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Does google maps on an android phone connected through android auto use the data connection of the car

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258 views 4 replies 3 participants last post by  DieselOx  
#1 ·
I prefer to use Google Maps over the builtin navigatiion.
Up to now I always made sure the phone was on data connection instead of wifi.
Today I forgot to make the switch and it seems to me that the phone used the data cnnection of the car.
Is this possible and does it really work on this way?
I did not see any notification about offline maps so I think it effectively used the car's data connection.
 
#2 ·
If you pay for the WiFi hotspot service in the car, and the phone connects to it, sure it would be using the car's data plan. That is what it is intended to do. Phones will generally prefer using WiFi over cellular.

But, if that isn't what you intended, why do you pay for data plans for the car? It isn't required for operating the car, it has a basic data connection for telematics )connections to BlueLink) even if you don't buy a Hotspot plan for the car.
 
#4 ·
Is your phone setup to know the car's wifi? Is it setup to autoconnect?

Android Auto will use whatever the best network connection the phone uses. If the phone connects to the car's WiFi, AA will use that. If the phone is not connected to the car's WiFi, it will use the phone's cell connection.

AA is simply a projection of the phone screen to the infotainment screen, the phone is totally in control of what data service is used.
 
#5 ·
I think the answer is no, not using the same data connection the car would use for its own data. You could check it by putting the phone in airplane mode, then try to use goigle maps through the Car Play interface.

Then try turning on data sources one at a time, to check each one for connection.

If the car is new. it might have free wifi for 90 days.