BMW Android Auto Users Still Missing Google Maps HUD Prompts

BMW owners have been unable to use one of Google Maps' most useful features in Android Auto for months. The feature in question is turn-by-turn navigation prompts in the head-up display (HUD). While the route builds and the map works, drivers no longer see clear turn instructions projected in front of them.

The first complaints surfaced on January 19. Users linked the glitch specifically to Google Maps because Waze continued to display prompts in the HUD. Owners of BMW iX3, X3, 330i, and X7 confirmed the issue; similar reports came from Audi and Skoda owners, but the majority were from BMW. Standard fixes like reinstalling apps and updating Android Auto didn't help. Rolling back to an older version of Google Maps worked temporarily for some, but it wasn't a universal solution.

On March 3, Google announced on its forum that a fix had been released and advised users to update Google Maps to version 22.09 or newer and Android Auto to version 16.3 or higher. After that, some drivers saw improvement, but most continued to report that HUD prompts remained absent even with the latest versions of the apps.

Owners now report that the problem persists in newer vehicles. One user with a 2023 BMW X5 sees only "Calculating route" in the HUD. Another with a 2024 BMW X3M running Android Auto 16.7, Google Maps 26.20.01, and Android OS 12 has the same experience.

For the driver, this minor issue quickly becomes an annoying safety risk. Instead of a quick glance at the projection, they must look more frequently at the central screen. And while Google considers the matter resolved, BMW owners are effectively waiting for a second fix.