Support Centre

Troubleshooting

CarPlay & Android Auto

Quick fixes for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on our MMI boxes and Android screens.

MMI BoxesAndroid ScreensWireless CarPlayAndroid Auto

Bluetooth

Handles pairing, phone calls and contacts.

Wi-Fi

Carries the high-bandwidth CarPlay / Android Auto stream.

Common issues

The most common cause of random disconnections is that your phone is connected to multiple Bluetooth devices in the vehicle at the same time.

Examples include:

The original BMW Bluetooth system
Aftermarket dashcams with Bluetooth connectivity
OBD diagnostic devices
Bluetooth trackers
Smartwatches attempting to switch audio devices
Other aftermarket accessories

Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto use both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi simultaneously. If your phone tries to maintain connections to multiple in-car devices, it can occasionally interrupt the connection to the CarPlay/Android Auto system.

Recommended checks

  1. 1Disconnect or forget the original BMW Bluetooth connection if it is no longer required.
  2. 2Temporarily disconnect any Bluetooth-enabled dashcams.
  3. 3Remove unused Bluetooth devices from your phone.
  4. 4Turn Bluetooth off and back on before testing.
  5. 5Test the system with only the CarPlay/Android Auto device paired.

In the vast majority of cases, stable operation is restored once competing Bluetooth connections are removed.

Your aftermarket CarPlay/Android Auto system creates its own Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection to your phone.

If the phone is also connected to the factory BMW Bluetooth system, the phone may attempt to switch audio, contacts, or call functions between both devices. This can lead to:

Random disconnections.
Failed automatic connections.
Audio interruptions.
Calls routing to the wrong device.
CarPlay or Android Auto failing to launch.

For the best experience, we recommend using only one in-car Bluetooth connection for phone functions wherever possible.

Still having trouble?

If the steps above don't resolve it, we're happy to help — get in touch and we'll sort it.