Android Auto Glitch Blocks Outgoing Calls on Foldable Phones Running Gemini

Foldable smartphone owners are experiencing failures when trying to place hands-free outgoing calls through Android Auto while their handsets are closed. The issue, first reported by Android Authority and detailed by Engadget , appears linked to Google's Gemini voice assistant.

According to user reports across Reddit and official support forums for Google and Motorola, the bug occurs specifically when a foldable device is folded shut. When drivers issue voice commands to place a call, the connection fails to dial. One Reddit user reported seeing an explicit prompt instructing them to "flip open to continue." In contrast, incoming calls continue to function normally regardless of device posture.

Multiple forum participants noted that outgoing call problems only surfaced after they began using Gemini instead of the legacy Google Assistant. Most recent reports cite Motorola Razr Ultra 60 and Razr Ultra 70 devices running Android 16, though forum posts dating back to April 2026 also document similar failures on Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7. Android 16 originally began rolling out in June 2025 with features such as live notification updates and automated scam detection.

Previously, affected users bypassed the issue by switching their default assistant back to Google Assistant. However, that workaround is no longer viable for many users. On September 4, 2026, Google began removing Google Assistant from compatible phones, tablets, and connected devices capable of running Gemini.

Representatives from both Google and Motorola have begun gathering diagnostic details in community forums, though neither company has issued an official patch or stated a timeline for a resolution. For now, the only known workaround requires drivers to keep their foldable handsets opened while placing calls.