android version: 10

Device model: Samsung Galaxy S10

Stock or customized system: Stock, rooted

Originally created by @andonevris on GitHub (Aug 4, 2022). ### Steps to reproduce 1. Start Android Auto without AB running on phone 2. Android auto only displays download section. 3. Starting AB on phone and pressing play causes pink dot to appear 4. clicking on pink dot AB loads correctly from then on 5. ### Expected behaviour - Tell us what should happen - On first connect all sections should be available ### Actual behaviour - Tell us what happens - Only downloads section available on Android Auto, need to manually start stream from phone for proper functionality ### Environment data Audiobookshelf Version: 2.1.1 - [x ] Android App? - [ ] iOS App? #### Android Issue Android version: 10 Device model: Samsung Galaxy S10 Stock or customized system: Stock, rooted

adam added the bug label 2026-04-24 23:14:31 +02:00

adam closed this issue

2026-04-24 23:14:31 +02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:14:32 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Aug 25, 2022):

I'm not sure what you mean by a pink dot appears.
The download section only shows if a connection to the server was able to be made.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Aug 25, 2022): I'm not sure what you mean by a pink dot appears. The download section only shows if a connection to the server was able to be made.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:14:32 +02:00

@andonevris commented on GitHub (Aug 25, 2022):

When this issue arises there is no way to navigate anywhere or start playing a podcast from android auto as you are stuck in the downloads section with nothing else available.

When you start playing something from the phone a pink circle in android auto appears on the right of the screen, when you tap that it opens the currently playing podcast and everything is fine, all sections appear and you can navigate as normal.

@andonevris commented on GitHub (Aug 25, 2022): When this issue arises there is no way to navigate anywhere or start playing a podcast from android auto as you are stuck in the downloads section with nothing else available. When you start playing something from the phone a pink circle in android auto appears on the right of the screen, when you tap that it opens the currently playing podcast and everything is fine, all sections appear and you can navigate as normal.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:14:33 +02:00

@tehniemer commented on GitHub (Apr 18, 2023):

I am having this same issue. It's stuck showing downloads with no way to navigate to anything else.

@tehniemer commented on GitHub (Apr 18, 2023): I am having this same issue. It's stuck showing downloads with no way to navigate to anything else.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:14:33 +02:00

@raphpa commented on GitHub (May 14, 2023):

I do see the same behavior. It might happen when the app is not able to connect back to the server.

@raphpa commented on GitHub (May 14, 2023): I do see the same behavior. It might happen when the app is not able to connect back to the server.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:14:34 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Jun 9, 2023):

When the app is launched from Android auto it will attempt to connect to a server. Starting from the first server config and looping through until one succeeds. You will only see a download section if all the connection attempts fail.

I haven't been able to reproduce this since the connection succeeds for me. We could try putting something in that attempts to connect multiple times but as far as I know Android auto doesn't have a way to convey information about the failed attempt.

A few things you can try that will give us more info:

Before connecting to Android auto open the app on your phone and connect to the server. Once you are connected to your server in the app then hookup to Android auto.
If you have both an external connection config and an internal connection config in the mobile app then make sure your external connection config is the first one listed. For example, you may have https://abs.yourserver.com and http://192.168.1.1:13378 in your list of connections. If you have the internal one listed first you can remove it, then re-add it so it shows second. This would ensure the first connection attempt will be the external one that is accessible outside your home network.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Jun 9, 2023): When the app is launched from Android auto it will attempt to connect to a server. Starting from the first server config and looping through until one succeeds. You will only see a download section if all the connection attempts fail. I haven't been able to reproduce this since the connection succeeds for me. We could try putting something in that attempts to connect multiple times but as far as I know Android auto doesn't have a way to convey information about the failed attempt. A few things you can try that will give us more info: 1. Before connecting to Android auto open the app on your phone and connect to the server. Once you are connected to your server in the app then hookup to Android auto. 2. If you have both an external connection config and an internal connection config in the mobile app then make sure your external connection config is the first one listed. For example, you may have `https://abs.yourserver.com` and `http://192.168.1.1:13378` in your list of connections. If you have the internal one listed first you can remove it, then re-add it so it shows second. This would ensure the first connection attempt will be the external one that is accessible outside your home network.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:14:35 +02:00

@raphpa commented on GitHub (Jun 9, 2023):

I am using a VPN connection to connect back to my NAS at home. It happens if that connection is not working at the moment the app tries to connect.

I have not read much yet into the android auto api, but I don't see that behaviour on other apps like Symfonium.
As far as I can see onGetRoot() gets only called once and then never again. Would it be possible to use a fixed or cached root?

Google has an example where they detach from the onLoadChildren() call in case of a network error and notfify a callback once results are ready. Not sure if this is applicable here though.
https://github.com/android/uamp/blob/main/common/src/main/java/com/example/android/uamp/media/MusicService.kt

@raphpa commented on GitHub (Jun 9, 2023): I am using a VPN connection to connect back to my NAS at home. It happens if that connection is not working at the moment the app tries to connect. I have not read much yet into the android auto api, but I don't see that behaviour on other apps like Symfonium. As far as I can see onGetRoot() gets only called once and then never again. Would it be possible to use a fixed or cached root? Google has an example where they detach from the onLoadChildren() call in case of a network error and notfify a callback once results are ready. Not sure if this is applicable here though. [https://github.com/android/uamp/blob/main/common/src/main/java/com/example/android/uamp/media/MusicService.kt](https://github.com/android/uamp/blob/main/common/src/main/java/com/example/android/uamp/media/MusicService.kt)

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:14:35 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Jun 9, 2023):

Yeah onGetRoot gets called once on launch, then each time you change menus. We are already detaching and using the callback for that reason. We detach, attempt to connect to a server, then return the results.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Jun 9, 2023): Yeah onGetRoot gets called once on launch, then each time you change menus. We are already detaching and using the callback for that reason. We detach, attempt to connect to a server, then return the results.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:14:35 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Mar 5, 2024):

Can you test this again on v0.9.73-beta? I've made some updates in the last 2 releases related to making server connections

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Mar 5, 2024): Can you test this again on v0.9.73-beta? I've made some updates in the last 2 releases related to making server connections

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:14:36 +02:00

@juli-dot-md commented on GitHub (Mar 26, 2026):

I'm still experiencing this issue with the latest versions of the server and app. When I open the app, wait until it's ready and then connect the car, everything works fine. Otherwise I only get the downloads screen. Opening the app on the phone while connected does not fix it, playing content from the app does.

I tried a tasker script that launches the app when connected but that's not fast enough.

@juli-dot-md commented on GitHub (Mar 26, 2026): I'm still experiencing this issue with the latest versions of the server and app. When I open the app, wait until it's ready and then connect the car, everything works fine. Otherwise I only get the downloads screen. Opening the app on the phone while connected does not fix it, playing content from the app does. I tried a tasker script that launches the app when connected but that's not fast enough.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:14:39 +02:00

@juli-dot-md commented on GitHub (Mar 26, 2026):

abs_logs_android_0.12.0-beta.txt

The logs from today. Lots of connection errors. When I use the app on the phone, there are no issues at all.

@juli-dot-md commented on GitHub (Mar 26, 2026): [abs_logs_android_0.12.0-beta.txt](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/26281301/abs_logs_android_0.12.0-beta.txt) The logs from today. Lots of connection errors. When I use the app on the phone, there are no issues at all.

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Reference: starred/audiobookshelf-app#250