Android Auto blocks voice calls on closed foldable phones

Android Auto is blocking voice-initiated outgoing calls when some foldable smartphones remain closed and connected to a car. Owners first reported the issue on Motorola Razr devices, followed by similar reports from Samsung Galaxy Z Flip users.

On the Razr Ultra 2025, Razr Ultra 2026 and Razr 60 Ultra, the system asks users to open the phone and then fails to start the call. Incoming calls still work, and calls started through the car’s touchscreen may proceed normally.

The earliest posts on the official Android Auto forum date to July 2026. One Razr 60 Ultra owner linked the failure to the move to Android 16 and said it occurred with both wired and wireless car connections.

Gemini linked to failed calls

Users reported that switching from Gemini back to Google Assistant temporarily resolved the problem. However, Google Assistant was removed from Android on September 28, leaving that workaround unavailable to some users.

Google and Motorola are aware of the bug. The Android Auto team asked affected users for the phone and car models, Android and Android Auto versions, build number, Phone and Google Play Services versions, connection type, error frequency and the time the problem first appeared.

The reported behavior points to a failure in the assistant’s voice-command path rather than a general phone connection or calling-app problem. Selecting a contact on the car display can still start a call while the Razr remains closed.

Additional reports indicate that several foldable-phone lines may be affected. The source does not give a release date for a fix.