A persistent server-side bug is currently bricking the "Reply" feature for a specific subset of Android Auto users. Since the final days of last year, drivers using Google Workspace accounts (formerly G Suite) have been met with a baffling roadblock. Instead of the typical voice-to-text prompt, the system triggers a cryptic error: "To do that, you’ll have to ask your Google Workspace administrator for permission."
The irony? Many affected users are the administrators of their own domains. Despite checking every mobile management toggle in the Google Admin Console, the "Reply" button remains dead. This isn't just an inconvenience—it’s a safety regression for those who rely on hands-free communication.
Android Auto 16.0: The Underwhelming Milestone
The rollout of Android Auto 16.0 (Stable) has officially begun, but early teardowns suggest it’s a "maintenance" version rather than a feature-heavy update. While the version jump from 15.9 to 16.0 usually signals big changes, this release focuses on backend plumbing for Gemini integration and upcoming 2026 widget support. Unfortunately, users hoping for an "official" fix for the Workspace bug in this patch may be disappointed; the glitch appears to be an authentication failure on Google’s servers, meaning a local app update might not be the cure-all.
Community Fixes and "The Gemini Culprit"
Since Google has acknowledged the bug but hasn't pushed a patch, the r/AndroidAuto community has been hunting for temporary workarounds. One specific trend has emerged: Gemini.
- Revert to Assistant: On phones where Gemini has replaced the legacy Google Assistant, some users found that switching back to the "classic" Assistant in settings instantly restored the reply function.
- Workspace Console Tweak: One admin found a fix under Generative AI > Gemini app > Apps > Other Google apps. Enabling "Allow access to other Google apps" seemingly refreshed the authentication token for the car's head unit.
- The Voice Bypass: Interestingly, while the physical "Reply" button on the screen fails, manually triggering the Assistant with "Hey Google, send a message to [Name]" often bypasses the permission check entirely.
What’s Next for Android Auto?
Looking ahead, 2026 is a transition year. We are seeing the framework for Coolwalk 2.0 and more flexible dashboard widgets, but these "Workspace" permission errors show that the bridge between enterprise security and consumer car tech is still fragile. Until a server-side "all clear" is given, Workspace users should keep an eye on their Google Play System Updates for a background fix.
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