Fermata Auto 2.0.2 and Android Auto 17.3: What Changed
If Fermata Auto began acting strangely after Android Auto updated, you were probably not imagining it. Fermata Auto 2.0.2, published on 18 August 2026, exists largely because of a conflict between Android Auto version 17.3 and one of Fermata's components. This article explains the issue in plain language and shows what to do.
What the release notes say
The 2.0.2 release notes are short: FS Mirror is disabled because since Android Auto 17.3 it conflicts with MediaService, plus minor fixes and library updates. Behind that one line is a real-world story about how sideloaded apps depend on the host they run inside.
A quick background: MediaService and FS Mirror
Fermata includes several parts that talk to Android Auto:
- The media service is the part that lets Android Auto browse your library and play audio. It is the core of the app.
- Fermata Mirror projects your phone screen onto the car display in a window, with a launcher you can pin apps to.
- FS Mirror is a full-screen variant of that idea.
More about these in our Mirror explainer.
What went wrong with 17.3
As of Android Auto 17.3, FS Mirror began to conflict with the media service. When two parts of an app compete for the same system role, the result can be broken playback, missing menus, or the app failing to appear. Because these apps are not distributed through Google's store, there is no advance notice when Android Auto changes behaviour. The developer noticed the conflict and, rather than leave users with a flaky experience, disabled FS Mirror in 2.0.2.
Who is affected?
- People on Android Auto 17.3 or newer using an older Fermata build.
- Anyone who relied on FS Mirror, since it is now unavailable in this version.
If you only use Fermata for music, audiobooks, local video and IPTV, the update should simply make things work again.
How to update safely
- Download the latest APK from the download page.
- Install it over the existing app. Your folders, favorites and settings remain.
- Force-stop Android Auto in Settings > Apps, then reconnect the phone.
- Open Fermata from the car launcher and check that your folders load.
What if I still need full-screen mirroring?
FS Mirror is disabled in 2.0.2, but the standard Fermata Mirror feature, where supported, is a separate component. If full-screen mirroring is essential to you, you can stay on an older build, but you will keep the conflict with Android Auto 17.3 and later. For most people, a working media service is worth more.
The lesson: expect this to happen again
Sideloaded Android Auto apps live on borrowed ground. Google can change how Android Auto behaves at any release, and developers then have to respond. To protect yourself:
- Do not disable automatic updates for Fermata releases forever; check the changelog when something breaks.
- Keep the previous APK somewhere handy in case a new build misbehaves.
- Report issues with your Android Auto version number so they can be reproduced.
For other troubleshooting steps, see Fermata not showing in Android Auto.
Frequently asked questions
Why was FS Mirror disabled in Fermata 2.0.2?
Since Android Auto 17.3, FS Mirror conflicts with Fermata's MediaService, so it was disabled to keep media playback working.
Will I lose my settings if I update?
No. Installing the new APK over the existing app keeps your folders, favorites and settings.