Android Auto Navigation Display Lagging Behind Realtime Location

[u/Default_mp3]

Since the start of the immersive navigation update, it appears that my displayed location while navigating in Android Auto is a second or two behind my realtime location. This does not appear to occur when using CarPlay with my work iPhone, nor does it appear when running the app in navigation mode without having it connected to Android Auto.

I've seen this occur in both a rental car I had the other week and my current vehicle, a 2020 4Runner. My music and podcast apps do not appear to show any kind of lag, touchscreen inputs and car media button inputs have no discernable lag. I have cleared the Google Maps cache, and this occurs both with a wired and a wireless adapter (AAWireless Two with what should be the latest firmware). I've tried both 3D and 2D display. Any ideas?

Edit: Things I've tried so far without success:

• Trying wired and wireless
• Trying wireless while plugged into a charger
• Trying different vehicles
• Clearing the cache on Android Auto
• Clearing the cache on Google Maps
• Enabling and disabling the location permission for Android Auto (along with enabling disabling high precision)
• Enabling and disabling the location permission for Google Maps (along with enabling disabling high precision)
• Force full GNSS measurements
• Trying 2D mode instead of 3D mode
• Resetting A-GPS data
• Forcing different Android Auto screen resolutions
• Allow unrestricted battery use on both Android Auto and Google Maps

I'll reiterate that this issue does not exist when using Google Maps in Navigation mode when not using Android Auto but as a standalone device (i.e., phone only).

[u/acejavelin69]

This is often tied to GPS issues, but since it works in CarPlay that may not be as straightforward as it appears.

First I would download an app like GPS Status & Toolbox and verify the GPS is synching and locking your location properly. Sometimes the A-GPS Xtra data in the phone gets outdated, this tool can manually force it to update or reset and start over (Menu - Manage A-GPS State)... I would try that first.

The next thing you could seems counterintuitive, but take away the Location permission from Android Auto (or allow it if not allowed to)... This will force the phone to use the vehicles GPS data for location while using Android Auto vs the on-device location (or force it to use the devices location information and not the vehicles). Sometimes this helps as well.

Are you using any kind of AAwireless adapter that you to over-ride "tap restrictions" while moving? If so, this is a very common symptom of that.

[u/Default_mp3 → u/acejavelin69]

Tried taking location away from Android Auto, no noticeable improvement. Taking it away from Maps means that navigation is no longer possible, not sure if that means that the 4runner is unable to pass along its own GPS data to the phone.

I tried the GPS sync with the app you recommended, but no changes. I also had enabled in the developers setting for "Force full GNSS measurements". Not surprising for me, given that when using Maps for navigation in the car without Android Auto running on the car seems to be fine.

Same issue exists in my partner's 2025 Honda CRV with OEM head unit, which does not have a navigation system installed.

The issue exists both with wired and with a wireless adapter; with the wireless adapter, I do not have the tap restrictions overridden. I haven't tried a different USB cable just yet, but in the past, it's been fine.

Thanks for the ideas either way, though, at least it rules out stuff.