Nightmare #1: If you purchased a pre 2025 GM vehicle with a Google Built-In Infotainment Center, it'* no longer Built-In after 30 days (but it'* offered free for 2025 and newer vehicles). No compensation here for loyal customers who purchased something "Built-In" ... only to have it'* functionality taken away. So, for Google Built-In to work, it uses the data from the vehicle'* network connection, either Wi-Fi or LTE which dies if you don't get an On-Star LTE subscription for another $300/yr. Kind of ridiculous if you're already paying for it on your cell phones, but it does offer a better roof antenna Here, you will be able to get Google Built-in working off of your phone'* hotspot instead, but follow closely unless you want to be screaming and want to bash in your vehicle out of more frustration.

Nightmare #2: Typically when GM shuts off your usable LTE data (you'll know this due to a barrage of ads), you might be tempted to turn off your vehicle'* hotspot feature IF you had it running, because it becomes useless, well DON'T! Unlike some other vehicle manufactures, the Infotainment Center requires that the hotspot remain active if you want to use features like wireless Apple CarPlay from an iPhone. Android uses Bluetooth so this section #2 may not apply. If you never had the WiFi hotspot active and want to use wireless Apple CarPlay going forward, then enable the WiFi Hotspot in the vehicle (remember Hotspot name/password). Connect your iPhone’* WiFi to the vehicle’* Wi-Fi hotspot, as Always Connect, for CarPlay to work. Once you have your vehicle'* LTE Wi-FI hotspot turned back on (even though it'* dead) make sure Apple CarPlay shows up on your Infotainment screen and works, then you can move on to the next step.

Nghtmare #3: Fortunately the GM Infotainment Center has it'* own Wi-Fi client that can sync to your Phone'* hotspot and your home'* WiFi, at which point Google Built-In will start working again. First, enable the Wi-Fi Hotspot on your iPhone, then on your vehicle Infotainment unit go to Connections and WiFi, and connect to your phone’* Hotspot. Check that Google Built-in on the vehicle now works through your iPhone’* LTE data, by asking, “Okay Google, show me the closest gas stations”. Maps and other features should also work. Don't hesitate to also connect it to your home'* WiFi IoT network to download (a few less) offline maps, for updates and whatever else it does in the background.Nightmare #4: So we have this back and forth Wi-Fi connection at this point, sounds a little insane, but necessary with the GM Infotainment Center (Android Automotive OS) to keep CarPlay working one way, and Google Built-in the other way. But there is another problem. Every time I get into my vehicle do I want to say, "Siri, make my hotspot discoverable" for the Infotainment Center to use the phone'* hotspot? I don't think so. Android phones probably have the same issue, the hotspot is not running all the time. Well, here is the "fun" part, Enabling Shortcuts and Automations on your iPhone to make this two-way swap work automatically. Android users, adopt your phone'* automations as needed based it'* OS version:

1). On the iPhone, Go to Shortcuts, Automations on the bottom, and New Automation or Plus+ up top to add a Personal Automation.

2). Look for Wi-Fi, Network > Choose, select your Vehicle’* WiFi hotspot name, Done. Select “Network Joined”, then Run Immediately. Next, Controls, Set Personal Hotspot, Turn On, Done. This allows everything to work so far.

3). HOWEVER, your phone’* normal Wi-Fi may not come back once you leave the vehicle! From all appearances, after the vehicle is shut off it hangs on to the connection with your iPhone or the iPhone’* Wi-Fi just doesn’t come back. I haven’t had time to go back and verify the exact cause, however here is the solution to ensure the iPhone’* Wi-Fi DOES come back.

4). Create another Shortcut Automation, New Automation or Plus+, Car Play, Disconnects, Run Immediately, Next, Controls, Set Personal Hotspot, Turn Personal Hotspot On is default but you need to touch “On” changing it to “Off”, Done.

Finale: You should now have two Automation Shortcuts and all this this should “just work”. However I have found that it works about 80% of the time because 20% of the time the vehicle’* WiFi fails to activate and find ANY hotspots to connect to. It may require you to go to the Infotainment Center Settings, and turn on Wi-Fi again. Rare, but it has happened twice to me.

You may be asking, why do i need Google Built-In if I have CarPlay or Android Auto? It does offer a larger map as the CarPlay (and probably Android Auto) screen gets cut off by the static panel on the right side of the screen. This can be swiped away when using Google Built-In. I don't know if this a GM restriction or Android Automotive OS that the Infotainment Center runs under. The Android Automotive App Store selection is very limited, but I don't mind having Google Built-In running with full functionality. The ultimate goal would be to get GM to step up to the plate and give their loyal custormers the same deal as 2025 customers for what they said was Built-In.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimRoc

If you purchased a pre 2025 GM vehicle with a Google Built-In Infotainment Center, it'* no longer Built-In after 30 days (but it'* offered free for 2025 and newer vehicles). No compensation here for loyal customers who purchased something "Built-In" ... only to have it'* functionality taken away. So, for Google Built-In to work, it uses the data from the vehicle'* network connection, either Wi-Fi or LTE which dies if you don't get an On-Star LTE subscription for another $300/yr. Kind of ridiculous if you're already paying for it on your cell phones, but it does offer a better roof antenna

Am I hearing that the introductory period for the Google service was paid by GM and now it has run out?

What was the specific wording in the sales paperwork about this?