Android 7.1.1 is available exclusively for Google devices. Two of those devices are the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P. Unlike other models running Android 7.1.1 Nougat, Nexus 5X, and Nexus 6P are facing serious Bluetooth connectivity issues in their cars.
Android 7.1.1 Nougat landed on the two models back in December but the issue is still unresolved. The problem is that when users try to hook up their phones with their cars via Bluetooth the connection breaks after a couple of dozens of seconds. And that’s happening with different car models meaning that the problem is on the smartphone side.
While the official Nougat 7.1.1 update landed back in December, the problem appeared after Google released Android 7.1.1 developer preview version, back in October. After the update, many users started complaining about the Bluetooth issue, but Google did nothing to fix it.
Complaints appeared on many different forums with one user posting in the Nexus Help Forum, stating that-
“I had 7.0 and my Bluetooth was working fine in my 2011 Corvette. I updated to 7.1.1 (beta program) and my Bluetooth no longer works. I can delete the pairing, re-pair the system but Bluetooth just doesn’t work when attempting to place calls etc. When I start the car it even says “Bluetooth” so it knows it’s connected but when i try to actually use it, nothing happens and it thinks that no phone is connected. Anyone else having this issue?”
The thread is filled with posts from unsatisfied users, and Google support just repeats a couple of answers, without actually helping any of them. Aside from the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P, the Bluetooth issue was reported by a couple of Pixel users, meaning that the bug is present even on the latest Pixel phone line.
The issue was not fixed, even though the Nexus devices regularly received security updates, the last one being released this month. Although regular updates are meant to patch any potential security vulnerabilities, Google could include a fix for the annoying bug with any of the updates, but the company didn’t do that.
For now, there’s no info on when Google will fix the car Bluetooth issue, and since the security updates clearly won’t deal with the bug, users have to wait for the next big Android update (7.1.2) to come out and hope that it will finally enable Bluetooth car connectivity. The problem is that no one knows when the next update will become available.