Android Auto Calling Bug Plagues Foldable Phones When Closed, Gemini Suspected

Google’s AI assistant may be interfering with hands-free dialing on clamshell devices.

Andriy Baidak/Shutterstock

Owners of foldable smartphones are encountering a frustrating glitch when attempting to place outgoing calls through Android Auto while their devices remain folded. Reports surfacing on Reddit, Google’s support forums, and Motorola’s community pages indicate that several clamshell models fail to connect calls when closed, often prompting users to “flip open to continue.” Incoming calls appear unaffected. The issue was first highlighted by Android Authority, and evidence suggests the rollout of Google’s Gemini assistant may be a contributing factor.

Multiple users report that the problem began shortly after switching to Gemini. Both Google and Motorola have acknowledged the reports and are actively gathering diagnostic information from affected customers, though neither has identified a root cause or released a patch.

Which foldable phones are affected?

Karlis Dambrans/Shutterstock

The majority of complaints center on the Motorola Razr Ultra—specifically the 2024 and 2025 iterations (marketed as the 60 and 70 models) running Android 16. A separate report from April also implicates the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, with the user noting that calling functioned normally until they enabled Gemini. Android 16 began its global rollout in June 2025, introducing features such as live notification updates, camera enhancements, and scam detection.

In a Reddit thread from roughly three months ago, one user confirmed that reverting from Gemini to the legacy Google Assistant restored outgoing call capability while the phone remained folded. However, that workaround is rapidly disappearing: Google began phasing out Assistant on phones, tablets, and other hardware starting September 4, 2026, limiting the legacy option to devices that meet the minimum hardware requirements for Gemini.

Is there a workaround?

Leon Neal/Getty Images

Neither Google nor Motorola has issued an official fix. Affected users have experimented with various troubleshooting steps, but the only reliable mitigation currently is to unfold the handset before initiating a call via Android Auto.

The situation underscores the growing pains of Google’s aggressive AI integration across its ecosystem. While Gemini promises enhanced capability, early adopters on foldable hardware are experiencing regressions in core functionality—highlighting the friction that can arise when foundational services are replaced before parity is achieved.

Source link