Configuration options

In this chapter, I will go over the configuration options – not necessarily all at once, but gradually, focusing first on the most important or less straightforward ones.

Dongle Mode

Dongle Mode is a special mode introduced by Google for wireless Android Auto adapters such as the MA1. It allows Android Auto to start without requiring the dongle itself to support Bluetooth Hands-Free profiles (HFP/HSP).

How it works

• Android Auto checks the name of the Bluetooth device.
• If the device name matches the pattern AndroidAuto-xxx, the connection is accepted even if the dongle does not expose a hands-free profile.
• The system then binds the car’s hands-free connection to the dongle’s MAC address.
• As a result, Android Auto will only start when the phone is connected to the car’s Bluetooth hands-free system.

This mechanism is designed to prevent Android Auto from launching automatically in cars where the USB port remains powered even when the ignition is off.

Limitations

Dongle Mode is not a perfect solution. The dongle will still continuously attempt to connect to the phone, which may result in persistent notifications such as:

Looking for Android Auto

However, Android Auto itself will not start until the phone is connected to the car’s Bluetooth system.