Tomtom Go App not working on car android system

[Willy875]

What a wonderfully inaccurate statement.

I've used the Android version of the 'GO Navigation' app (in its various forms over the years) DIRECTLY INSTALLED on 3 different Android head units without major issue:
1. Xtrons (PX5 based unit) for 5+ years
2. Junsun V1 Plus (AC8257 based unit for 1.5+ years)
3. Teyes CC3 2K (Unisoc UIS7862 based unit) installed approximately 2 weeks ago

All the functionality works well for me, the UI seems to scale quite well for me e.g. the Xtrons head unit only had a 7" display and the Teyes head unit has a 10.2 (high resolution) 2000x1200 display. The UI on both device is/was entirely usable, which is why I'm very happy to continue paying my annual suscription to Tom Tom.

In terms of running the application directly on an Android head unit, assuming the basic hardware requirements are met and a person isn't running a 405 year old version of Android, there's really no reason for the application not to run natively on the device (and it does).

It MAY (or may not) be correct to say that Tom Tom don't prioritise the UI/user experience for device/display sizes of 7 inches or more, but to state "It cannot be installed directly on an Android car radio" is utterly absurd and entirely incorrect from a factual standpoint.

In my message, it should be understood that the Tomtom GO application is intended to be used on the smartphone.

Tomtom has not tested it with Android embedded systems.

So either the application works or it does not.

 

[FatHead1979]

In my message, it should be understood that the Tomtom GO application is intended to be used on the smartphone.

Tomtom has not tested it with Android embedded systems.

So either the application works or it does not.

I appreciate that was your intention. If you'd only made the 1st sentence, that's exactly the point you would have made.

Especially for 'non-techy' people (who likely cannot 'read between the lines', it's important to be accurate when making statements that sound very definitely/final i.e. there's a huge difference between:

1. The app has been developed for use a smartphones, as a result it may, or may not work correctly when installed on an Android head unit (OR)
2. The app is not compatible with Android head units
   1. This statement can only be intrepreted one 1, expect that the app won't even install on an Android head unit

 

[CraigABest]

The application is intended to be used on the smartphone.
It is not compatible with Android in-car systems.

I've used the TomTom app on my Joying Android head unit for almost 2 years, but in the last few months it hangs when launched, often requiring a restart of the head unit. I can quit the app and no other apps are behaving like this. I even deleted and re-installed (through the Google app store) it last week and its still playing up. I pay for this and it had no issues installing or running until now.

 

[FatHead1979]

I've used the TomTom app on my Joying Android head unit for almost 2 years, but in the last few months it hangs when launched, often requiring a restart of the head unit. I deleted and re-installed it last week and its still playing up. I pay for this and it had no issues installing or running until now.

I'm currently running the app on both a Junsun V1 Pro & a Teyes CC3 2K without issue, so the latest version of the app 'seems' to be working fine but there's always the slight possibility that there's something about your head unit that the latest app version doesn't like.

To be honest, I suspect that it's more likely that your Android install is ready for a good old factory reset.

 

[CraigABest]

To be honest, I suspect that it's more likely that your Android install is ready for a good old factory reset.

I've seen else where to clear the cashe and other files, not sure which ones.

Until I did the reinstall I had not done any updates unless they are automatically done? For a while it would occasionally hang with the loading thing going around endlessly but not often. No other apps are having this issue including other nav software I have.

 

[Paulcoyne73]

I'm not sure if you understand each other.

"TomTom GO for Android" works on Android Auto (as almost all car navigations do). In this case, it has some differences compared to using it on the phone - like I have just written in the theme about Routes and mentioned on my blog.


"Android Auto" isn't the same as "Android Automotive".
"Android Auto" is running on the user's phone and uses compatible in-vehicle infotainment.
"Android Automotive" is an operating system running directly on the in-vehicle hardware.
We usually talk about TomTom for "Android Auto" where it runs normally (with some differences).

I see from your blog that a new problem started in Jan 2025. I've just reinstalled my phone after a repair and the app works fine in the phone itself. But Android Auto on my van says I have to enable the Location permission. Clearly it IS enabled as I can use it standalone (and I've checked, naturally). Is this perhaps related to the problem you identified. I don't use Pi-hole, and my VPN is off.

 

[kacnje]

I see from your blog that a new problem started in Jan 2025. I've just reinstalled my phone after a repair and the app works fine in the phone itself. But Android Auto on my van says I have to enable the Location permission. Clearly it IS enabled as I can use it standalone (and I've checked, naturally). Is this perhaps related to the problem you identified. I don't use Pi-hole, and my VPN is off.

It is not the same problem. I have updated my review with a solution for an issue where TomTom GO doesn't start without an internet connection.

In your case, maybe you should check this topic.

 

[Stephen davies]

Seems it’s ok on

It is not compatible with Android in-car systems.
This is not a very clear statement; nor made clear in TomTom advertising for this App. Indeed there is every encouragement that it does.
I bought the App just two days ago to use on my Android phone AND with the intention to link it by USB/Android Auto to my car infotainment screen.
With what aspect of 'Android in car systems' does it not work?
My experience shows that it does connect and work!
Where I already have a problem, is with its use on my phone, unplugged from my car.
All of my 40+ saved Places were auto-transferred from my other stand-alone TomTom devices via my account.
However, only four of these saved Places do not allow me to request a route plan on the phone. When I select these, instead of the multi-purpose icon to set Start, Destination, Rename, Drive etc, I just see a black rectangle with the place name inside it, in the middle of what I assume to be a featureless map, with just a + - symbol on the left of the phone screen and a scale icon at bottom right. Ask other saved Places work fine.
I also find that Searching for these same few addresses, using the App on the phone, fails to find anything, despite the fact that they are real, do exist on TomTom maps used by stand-alone devices.
I have cleared cache; I have deleted and re-added these Places, restarted the phone and lodged a question with Tom Tom Support, for which I am awaiting an answer.
Unless I can obtain useful help from TT, I consider the App very poor and shall be requesting a refund, particularly if this stated incompatibility is confirmed by TTS.

screen sites 7 inch and below

 

[Willy875]

@Stephen davies

The app is designed for use on smartphones.

It hasn't been tested by TomTom on Android car stereos.

So you can always try installing it on any Android car stereo after installing it; it either works or it doesn't.