Android Auto question (definite Bingo)

New EV sitting smugly on the drive. Connected my phone and Android Auto (using a USB lead), looking pretty fly. Now, when I connect my phone, the USB will only connect to charge and every time I select File Transfer, it disconnects and goes back to charge only. Android Auto seems to be running, but no access to any of the Apps on the car screen, just Google Assistant.
Any ideas?

Have you got Smart Switch on your phone Jim? I've just used it to transfer between Android phones using wifi.

Presumably it can be downloaded to the car's system too.

I haven't got that, Pete, I'll look into it...

Still no joy. It appears that Android Auto is a particularly flaky app, with many issues - especially with regard to connecting.
So I think I'll just forget it. Shame, because if it worked it would be tremendously useful.

Hi Jim, I found Android Auto very intermittent when trying you use various apps but found everything worked much more as expected when I swapped to an apple phone and used CarPlay.
Maybe not a big help but if you have a spare phone worth a try.

Thanks Cooperman. I do have a spare phone, but sadly, it's a Samsung!
I can still listen to the radio and Spotify, it's only navigation that's a pain; I'd rather use Google Maps than the TomTom installed on the car, but I'd also much rather avoid a phone mount.

I suppose the software on the unit and the phone are both the latest updates? I use Waze rather than Google maps, maybe give it a try?

Sorry, Cooperman, only just saw your reply. I tried Waze for a while a few years ago, but just don't like it as much as Google Maps. Probably just what I'm used to.

I've hardly sat in the car lately, never mind tried any further attempts to get Android Auto working, as it's MrsC's commuter vehicle.
However, a bit of Googling suggests it is a very common issue. Apparently, activating USB debugging causes it to boot you out, whereas I thought it was the only way I could manually select the file transfer USB option.
Maybe one day Google will sort it out or I'll suddenly have more time to devote to it. But not right now!