Android Auto - Voice activated calling

[turbospartan]

Weird issue has popped up recently, when I got a new phone. Went from a Pixel 3a to a Samsung Galaxy S22. Now the phone button on the steering wheel no longer recognizes the names I'm saying when I say "call so and so". It just completely ignores that I said call someone, and gives me the annoying instructions of how to use voice activated instructions.

The only way I can call someone using the actual phone button on the steering wheel now, is to literally speak out the 10 digit phone number. It is for whatever reason not "syncing" with my phone contacts, even though as soon as it does start calling it shows the phone contact on the screen. I can also hit the google button on the screen and say "call so and so" and it will work - just NOT with the phone button on the steering wheel.

I've gone through the Android Auto settings, the Sync connectivity settings, etc. and I am stumped as to what the actual issue is. Kind of a pain in the ass that the steering wheel button no longer works for voice activated calling, when it had no issues with the previous phone.

Any ideas on how to fix?

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[FrankThompson]

I saw the setting the other day on my truck when playing around in sync, but I can't go look because it's at the dealership. I know there is a setting somewhere in sync4 to pull down the contact list for your phone. Maybe someone else will remember it or can find it.

 

[Kidder]

Weird issue has popped up recently, when I got a new phone. Went from a Pixel 3a to a Samsung Galaxy S22. Now the phone button on the steering wheel no longer recognizes the names I'm saying when I say "call so and so". It just completely ignores that I said call someone, and gives me the annoying instructions of how to use voice activated instructions.

The only way I can call someone using the actual phone button on the steering wheel now, is to literally speak out the 10 digit phone number. It is for whatever reason not "syncing" with my phone contacts, even though as soon as it does start calling it shows the phone contact on the screen. I can also hit the google button on the screen and say "call so and so" and it will work - just NOT with the phone button on the steering wheel.

I've gone through the Android Auto settings, the Sync connectivity settings, etc. and I am stumped as to what the actual issue is. Kind of a pain in the ass that the steering wheel button no longer works for voice activated calling, when it had no issues with the previous phone.

Any ideas on how to fix?

I assume you're holding down the call button long enough to get the Google AA acknowledgment? If you only do a short button press, it will try and use Sync.

 

[turbospartan]

I assume you're holding down the call button long enough to get the Google AA acknowledgment? If you only do a short button press, it will try and use Sync.

Hmm I didn't know there was a single press vs. long press, thanks. I can try that tomorrow, to see if it works. What I do know is that it worked with the Pixel a few weeks ago so I think it must have something to do with the Samsung

 

[UNIKRN150]

I HATE "Apple Car Play" and "Android Auto"!

I have BOTH.

I just let my phones connect via Bluetooth w/o the APPs and they both work FAR BETTER....

But that's just "me".

My $0.02

 

[Kidder]

Hmm I didn't know there was a single press vs. long press, thanks. I can try that tomorrow, to see if it works. What I do know is that it worked with the Pixel a few weeks ago so I think it must have something to do with the Samsung

Let us know. I have a Samsung, BTW. My last two (Note 7 and now S21) behaved the same.

 

[FrankThompson]

I assume you're holding down the call button long enough to get the Google AA acknowledgment? If you only do a short button press, it will try and use Sync.

I thought I was going crazy when I couldn't get the AA prompt using the button. In my '17 the short press would do Sync if AA was not on, but as soon as AA was on, short press would call up the Google Assistant.

Thank for your this. I wish there was a way to reverse this though.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Weird issue has popped up recently, when I got a new phone. Went from a Pixel 3a to a Samsung Galaxy S22. Now the phone button on the steering wheel no longer recognizes the names I'm saying when I say "call so and so". It just completely ignores that I said call someone, and gives me the annoying instructions of how to use voice activated instructions.

The only way I can call someone using the actual phone button on the steering wheel now, is to literally speak out the 10 digit phone number. It is for whatever reason not "syncing" with my phone contacts, even though as soon as it does start calling it shows the phone contact on the screen. I can also hit the google button on the screen and say "call so and so" and it will work - just NOT with the phone button on the steering wheel.

I've gone through the Android Auto settings, the Sync connectivity settings, etc. and I am stumped as to what the actual issue is. Kind of a pain in the ass that the steering wheel button no longer works for voice activated calling, when it had no issues with the previous phone.

Any ideas on how to fix?

Hello! Could you privately message us your VIN and the name and location of your preferred Ford dealer so I can look into this Android Auto concern for you? Thank you!

 

[turbospartan]

Let us know. I have a Samsung, BTW. My last two (Note 7 and now S21) behaved the same.

The long press did work in bringing up the Google assistant, appreciate that tip. Still wondering what is different between the old phone and the new phone though. Just weird that it worked by the short / single press on the old phone, but now it fumbles with the contacts. I can still short press and speak out "dial ### ### ####" and it will call, it just doesn't recognize the name / contact any longer.

 

[SCTYDOG]

Have you checked app permissions on the phone to make sure Android Auto has permissions to Contacts?

 

[turbospartan]

Have you checked app permissions on the phone to make sure Android Auto has permissions to Contacts?

Yep. All permissions allowed for Android Auto (calendar, call logs, contacts, location, mic, nearby devices, phone, sms)

 

[Kidder]

Have you checked app permissions on the phone to make sure Android Auto has permissions to Contacts?

I think the issue is that Sync won't recognize voice commands for contacts.

 

[FrankThompson]

I got my truck back. Go to:

Settings -> Connectivity -> Connected Vehicle Features -> scroll down and turn on "Upload Phone Contact Names"

I bet that will do it from the Ford Assistant without the need for the long press for Google Assistant (or Siri)

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