Skip to main content

Some Android Auto users seeing ‘Searching for GPS’ issue with Google Maps

If your Android Auto sessions lately have been plagued with a “Searching for GPS” issue, you’re not alone.

Over the past several days, Google Maps on Android Auto has been surfacing a “Searching for GPS” issue for some users across multiple car models, smartphone models, and Android Auto versions. The issue has popped up across several forum threads and Reddit.

What’s odd here is that the issue isn’t occurring when using the Google Maps app outside of Android Auto. And, on top of that, there’s at least one way in which this issue doesn’t appear on Android Auto. Users report that the problem only occurs once the phone has been put to sleep, with the screen turned off.

But, there might be a relatively simple explanation.

Some users have found success with changing Google Maps’ permissions on their Android devices, ensuring that the app has its Location permission set to “allow all the time,” as PiunikaWeb points out. Others have more recently found success in turning off optimized battery usage.

These possible solutions don’t really explain why this issue has cropped up just in the past few days, but at the very least they might provide a quick fix while Google addresses the root issue. If you’re seeing “Searching for GPS” errors on Google Maps on Android Auto lately, drop a comment below and let us know.

More on Android Auto:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Ben Schoon Ben Schoon

Ben is a Senior Editor for 9to5Google.

Find him on Twitter @NexusBen. Send tips to schoon@9to5g.com or encrypted to benschoon@protonmail.com.


Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications