SiriusXM on Android Auto: How to Set It Up and Fix Common Issues

A lot of people run into the same problem. They have SiriusXM in their car, they plug in their phone for Android Auto, and then they can't find the SiriusXM app anywhere on the screen. Or the app shows up but freezes. Or it was working fine and then suddenly disappeared.

At Car Tech Studio, we hear this one a lot. And it makes sense why people get confused — the setup isn't as straightforward as it should be.

If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. Getting SiriusXM to work properly on Android Auto takes a few specific steps, and there are some things most people don't know upfront — starting with whether your subscription even supports it.

Here's everything you need to know.

Key Takeaways

• Android Auto does NOT use your car's built-in satellite radio. It streams SiriusXM from your phone over mobile data
• You need a streaming-capable subscription. Satellite-only plans won't work with Android Auto
• Compatible plans include Platinum, Music & Entertainment, All Access (App Only), and Streaming Music & Entertainment, among others
• The SiriusXM app must be installed, logged in, and enabled inside Android Auto's launcher settings
• Samsung users especially need to check battery optimization settings, as "deep sleep" mode removes the app from Android Auto
• If the app menus are frozen or broken, updating Android Auto to version 13.4 or later fixes a known widespread bug
• You can use your car's built-in SiriusXM satellite radio and Android Auto at the same time for navigation — they are separate systems

Why SiriusXM on Android Auto Gets Confusing

Here's the thing most people miss: your car's satellite radio and the SiriusXM app in Android Auto are completely separate systems. They don't talk to each other.

When you're using Android Auto, SiriusXM is streaming over your phone's data connection — just like Spotify or any other music app. The satellite tuner in your dashboard has nothing to do with it. That's why your presets and favorites saved on the car's radio won't show up in the app.

According to SiriusXM's official support documentation, "Android Auto is not connected to your vehicle's satellite radio. Android Auto streams SiriusXM from your Android device, which requires mobile data or internet service."

This is the root cause of most confusion. People assume that because their car has SiriusXM built in, the Android Auto version should just work. It won't — unless you have the right setup.

What You Need Before You Start

The Right Subscription

This is the most important step. Not every SiriusXM plan includes streaming access, and Android Auto only works through streaming.

If you have a satellite-only plan tied to your car's radio ID, you won't be able to use SiriusXM on Android Auto without upgrading.

Plans that include streaming and work with Android Auto:

• Platinum
• Music & Entertainment
• All Access (App Only)
• Streaming Music & Entertainment
• Streaming Music Showcase
• Student All Access (App Only)

If you're not sure what plan you have, log into your SiriusXM account online and check. This is the first thing to verify before troubleshooting anything else.

A Compatible Android Phone and Car

The SiriusXM app works on Android 6.0 and higher, but for the best Android Auto experience, Android 8.0 or later is strongly recommended. Your car's head unit also needs to officially support Android Auto.

If your car is a 2017 model year or newer, there's a good chance it supports Android Auto natively. Older vehicles and some economy trims may not — unless you upgrade the head unit.

Mobile Data

Because everything streams over your phone, you need an active cellular data connection while driving. A typical commuter streaming at standard quality for about an hour each way can expect to use roughly 3 to 4 GB of data per month just from SiriusXM. If you're on a limited data plan, that's worth keeping in mind.

How to Add SiriusXM to Android Auto

Once you've confirmed you have a streaming-capable subscription, here's how to set everything up.

Step 1: Install and Log Into the SiriusXM App

Download the SiriusXM app from the Google Play Store if you haven't already. Open it and log in with your SiriusXM account credentials. Make sure it works on your phone before connecting to the car.

Step 2: Connect Your Phone to Android Auto

Connect your Android phone to your car using a USB cable. Some newer vehicles support wireless Android Auto, but for first-time setup, a wired USB connection is the most reliable.

Once connected, Android Auto should launch on your car's screen automatically.

Step 3: Enable SiriusXM in the Android Auto Launcher

This step catches a lot of people off guard — and it's the most common reason the app doesn't show up. Android Auto doesn't automatically show every installed app. You have to manually enable it.

On your phone:

• Open the Android Auto app
• Tap the three-dot menu and go to Settings
• Select "Customize Launcher"
• Find SiriusXM in the list and make sure it's checked

Once it's enabled, SiriusXM will appear as a media app tile in Android Auto.

Step 4: Select SiriusXM from the Dashboard

On your car's screen, go to the media or music section in Android Auto and tap the SiriusXM tile. You'll see a simplified interface with Discover, Favorites, and Search sections.

You can also use Google Assistant hands-free. Just say "Hey Google, play [channel name] on SiriusXM" and it will launch the app and start playback.

Using SiriusXM Inside Android Auto: What to Expect

The Interface Is Intentionally Limited

If you're used to browsing through hundreds of channels on your car's satellite radio, the Android Auto version of SiriusXM will feel more restrictive. That's by design.

Google's Android Auto platform limits how much content can be displayed at once while you're driving. You can't scroll through the full channel lineup. Instead, you get access to a small set of channels through a "Discover" section, plus whatever channels you've saved to your Favorites.

When users have asked SiriusXM support why they can't see all channels, they've been told the limited scrolling is a deliberate safety feature to reduce distraction while driving.

Favorites Are Your Best Friend

Because full channel browsing is restricted, your Favorites list becomes your main way to navigate quickly while driving. Set up your favorite channels in the SiriusXM phone app before you get in the car. Those favorites will carry over into Android Auto.

Channel Switching Arrows

If you tap the playback screen while something is playing, you'll see forward and backward arrow controls. These cycle through all SiriusXM channels one by one — not just your favorites. It's a simple way to surf without looking at a list, though you won't see channel names until you land on one.

Voice Commands Work Well

Google Assistant integration is one of the stronger parts of the SiriusXM Android Auto experience. You can ask for specific channels, genres, or shows by name. This is especially useful given the touch-based browsing limitations.

SiriusXM vs. CarPlay: Quick Comparison

If you or someone you know uses an iPhone, you might be wondering how the two compare. Here's a quick breakdown.

Feature	Android Auto	Apple CarPlay
App surface	Media tab, requires Customize Launcher	Dedicated icon on CarPlay home screen
Connection	USB or wireless Android Auto	USB or wireless CarPlay
Streaming required	Yes, satellite-only plans won't work	Yes, same applies
Voice control	Google Assistant	Siri
Satellite preset sync	No, separate systems	No, separate systems

Both platforms treat SiriusXM as a streaming app. Neither taps into the car's satellite hardware. The main difference is that on CarPlay, the SiriusXM icon tends to appear more automatically for iPhone users, while Android Auto requires the extra step of enabling the app in the Customize Launcher settings.

Troubleshooting: SiriusXM Not Showing on Android Auto

This is one of the most searched issues around SiriusXM and Android Auto. Here's how to fix it.

Check the Customize Launcher Settings

Open Android Auto settings on your phone, go to Customize Launcher, and confirm SiriusXM is checked and not hidden. This alone fixes the issue for a lot of people.

Uninstall and Reinstall the SiriusXM App

Multiple users have reported that simply uninstalling and reinstalling the app from the Play Store made it reappear in Android Auto. This forces Android Auto to re-register the app and can resolve invisible launcher issues.

Clear Android Auto's App Data

• Go to Settings on your phone
• Tap Apps, then find Android Auto
• Tap Storage, then Clear Data

This resets Android Auto's configuration without logging you out of SiriusXM. Reconnect to your car afterward and check if SiriusXM appears.

Fix Samsung Battery Optimization (Big One for Samsung Users)

This is a significant issue specific to Samsung phones. Samsung's battery management system can place apps it considers "unused" into a "deep sleep" list — which removes them from Android Auto's launcher entirely.

The catch is that Samsung doesn't count usage within Android Auto as actual app usage. So even if you stream SiriusXM through your car every day, Samsung may still flag it as unused.

To fix this:

• Go to Settings on your Samsung phone
• Find SiriusXM in the apps list
• Go to Battery and set it to "Unrestricted"
• Also check Device Care or Battery settings for a "Sleeping Apps" or "Deep Sleeping Apps" list and remove SiriusXM from it

Open the SiriusXM App Before Connecting

Some users have found that simply opening the SiriusXM app on their phone before plugging in to Android Auto causes it to appear reliably. This seems to help Android Auto detect the app as active when it initiates the connection.

Troubleshooting: SiriusXM Freezing or Menus Not Working

From late 2024 into early 2025, a widespread bug caused SiriusXM's menus in Android Auto to stop working entirely after an Android Auto update. Touch controls became unresponsive for many users across different vehicles.

According to reporting from Autoevolution and confirmed by a Google Community Specialist, the fix shipped with Android Auto version 13.4.

If your menus are frozen or controls aren't responding:

• Update Android Auto from the Play Store — this is the fix
• If the update isn't showing up automatically, search "Android Auto" in the Play Store and tap Update if available
• During the bug period, the only working workaround was Google Assistant voice commands — the voice interface still worked even when the touch interface didn't

Troubleshooting: Library Not Showing Up in Android Auto

Some users see their SiriusXM library showing correctly on their phone but appearing empty when accessed through Android Auto.

According to Google support discussions, this is often caused by a "metadata timeout," where Android Auto's Media Browser fails to properly sync with the SiriusXM app's local database.

Here's a sequence of steps that has worked for many users:

• Clear the cache (not data) for both the SiriusXM app and Android Auto on your phone
• Inside the SiriusXM app, go to your library and toggle a few artists or hosts off, then back on — this forces the app to rewrite its local database
• Go into Android Auto settings and toggle the "Start music automatically" setting off, then back on — this resets the media session
• Reconnect your phone to Android Auto

If none of that works, try clearing data for Android Auto (Settings → Apps → Android Auto → Storage → Clear Data) and reconnecting.

Using Your Car's SiriusXM and Android Auto Together

Here's something a lot of people don't realize: you don't have to choose between them.

If your car has a built-in SiriusXM satellite tuner, you can listen to SiriusXM through the car's native radio source while using Android Auto for navigation at the same time. They're two separate audio and interface systems, and many vehicles support running both.

One way to do this is to disable Android Auto's "Start music automatically" setting. This stops Android Auto from taking over the audio when you connect, so your car's satellite radio keeps playing while Android Auto handles maps and calls.

This setup is especially useful if you have a satellite-only subscription and just want to use Android Auto for Google Maps without losing your SiriusXM audio.

When the App Just Isn't Enough: Upgrade Your Head Unit

If you're constantly fighting with Android Auto compatibility — or your current car doesn't support it at all — a head unit upgrade is worth considering. Aftermarket head units with built-in Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support can turn an older infotainment system into something modern.

At Car Tech Studio, we carry premium head units and Tesla-style touchscreen upgrades for a wide range of vehicles — from Toyota and Ford to Jeep and Honda. These units support wireless Android Auto so you can run SiriusXM and every other app without the cable. They also preserve factory features like steering wheel controls and backup cameras.

If your car's current setup is holding you back, it might be the right time to look at an upgrade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does SiriusXM work with Android Auto?

Yes, SiriusXM works with Android Auto as long as you have a streaming-capable subscription. You use the SiriusXM app on your Android phone, and Android Auto projects a simplified version of it onto your car's screen. A satellite-only plan will not work.

Why is SiriusXM not showing up on Android Auto?

The most common reasons are that the app isn't enabled in Android Auto's Customize Launcher settings, battery optimization on your phone (especially Samsung deep sleep) is suppressing it, or the app needs to be uninstalled and reinstalled. Start by checking the Customize Launcher in Android Auto settings on your phone.

Do I need a special SiriusXM plan for Android Auto?

Yes. You need a plan that includes streaming, such as Platinum, Music & Entertainment, All Access, or Streaming Music & Entertainment. Basic satellite-only plans that are tied to your car's radio ID do not include streaming rights and won't work with Android Auto.

Why are SiriusXM menus frozen in Android Auto?

A widely reported bug caused SiriusXM's Android Auto menus to stop responding after a specific Android Auto update. Google confirmed the fix in Android Auto version 13.4. Update Android Auto from the Google Play Store to resolve this.

Can I listen to SiriusXM via Android Auto and use navigation at the same time?

Yes. Android Auto runs navigation and media apps at the same time. You can have Google Maps or Waze running while SiriusXM plays in the background — just like any other music app.

Does Android Auto sync with my car's SiriusXM satellite radio presets?

No. Android Auto uses the SiriusXM streaming app on your phone, which is a completely separate system from the satellite tuner in your dashboard. Presets, favorites, and settings saved on the car's satellite radio do not carry over to the app.

How much data does SiriusXM use on Android Auto?

At standard streaming quality (around 128 to 160 kbps), SiriusXM uses roughly 57 to 72 MB per hour. For an average commuter listening about an hour each way, that works out to approximately 3 to 4 GB per month. Higher quality settings will increase usage accordingly.

Why can I only see a limited number of channels in Android Auto?

This is intentional. Google's Android Auto platform limits how much scrolling and browsing can happen while driving to reduce distraction. You're limited to a curated Discover section and your saved Favorites. To access more channels quickly, set up your Favorites in the SiriusXM phone app before you drive.