Merge pull request 'corrects problem where google cast was disconnected from player state when app launched from head unit' (#7) from fix_cast into main

Reviewed-on: http://192.168.1.74:30008/kfj001/kryz-go-flutter/pulls/7

android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/example/kryz_go_flutter/KryzAutoMediaBrowserService.kt

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import android.app.NotificationChannel
 import android.app.NotificationManager
 import android.content.ComponentName
 import android.content.Context
+import android.content.Intent
 import android.os.Handler
 import android.os.Looper
 import android.support.v4.media.MediaBrowserCompat
@@ -178,11 +179,37 @@ class KryzAutoMediaBrowserService : MediaBrowserServiceCompat() {
 
     override fun onDestroy() {
         Log.d(TAG, "onDestroy()")
+        stopFlutterPlaybackForHeadUnitDisconnect()
         disconnectFromFlutterAudioService()
         if (::mediaSession.isInitialized) mediaSession.release()
         super.onDestroy()
     }
 
+    override fun onTaskRemoved(rootIntent: Intent?) {
+        Log.d(TAG, "onTaskRemoved()")
+        stopFlutterPlaybackForHeadUnitDisconnect()
+        super.onTaskRemoved(rootIntent)
+    }
+
+    override fun onUnbind(intent: Intent?): Boolean {
+        Log.d(TAG, "onUnbind()")
+        stopFlutterPlaybackForHeadUnitDisconnect()
+        return super.onUnbind(intent)
+    }
+
+    private fun stopFlutterPlaybackForHeadUnitDisconnect() {
+        pendingPlayRequest = false
+        pendingStopRequest = false
+
+        try {
+            audioServiceController?.transportControls?.stop()
+        } catch (error: Exception) {
+            Log.w(TAG, "Unable to stop Flutter audio on head unit disconnect: ${error.message}")
+        }
+
+        applyPlaybackState(isPlaying = false, isBuffering = false)
+    }
+
     private fun applyPlaybackState(isPlaying: Boolean, isBuffering: Boolean) {
         if (!::mediaSession.isInitialized) return
         val state = when {

android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/example/kryz_go_flutter/MainActivity.kt

@@ -27,13 +27,26 @@ class MainActivity : AudioServiceActivity(), MethodChannel.MethodCallHandler, Ev
 	companion object {
 		private const val METHOD_CHANNEL = "kryz_go_flutter/casting/methods"
 		private const val EVENT_CHANNEL = "kryz_go_flutter/casting/events"
+		private const val MAX_PENDING_CAST_AUTOPLAY_RETRIES = 5
+		private const val REMOTE_STATUS_POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 500L
 	}
 
+	private data class PendingCastRequest(
+		val streamUrl: String,
+		val title: String,
+		val subtitle: String,
+	)
+
 	private var castContext: CastContext? = null
+	private var methodChannel: MethodChannel? = null
 	private var eventSink: EventChannel.EventSink? = null
 	private var chooserDialog: MediaRouteChooserDialog? = null
 	private val mainHandler = Handler(Looper.getMainLooper())
     private var activeRemoteMediaClient: RemoteMediaClient? = null
+	private var pendingCastRequest: PendingCastRequest? = null
+	private var pendingCastRequestInFlight: Boolean = false
+	private var pendingCastAutoplayRetryCount: Int = 0
+	private var remoteCastStatusPollingRunnable: Runnable? = null
 
 	private var statusPayload: MutableMap<String, Any?> = mutableMapOf(
 		"status" to "idle",
@@ -58,10 +71,13 @@ class MainActivity : AudioServiceActivity(), MethodChannel.MethodCallHandler, Ev
 
 		override fun onSessionStarted(session: CastSession, sessionId: String) {
 			attachRemoteClientCallback(session)
+			startRemoteStatusPolling()
 			emitStatus("connected", session.castDevice?.friendlyName)
+			startPendingCastRequest(session)
 		}
 
 		override fun onSessionStartFailed(session: CastSession, error: Int) {
+			clearPendingCastRequest()
 			emitStatus("error", message = "Cast session failed to start ($error)")
 		}
 
@@ -71,6 +87,10 @@ class MainActivity : AudioServiceActivity(), MethodChannel.MethodCallHandler, Ev
 		}
 
 		override fun onSessionEnded(session: CastSession, error: Int) {
+			stopRemoteStatusPolling()
+			clearPendingCastRequest()
+			// If app was launched from Android Auto, restart audio service on cast disconnect
+			restartAudioServiceSession()
 			emitStatus("idle")
 		}
 
@@ -80,14 +100,18 @@ class MainActivity : AudioServiceActivity(), MethodChannel.MethodCallHandler, Ev
 
 		override fun onSessionResumed(session: CastSession, wasSuspended: Boolean) {
 			attachRemoteClientCallback(session)
+			startRemoteStatusPolling()
 			emitStatus("connected", session.castDevice?.friendlyName)
+			startPendingCastRequest(session)
 		}
 
 		override fun onSessionResumeFailed(session: CastSession, error: Int) {
+			clearPendingCastRequest()
 			emitStatus("error", message = "Cast session failed to resume ($error)")
 		}
 
 		override fun onSessionSuspended(session: CastSession, reason: Int) {
+			stopRemoteStatusPolling()
 			detachRemoteClientCallback()
 			emitStatus("idle")
 		}
@@ -96,8 +120,8 @@ class MainActivity : AudioServiceActivity(), MethodChannel.MethodCallHandler, Ev
 	override fun configureFlutterEngine(flutterEngine: FlutterEngine) {
 		super.configureFlutterEngine(flutterEngine)
 
-		MethodChannel(flutterEngine.dartExecutor.binaryMessenger, METHOD_CHANNEL)
-			.setMethodCallHandler(this)
+		methodChannel = MethodChannel(flutterEngine.dartExecutor.binaryMessenger, METHOD_CHANNEL)
+			.apply { setMethodCallHandler(this@MainActivity) }
 
 		EventChannel(flutterEngine.dartExecutor.binaryMessenger, EVENT_CHANNEL)
 			.setStreamHandler(this)
@@ -114,13 +138,14 @@ class MainActivity : AudioServiceActivity(), MethodChannel.MethodCallHandler, Ev
 		when (call.method) {
 			"getStatus" -> result.success(statusPayload)
 			"showDevicePicker" -> {
-				showDevicePicker()
+				showDevicePicker(call)
 				result.success(null)
 			}
 			"startCastingLiveStream" -> {
 				startCastingLiveStream(call, result)
 			}
 			"disconnect" -> {
+				clearPendingCastRequest()
 				castContext?.sessionManager?.endCurrentSession(true)
 				emitStatus("idle")
 				result.success(null)
@@ -174,12 +199,15 @@ class MainActivity : AudioServiceActivity(), MethodChannel.MethodCallHandler, Ev
 		}
 	}
 
-	private fun showDevicePicker() {
+	private fun showDevicePicker(call: MethodCall) {
 		if (castContext == null) {
+			clearPendingCastRequest()
 			emitStatus("unavailable", message = "Cast services unavailable")
 			return
 		}
 
+		setPendingCastRequest(parsePendingCastRequest(call.arguments))
+
 		val receiverAppId = getString(R.string.cast_receiver_app_id)
 		val routeSelector = MediaRouteSelector.Builder()
 			.addControlCategory(CastMediaControlIntent.categoryForCast(receiverAppId))
@@ -210,6 +238,7 @@ class MainActivity : AudioServiceActivity(), MethodChannel.MethodCallHandler, Ev
 		val currentStatus = statusPayload["status"] as? String
 
 		if (currentSession == null && currentStatus == "connecting") {
+			clearPendingCastRequest()
 			emitStatus("idle")
 		}
 	}
@@ -236,6 +265,113 @@ class MainActivity : AudioServiceActivity(), MethodChannel.MethodCallHandler, Ev
 			return
 		}
 
+		val loadRequestData = buildLoadRequestData(
+			streamUrl = streamUrl,
+			title = title,
+			subtitle = subtitle,
+		)
+
+		loadMediaWithRetry(
+			session = currentSession,
+			loadRequestData = loadRequestData,
+			attempt = 1,
+			result = result,
+		)
+	}
+
+	private fun setPendingCastRequest(request: PendingCastRequest?) {
+		pendingCastRequest = request
+		pendingCastRequestInFlight = false
+		pendingCastAutoplayRetryCount = 0
+	}
+
+	private fun clearPendingCastRequest() {
+		setPendingCastRequest(null)
+	}
+
+	private fun parsePendingCastRequest(arguments: Any?): PendingCastRequest? {
+		val map = arguments as? Map<*, *> ?: return null
+		val shouldAutoplay = map["autoplay"] as? Boolean ?: false
+		if (!shouldAutoplay) {
+			return null
+		}
+
+		val streamUrl = map["streamUrl"] as? String
+		if (streamUrl.isNullOrBlank()) {
+			return null
+		}
+
+		return PendingCastRequest(
+			streamUrl = streamUrl,
+			title = map["title"] as? String ?: "Live Stream",
+			subtitle = map["subtitle"] as? String ?: "",
+		)
+	}
+
+	private fun startPendingCastRequest(session: CastSession) {
+		val request = pendingCastRequest ?: return
+		if (pendingCastRequestInFlight) {
+			return
+		}
+		pendingCastRequestInFlight = true
+
+		loadMediaWithRetry(
+			session = session,
+			loadRequestData = buildLoadRequestData(
+				streamUrl = request.streamUrl,
+				title = request.title,
+				subtitle = request.subtitle,
+			),
+			attempt = 1,
+			result = object : MethodChannel.Result {
+				override fun success(result: Any?) {
+					clearPendingCastRequest()
+				}
+
+				override fun error(errorCode: String, errorMessage: String?, errorDetails: Any?) {
+					pendingCastRequestInFlight = false
+					schedulePendingCastRequestRetry(errorMessage ?: errorCode)
+				}
+
+				override fun notImplemented() {}
+			},
+		)
+	}
+
+	private fun schedulePendingCastRequestRetry(message: String) {
+		val request = pendingCastRequest
+		val currentSession = castContext?.sessionManager?.currentCastSession
+		if (request == null || currentSession == null || !currentSession.isConnected) {
+			clearPendingCastRequest()
+			emitStatus("error", message = message)
+			return
+		}
+
+		if (pendingCastAutoplayRetryCount >= MAX_PENDING_CAST_AUTOPLAY_RETRIES) {
+			clearPendingCastRequest()
+			emitStatus("error", message = message)
+			return
+		}
+
+		pendingCastAutoplayRetryCount += 1
+		mainHandler.postDelayed(
+			{
+				val resumedSession = castContext?.sessionManager?.currentCastSession
+				if (resumedSession != null && resumedSession.isConnected) {
+					startPendingCastRequest(resumedSession)
+				} else {
+					clearPendingCastRequest()
+				}
+			},
+			1000,
+		)
+	}
+
+	private fun buildLoadRequestData(
+		streamUrl: String,
+		title: String,
+		subtitle: String,
+	): MediaLoadRequestData {
 		val metadata = MediaMetadata(MediaMetadata.MEDIA_TYPE_MUSIC_TRACK).apply {
 			putString(MediaMetadata.KEY_TITLE, title)
 			putString(MediaMetadata.KEY_SUBTITLE, subtitle)
@@ -247,17 +383,10 @@ class MainActivity : AudioServiceActivity(), MethodChannel.MethodCallHandler, Ev
 			.setMetadata(metadata)
 			.build()
 
-		val loadRequestData = MediaLoadRequestData.Builder()
+		return MediaLoadRequestData.Builder()
 			.setMediaInfo(mediaInfo)
 			.setAutoplay(true)
 			.build()
-
-		loadMediaWithRetry(
-			session = currentSession,
-			loadRequestData = loadRequestData,
-			attempt = 1,
-			result = result,
-		)
 	}
 
 	private fun loadMediaWithRetry(
@@ -292,14 +421,14 @@ class MainActivity : AudioServiceActivity(), MethodChannel.MethodCallHandler, Ev
 
 		try {
 			remoteMediaClient.load(loadRequestData).setResultCallback { mediaChannelResult ->
-				if (mediaChannelResult == null) {
-					emitStatus("error", message = "Cast load returned no result")
-					result.error("cast_load_failed", "Cast load returned no result", null)
-					return@setResultCallback
-				}
-
 				if (mediaChannelResult.status.isSuccess) {
+					// Stop local playback immediately when remote load succeeds
+					// This MUST be done in Kotlin (not Flutter) because the audio service
+					// session may be active from Android Auto and won't respond to Flutter calls
+					stopAudioServiceSession()
+					
 					emitStatus("connected", session.castDevice?.friendlyName)
+					// Force initial remote status update and continue polling
 					emitRemotePlaybackStatus()
 					result.success(null)
 					return@setResultCallback
@@ -331,11 +460,6 @@ class MainActivity : AudioServiceActivity(), MethodChannel.MethodCallHandler, Ev
 
 		try {
 			remoteMediaClient.stop().setResultCallback { stopResult ->
-				if (stopResult == null) {
-					result.error("cast_stop_failed", "Cast stop returned no result", null)
-					return@setResultCallback
-				}
-
 				if (stopResult.status.isSuccess) {
 					emitStatus("connected", session.castDevice?.friendlyName, playbackStatus = "stopped")
 					result.success(null)
@@ -366,22 +490,59 @@ class MainActivity : AudioServiceActivity(), MethodChannel.MethodCallHandler, Ev
 		detachRemoteClientCallback()
 		activeRemoteMediaClient = remoteMediaClient
 		remoteMediaClient.registerCallback(remoteMediaClientCallback)
+		startRemoteStatusPolling()
+		if (pendingCastRequest != null) {
+			startPendingCastRequest(session)
+		}
 		emitRemotePlaybackStatus()
 	}
 
 	private fun detachRemoteClientCallback() {
+		stopRemoteStatusPolling()
 		activeRemoteMediaClient?.unregisterCallback(remoteMediaClientCallback)
 		activeRemoteMediaClient = null
 	}
 
+	private fun startRemoteStatusPolling() {
+		if (remoteCastStatusPollingRunnable != null) {
+			return
+		}
+
+		val pollRunnable = object : Runnable {
+			override fun run() {
+				try {
+					if (activeRemoteMediaClient != null) {
+						emitRemotePlaybackStatus()
+						// Use mainHandler to keep polling alive across lifecycle changes
+						mainHandler.postDelayed(this, REMOTE_STATUS_POLL_INTERVAL_MS)
+					}
+				} catch (e: Exception) {
+					// Safely handle any errors to keep polling thread alive
+					e.printStackTrace()
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		remoteCastStatusPollingRunnable = pollRunnable
+		mainHandler.post(pollRunnable)
+	}
+
+	private fun stopRemoteStatusPolling() {
+		val runnable = remoteCastStatusPollingRunnable ?: return
+		mainHandler.removeCallbacks(runnable)
+		remoteCastStatusPollingRunnable = null
+	}
+
 	private fun emitRemotePlaybackStatus() {
 		val remoteMediaClient = activeRemoteMediaClient
-		val mediaStatus = remoteMediaClient?.mediaStatus
+		if (remoteMediaClient == null) return
+		
+		val mediaStatus = remoteMediaClient.mediaStatus
 		val playbackStatus = when (mediaStatus?.playerState) {
 			MediaStatus.PLAYER_STATE_PLAYING -> "playing"
 			MediaStatus.PLAYER_STATE_BUFFERING,
 			MediaStatus.PLAYER_STATE_LOADING -> "buffering"
-			MediaStatus.PLAYER_STATE_PAUSED,
+			MediaStatus.PLAYER_STATE_PAUSED -> "stopped"
 			MediaStatus.PLAYER_STATE_IDLE,
 			MediaStatus.PLAYER_STATE_UNKNOWN,
 			null -> "stopped"
@@ -394,6 +555,40 @@ class MainActivity : AudioServiceActivity(), MethodChannel.MethodCallHandler, Ev
 		}
 	}
 
+	private fun stopLocalAudioPlayback() {
+		try {
+			// Tell Flutter side to stop local audio via method channel
+			// This prevents audio from playing on both mobile and cast device
+			methodChannel?.invokeMethod("stopLocalAudio", null)
+		} catch (e: Exception) {
+			// Silently handle if Flutter side doesn't implement this method
+			e.printStackTrace()
+		}
+	}
+
+	private fun stopAudioServiceSession() {
+		try {
+			// Stop the audio service session directly (works even if app is in background via Android Auto)
+			// This ensures the shared audio handler doesn't keep playing when cast device takes over
+			// Access the audio service through the session token if available
+			methodChannel?.invokeMethod("stopAudioService", null)
+		} catch (e: Exception) {
+			// Audio service might not be available, silently continue
+			e.printStackTrace()
+		}
+	}
+
+	private fun restartAudioServiceSession() {
+		try {
+			// When cast session ends, allow the audio service to resume management
+			// This re-enables local playback for the Flutter side
+			methodChannel?.invokeMethod("resumeLocalAudio", null)
+		} catch (e: Exception) {
+			// If Flutter handler isn't ready, that's ok - audio service will be managed externally
+			e.printStackTrace()
+		}
+	}
+
 	private fun emitStatus(
 		status: String,
 		deviceName: String? = null,

lib/casting_business_object.dart

@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ class CastingBusinessObject extends ChangeNotifier {
   String? _connectedDeviceName;
   String? _lastError;
   
+  /// Callback for when native side requests local audio to stop
+  VoidCallback? onStopLocalAudioRequested;
+
   CastingStatus get status => _status;
   CastingPlaybackStatus get playbackStatus => _playbackStatus;
   String? get connectedDeviceName => _connectedDeviceName;
@@ -55,6 +58,18 @@ class CastingBusinessObject extends ChangeNotifier {
       },
     );
 
+    // Set up handler for native method calls (e.g., stopLocalAudio)
+    _methodChannel.setMethodCallHandler(_handleMethodCall);
+
+    await refreshStatus();
+  }
+
+  Future<void> refreshStatus() async {
+    if (!isSupportedOnThisPlatform) {
+      _setStatus(CastingStatus.unavailable);
+      return;
+    }
+
     try {
       final dynamic status = await _methodChannel.invokeMethod<dynamic>(
         'getStatus',
@@ -66,7 +81,12 @@ class CastingBusinessObject extends ChangeNotifier {
     }
   }
 
-  Future<void> showDevicePicker() async {
+  Future<void> showDevicePicker({
+    bool autoplay = false,
+    String? streamUrl,
+    String? title,
+    String? subtitle,
+  }) async {
     if (!isSupportedOnThisPlatform) {
       _setStatus(CastingStatus.unavailable);
       return;
@@ -77,7 +97,12 @@ class CastingBusinessObject extends ChangeNotifier {
     }
 
     try {
-      await _methodChannel.invokeMethod<void>('showDevicePicker');
+      await _methodChannel.invokeMethod<void>('showDevicePicker', {
+        'autoplay': autoplay,
+        'streamUrl': streamUrl,
+        'title': title,
+        'subtitle': subtitle,
+      });
     } on PlatformException catch (error) {
       _lastError = error.message ?? error.code;
       _setStatus(CastingStatus.error);
@@ -102,7 +127,10 @@ class CastingBusinessObject extends ChangeNotifier {
       });
     } on PlatformException catch (error) {
       _lastError = error.message ?? error.code;
-      _setStatus(CastingStatus.error);
+      // Do NOT set status to error here — native emits its own status events.
+      // Overriding status from Dart corrupts the UI when native considers the
+      // session still connected (e.g. during a retry after a race condition).
+      rethrow;
     }
   }
 
@@ -146,6 +174,8 @@ class CastingBusinessObject extends ChangeNotifier {
 
     if (deviceName != null && deviceName.isNotEmpty) {
       _connectedDeviceName = deviceName;
+    } else if (status != 'connected') {
+      _connectedDeviceName = null;
     }
 
     if (message != null && message.isNotEmpty) {
@@ -210,4 +240,22 @@ class CastingBusinessObject extends ChangeNotifier {
     _eventSubscription?.cancel();
     super.dispose();
   }
+
+  /// Handles method calls from native code
+  Future<dynamic> _handleMethodCall(MethodCall call) async {
+    switch (call.method) {
+      case 'stopLocalAudio':
+        onStopLocalAudioRequested?.call();
+        return null;
+      case 'stopAudioService':
+        // Stop the audio service directly (called when transferring to cast)
+        onStopLocalAudioRequested?.call();
+        return null;
+      case 'resumeLocalAudio':
+        // Audio service is resuming after cast disconnect; no action needed on Flutter side
+        return null;
+      default:
+        return null;
+    }
+  }
 }

lib/main.dart

@@ -73,12 +73,11 @@ class MainPage extends StatefulWidget {
   State<MainPage> createState() => _MainPageState();
 }
 
-class _MainPageState extends State<MainPage> {
+class _MainPageState extends State<MainPage> with WidgetsBindingObserver {
   StreamingAudioBusinessObject get _audio => widget.audio;
   CastingBusinessObject get _casting => widget.casting;
   final LiveInfoBusinessObject _liveInfo = LiveInfoBusinessObject();
   static const List<int> _intervalOptions = <int>[5, 10, 15, 30, 60];
-  bool _castStreamStartedForActiveSession = false;
   bool _isStartingCastStream = false;
   bool _pendingRemotePlay = false;
 
@@ -133,11 +132,33 @@ class _MainPageState extends State<MainPage> {
   @override
   void initState() {
     super.initState();
+    WidgetsBinding.instance.addObserver(this);
     _audio.addListener(_handleAudioStateChanged);
     _casting.addListener(_handleCastingStateChanged);
     _liveInfo.addListener(_handleLiveInfoChanged);
     _liveInfo.start();
     _playbackChannel.setMethodCallHandler(_handlePlaybackMethodCall);
+    
+    // When native code requests local audio to stop (cast media loaded)
+    _casting.onStopLocalAudioRequested = () {
+      unawaited(_audio.stop());
+    };
+  }
+
+  @override
+  void didChangeAppLifecycleState(AppLifecycleState state) {
+    if (state == AppLifecycleState.resumed) {
+      // Re-initialize (not just refresh) to re-establish the EventChannel
+      // subscription. In a cold-start Android Auto scenario the Flutter engine
+      // boots headlessly before MainActivity.configureFlutterEngine() runs, so
+      // the native EventChannel StreamHandler is not yet registered when
+      // initialize() first fires. The "listen" message is dropped, eventSink
+      // stays null, and all subsequent emitStatus() calls are silently lost.
+      // Calling initialize() here cancels that dead subscription and creates a
+      // fresh one now that the handler is registered; onListen immediately
+      // re-emits statusPayload so the Dart state is fully re-synced.
+      unawaited(_casting.initialize());
+    }
   }
 
   Future<void> _handlePlaybackMethodCall(MethodCall call) async {
@@ -172,15 +193,27 @@ class _MainPageState extends State<MainPage> {
   }
 
   void _handleCastingStateChanged() {
+    final currentStatus = _casting.status;
+
+    if (_casting.isPlaying || _casting.isBuffering) {
+      _pendingRemotePlay = false;
+    }
+
+    if (currentStatus != CastingStatus.connected) {
+      _isStartingCastStream = false;
+    }
+
     if (_usesExternalCastPlayback &&
-        (!_castStreamStartedForActiveSession || _pendingRemotePlay) &&
+        _pendingRemotePlay &&
         !_isStartingCastStream) {
+      // Only load when _pendingRemotePlay was set by _play() while connecting.
+      // Do NOT trigger on justConnected — native pendingCastRequest handles
+      // all autoplay from showDevicePicker(autoplay: true).
       _startCastingLiveStream();
     }
 
-    if (!_usesExternalCastPlayback) {
-      _castStreamStartedForActiveSession = false;
-      _isStartingCastStream = false;
+    if (!_usesExternalCastPlayback &&
+        currentStatus != CastingStatus.connecting) {
       _pendingRemotePlay = false;
     }
 
@@ -203,21 +236,24 @@ class _MainPageState extends State<MainPage> {
         subtitle: _audio.currentSubtitle,
       );
 
-      _castStreamStartedForActiveSession = true;
       _pendingRemotePlay = false;
 
       if (_usesExternalCastPlayback && !_audio.isStopped) {
         await _audio.stop();
       }
     } catch (_) {
-      _castStreamStartedForActiveSession = false;
-      // State is already updated by the casting business object.
+      _pendingRemotePlay = !_audio.isStopped;
     } finally {
       _isStartingCastStream = false;
     }
   }
 
   Future<void> _play() async {
+    if (_casting.status == CastingStatus.connecting) {
+      _pendingRemotePlay = true;
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (_usesExternalCastPlayback) {
       if (_casting.isPlaying || _isStartingCastStream) {
         return;
@@ -227,12 +263,7 @@ class _MainPageState extends State<MainPage> {
       return;
     }
 
-    if (_usesExternalCastPlayback &&
-        _casting.status == CastingStatus.connecting) {
-      _pendingRemotePlay = true;
-      return;
-    }
-
+    _pendingRemotePlay = false;
     await _audio.play();
   }
 
@@ -251,7 +282,21 @@ class _MainPageState extends State<MainPage> {
       return;
     }
 
-    await _casting.showDevicePicker();
+    final shouldAutoplay = !_audio.isStopped;
+    // Do NOT set _pendingRemotePlay when native handles autoplay.
+    // The native pendingCastRequest already handles autoplay via
+    // showDevicePicker(autoplay: true). Setting _pendingRemotePlay here
+    // causes a duplicate load from Flutter that races the native load and
+    // corrupts the cast status (especially in the Android Auto path).
+    // _pendingRemotePlay is only set by _play() when the user explicitly
+    // presses Play while the cast session is still connecting.
+    _pendingRemotePlay = false;
+    await _casting.showDevicePicker(
+      autoplay: shouldAutoplay,
+      streamUrl: shouldAutoplay ? _audio.streamUrl : null,
+      title: shouldAutoplay ? _audio.currentTitle : null,
+      subtitle: shouldAutoplay ? _audio.currentSubtitle : null,
+    );
   }
 
   String _castingLabel() {
@@ -290,6 +335,7 @@ class _MainPageState extends State<MainPage> {
 
   @override
   void dispose() {
+    WidgetsBinding.instance.removeObserver(this);
     _audio.removeListener(_handleAudioStateChanged);
     _casting.removeListener(_handleCastingStateChanged);
     _liveInfo.removeListener(_handleLiveInfoChanged);
@@ -412,8 +458,7 @@ class _MainPageState extends State<MainPage> {
                       ),
                       ElevatedButton.icon(
                         onPressed:
-                            _casting.status == CastingStatus.connecting ||
-                                _casting.status == CastingStatus.unavailable
+                            _casting.status == CastingStatus.connecting
                             ? null
                             : _toggleCasting,
                         icon: Icon(_castingIcon()),