If your Android Auto sessions lately have been marred by a “Searching for GPS” issue, you’re not alone. Over the past few days, Google Maps on Android Auto has displayed a “Searching for GPS” issue for some users across multiple car models, smartphone models, and Android Auto versions. The issue has been reported on several online forums and Reddit.
What’s peculiar is that the issue doesn’t appear when using the Google Maps app outside of Android Auto. Additionally, the issue only occurs when the phone has been put to sleep with the screen turned off.
The issue likely has a simple explanation. Some users have found success by changing Google Maps’ permissions on their Android devices, ensuring that the app has its Location permission set to “allow all the time.” Others have had success by turning off optimized battery usage.
These potential solutions don’t explain why the issue has only appeared recently, but they may offer a quick fix while Google addresses the underlying issue. If you’re experiencing “Searching for GPS” errors on Google Maps on Android Auto, let us know in the comments.
