Moving back and forth between AA and native Ford Sync.

[jetermeyer]

I have 2025 GT. I use AA a lot but sometimes I go back to the native software. But when I leave AA by turning off wireless apps and then try to send a txt message via the standard software it says I don't have contacts uploaded. I did have them uploaded and I go into my phone and reupload them but the Ford system stills says the are not there. This only happens after using AA. I have a samsung S24. I have tried a bunch of things AI has suggested. I can unpair the phone, soft reset sync. Reboot phone and eventually I can get it to work where I can send a txt via voice from the internal ford software. But what a pain. So I either stick with AA all the time or stick with Ford all the time. To have to go through so many steps is crazy. Does anyone else hove this problem and if so does anyone have a better way to let me go back and forth?

thanks, Jeff

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[Space_Pony]

I have 2025 GT. I use AA a lot but sometimes I go back to the native software. But when I leave AA by turning off wireless apps and then try to send a txt message via the standard software it says I don't have contacts uploaded. I did have them uploaded and I go into my phone and reupload them but the Ford system stills says the are not there. This only happens after using AA. I have a samsung S24. I have tried a bunch of things AI has suggested. I can unpair the phone, soft reset sync. Reboot phone and eventually I can get it to work where I can send a txt via voice from the internal ford software. But what a pain. So I either stick with AA all the time or stick with Ford all the time. To have to go through so many steps is crazy. Does anyone else hove this problem and if so does anyone have a better way to let me go back and forth?

thanks, Jeff

I don't understand clearly what you're trying to do but I turn off AA by going into the phone list and pressing AA.

 

[jetermeyer]

I do the same. Now I want to txt someone using the native ford software and when I try it says I have to upload my contacts. My contacts are uploaded. The car is confused between when AA was in control to now sync is supposed to be in control. I have to do all kinds of stuff in order for Sync it be back in control of my phone.

 

[RickMachE]

I am not getting it. You can text using AA, so why change back?

 

[jetermeyer]

sometimes I like how the local sync software works. Map is larger. Can you the voice command button on steering wheel to txt vs having to hit the microphone on the AA screen. So the issue isn't why I want to switch back it is that AA and Sync do not do the handoff properly and it is a hassle to get it to work. So I'm asking has anyone run into this problem and do they have a work around.

 

[OWG]

sometimes I like how the local sync software works. Map is larger. Can you the voice command button on steering wheel to txt vs having to hit the microphone on the AA screen. So the issue isn't why I want to switch back it is that AA and Sync do not do the handoff properly and it is a hassle to get it to work. So I'm asking has anyone run into this problem and do they have a work around.

Have you tried the long hold on the voice command button? That is how I can voice-text in AA.

 

[jetermeyer]

I did not know about the long press that works. Thanks I still can't get the car sync txting working when I turn off AA but this solution at least helps.

 

[Ezzelin]

You can also just say Hey Google and then start your texting that way. AA is the only thing I use.

 

[jetermeyer]

When I don't have AA on the screen but active, so I'm showing the radio presets, if txt comes in I get a beep but I don't see who it is from. When I'm in the native sync, not matter which screen is showing sync shows who the txt is from on the top of the screen. I find that convenient since I don't also have AA showing on the main screen. Is there a way for AA to do that.

 

[OWG]

When I don't have AA on the screen but active, so I'm showing the radio presets, if txt comes in I get a beep but I don't see who it is from. When I'm in the native sync, not matter which screen is showing sync shows who the txt is from on the top of the screen. I find that convenient since I don't also have AA showing on the main screen. Is there a way for AA to do that.

I have AA up most of the time for Maps/Waze/Pocketcast and that delivers a clear banner notification of a text so I really haven't been experienced or been bothered by the issue.

But after putting Claude on the case this is what it came up with:

Here's how to get actual message notifications in Android Auto on the SYNC screen rather than just a chime.​

First, the prerequisites that break this most often​

• Notification access. Settings → Apps → Special access → Notification access → Android Auto must be ON. AA sometimes prompts for this once and never again; if it was dismissed, you get chimes and nothing else. This is the single most common cause.
  • The messaging app has to support Android Auto. AA only renders notifications from apps that implement its messaging API — Google Messages, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Messenger. Samsung Messages does not, which matters on an S24. If Samsung Messages is the default SMS app, switch to Google Messages (Settings → Apps → Default apps → SMS app). This alone fixes it for a lot of Galaxy owners.

Then the toggles​

On the phone, open Android Auto settings (Settings → Connected devices → Connection preferences → Android Auto, or the AA app). In the notifications section:​

• Show conversation notifications — the master switch for message banners. Off = chime only, which is likely the state now.
  • Show first line of conversations — puts the sender and message preview in the banner instead of a bare "New message."
  • Play message aloud / read notifications aloud — has the Assistant speak incoming messages.
  • Mute notification sounds — leave off if the chime is wanted.

Newer AA builds also have a per-app notification list where individual apps can be allowed or blocked from notifying in the car. Worth checking that the messaging app isn't switched off there.​

​

The limit worth knowing before chasing this further​

Android Auto deliberately restricts in-car notifications to messaging, calls, navigation, and media. Email, calendar, news, delivery alerts and general app notifications will not display no matter how the settings are configured — that's a driver-distraction design decision, not a bug. There are third-party notification-forwarder projects that work around it, but they're unofficial and fiddly.​

Also, even with everything on, AA shows the sender plus a tap-to-hear option rather than the full message body on screen while moving. "Beyond the chime" realistically means: banner with sender name, spoken message, and voice reply — not a readable text thread.​

Finally, check that Do Not Disturb or a Samsung driving-related Mode isn't suppressing previews (Settings → Modes and Routines), since those silently strip notification content while leaving the sound intact.​

Sources: Android Auto needs you to turn on notification access · Messaging notification isn't working · Samsung Community: Android Auto does not show notifications · Google fixes issue of Android Auto not displaying messages​

Your mileage may vary - no warrantee of fitness on the above. Hope it helps.

 

[jetermeyer]

Show as pop up was off so I will give that a try. Thanks for all your info.

 

[Mark813]

Have you tried the long hold on the voice command button? That is how I can voice-text in AA.

Yes this works for me. (I'm not OP)

AA on my phone and car now uses Gemini which works much better than ok Google.

Last week I realized that a quick press gets me the Ford system and a longer press gets the Android Auto.

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