Android Auto vs Pandora

lmracefan · February 26, 2018

I just recently purchased a 2017 Silverado. Coming from a 2015 GMC Canyon. At first I thought I would like the Android Auto. I have now decide I do not. I find that when listening to Pandora I cannot browse My stations. It always says Restricted for safety. You can't even browse when parked. Same with Spotify. That and it kills the use of your phone. Can't receive text message use the phone at all. I miss the old Pandora App like was on my Canyon. Does anyone know if there is a setting or work around for these problems.

Loco-diablo · February 26, 2018

I just recently purchased a 2017 Silverado. Coming from a 2015 GMC Canyon. At first I thought I would like the Android Auto. I have now decide I do not. I find that when listening to Pandora I cannot browse My stations. It always says Restricted for safety. You can't even browse when parked. Same with Spotify. That and it kills the use of your phone. Can't receive text message use the phone at all. I miss the old Pandora App like was on my Canyon. Does anyone know if there is a setting or work around for these problems.

Depending on the system you have, you should be able to install Pandora directly onto the mylink system. I was able to install it on my 2017 with the io6 head unit.

The attached older video is how you do it. Pandora and a few more apps have been added since the video was made.

In order to use it though, you have to either use the trucks built in WiFi or teather it to your phone hot spot.

lmracefan · February 26, 2018

Yeah we did download the Pandora app to the radio but still ran into the same problem of it not letting you browse all your stations. I am guessing the only way around this is to just Bluetooth the old way and operate everything from your phone. Inconvienent. A big step backward for GM.

Loco-diablo · February 26, 2018

Lower left icon on pandora screen doesn’t bring up your stations? Forgive my ignorance, I was never a pandora music user until I installed the app, so I’m not really sure what’s different between the iOS phone app and the mylink app. I’m mainly an Apple Music user.

I guess it works differently with CarPlay. With pandora running either from my phone or from the mylink app, i still get phone functionality.

CarPlay is far from perfect too. Its definitely glitchy at times.

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lmracefan · February 28, 2018

No problem. I'm not the most techno savvy person so it's a little strange. my 2015 canyon was pretty simple though. Still trying to learn this new system.

qwank · May 31, 2018

I was all excited to read I can get Pandora on my 17 without having to use android auto. It stinks that it's not the app like in 16 and older. I'll have to turn on my hotspot every time I get into my truck now. How is the sound quality?

Loco-diablo · June 1, 2018

I was all excited to read I can get Pandora on my 17 without having to use android auto. It stinks that it's not the app like in 16 and older. I'll have to turn on my hotspot every time I get into my truck now. How is the sound quality?

I would imagine if you don’t have the WiFi subscription in the truck ($20/month for unlimited data), it would be a pain.
The sound is decent with the Bose system.
I’m finding the between Pandora and my Apple Music library, I’m not really using my XM radio. I think I’ll be canceling it in September when my year is up.

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qwank · June 1, 2018

5 minutes ago, Loco-diablo said:

I would imagine if you don’t have the WiFi subscription in the truck ($20/month for unlimited data), it would be a pain.
The sound is decent with the Bose system.
I’m finding the between Pandora and my Apple Music library, I’m not really using my XM radio. I think I’ll be canceling it in September when my year is up.

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I used to swear by XM radio for over 15 years. Recently I upgraded all of my vehicles to radios that have some way to play Pandora and that's all I've been using. The sound quality of XM is terrible now. The only XM subscription left on my account is my Mom's.

20 bucks for the unlimited data would be worth it if I drove it everyday, But I usually only drive it a few times a month.