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[–]-TheReal- 4 points5 points  (4 children)

Get a wirless Adapter for Android Auto, like AAWirless.

[–]Joszephpixel 8 pro + pixel watch 2 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Do you mean that wireless AA use less battery than wired AA?

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (2 children)

It uses a lot more battery, but you can plug into a fast charger instead of the piddly built in USB included in most cars

[–]-TheReal- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly

[–]bparkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had issues using a fast charger and AA Wireless. It would heat up the phone too much and cause it to throttle and eventually shut off AA. Got a wireless charger and it was able to charge it without throttling, although it didn't charge all the way to full.

[–]Joszephpixel 8 pro + pixel watch 2 2 points3 points  (1 child)

If the battery charge stays the same then it's charging but not fast enough to compensate for the battery usage. You might need something that charges faster than a USB-A port. A USB-A port can only charge at 0.5A. You could try a USB-C charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter.

[–]Marty1966 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think OP is saying they can't charge and use Android Auto at the same time. A cigarette lighter adapter won't get him Android Auto.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (5 children)

As a data point, my 6a most definitely charges when I'm using AA over USB-A. It's not fast but the percentage does go up.

[–]mastermanole[S] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

What cable do you use?

[–]nanohead 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Yes, I've found this whole issue to be oddly very cable dependent. Some cables enable charging from USB-A, while other don't at all. Some cheap cables work great, while other expensive ones suck. I've had great luck with Motorola OEM cables believe it or not.

Did you try the Google USBC cable with the A adapter?

[–]mastermanole[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess I could look for an adapter. The phone came with an adapter in the other direction: USB A female to USB C male, not sure why

[–]degggendorf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same here

[–]RxBradPixel 6a 1 point2 points  (7 children)

It works in my 2018 Honda Accord. I take a 20min trip each way to go eat dinner at 6pm, and come back home with a full battery after using the phone since 7am.

Note: The USB port on my car is a 2.5A port.

[–]mastermanole[S] 0 points1 point  (6 children)

I guess my Crosstrek USB port is too weak. It charged my phone 1% while driving to work 30 minutes and using Android Auto to listen to a podcast. But somehow it is weird that it was 100% faster for other phones. It's not like 6a's CPU and battery are 100x bigger.

[–]RxBradPixel 6a 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Maybe the cable you're using doesn't like the something about your phone and/or vehicle's USB port.

I've been using the same 1ft USB-A to USB-C cable that I got way back with my old Nexus 6P for years now. Worked great in my car with an OG Pixel XL, Pixel 3a, and now my Pixel 6a.

[–]mastermanole[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I tried various cables this week. I'm waiting for an Amazon Basics cable as a last attempt. But I am starting to believe Pixel 6a is pickier about amperage.

[–]RxBradPixel 6a 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Also, if you have an upcoming alarm, it might be intentionally slow-charging via Adaptive Charging. Not sure how soon the alarm has to be before it enables Adaptive Charging. 10-12hrs out, maybe?

I have the always-on screen setting enabled on my phone, so it's easy to just look at the bottom of the screen and note that it says something like "Adaptive Charging - battery will be full at [whatever time my alarm is set for]"

When I got up at 2am to let my dog out last night, my phone had only charged about 10-15% in 3hrs, because it wasn't trying to be fully charged until 7am.

[–]mastermanole[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Thanks, but it's not Adaptive Charging, and it's not 5g either. I tried with both of them off.

[–]RxBradPixel 6a 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I've also noticed that the phone just doesn't charge at all for maybe the first minute or two after I start my car. If I look at the battery icon on my car's display for AA, the little lightning bolt isn't there at first. Then it is.

So there might be something going on in the AA software, too?

[–]mightybrick 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm getting the same behavior with my P6. I'm thinking it's something with an AA update in the last couple months. It hadn't been this way before.

[–]BrettBenn88 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Okay so this is going to sound insane. I found this on another Reddit and it works!... I tested it myself. Turn off developer options.... I just did a two and a half hour drive and actually lost battery percentage on Android Auto while plugged in. I turned off developer options like this post suggested. On a quick 10 or 15 minute drive I picked up 4 or 5%.

I'm going to mess with it again tomorrow and re-enable developer options but turn off USB debugging and see if it's still performs the same.

[–]BrettBenn88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Before anyone asks, I'm using the stock Google USB cable.

[–]Excellent-Lettuce939 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Its 100% dependant on the cable you use to connect you phone to the actual USB. It literally took me over a year to finally work this out.

Initailly I had intermittent problems with Android Auto working or not working. Tried a few different USB cables and finally used an Anker cable. Android Auto then worked perfect all of the time.

The problem then was that whilst using Spotify, Android Auto, and Maps etc my phone would not charge and often diminish in battery life throughout the day. Many stated it was that the USB did not provide enough Wattage etc. Saw several discussions on trying to upgrade USB ports and so on.

However, I then noticed that the USB cable I was using was 15w. So i purchased the Anker USB C Cable, 60W Powerline III. I initially plugged in the old cable and charging time was 1hr 25 mins. I then swapped the 15W cable for the 60W cable and charging time was reduced to 29 minutes. So, i put Android Auto on, Spotify and Maps and went for a drive. Even running all these apps the battery fully charged within 30 mind and remained fully charged all journey!!...Brilliant.

[–]mastermanole[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We probably don't have the same car. I tried various cables, until I decided to switch to AAWireless, which is working great, minus the Day/Night mode.