Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Google
The charging support is a primary benefit of running Android Auto with a wired connection. Once it's connected to the USB port in the vehicle to run Android Auto, the mobile phone also gets an extra charge, allowing the owner to arrive at the destination with a full battery.
The feature is helpful, especially after long trips when the battery consumption is higher, especially for Google Maps and Waze users.
A recent bug defeats the purpose of Android Auto wired, breaking down the charging support and therefore causing an unavoidable impact on the battery level.
Users reported back in April that Android Auto blocks their phones from charging when connected to the cabin's head unit. The app runs correctly, but the mobile device no longer charges as long as Android Auto runs on the dashboard screen.
Users who encountered the error claim that using the same USB port in the car to charge the phone works correctly without Android Auto. When the application launches, the charging stops.
Several other Android Auto adopters confirmed the same behavior in their cars, and a Google Community Specialist requested phone logs for additional information. No further information has surfaced since then, so the current status of the investigation is unknown.
All users who encountered the glitch own Sony smartphones running Android 13, so Android Auto might not be the main culprit at first glance. The glitch could result from an operating system update error, as the mobile device could block the charging when Android Auto launches and a USB connection is active.
The glitch happens in various car brands, including Skoda, Mercedes, and Volvo.
Google has remained tight-lipped on a potential fix, but considering the ongoing investigation, you shouldn't hold your breath for a patch.
The company has recently released the first beta of Android Auto 10, but it's unclear if this version includes fixes for this error. The new build comes without significant changes, as Google focuses more on the app's reliability and under-the-hood optimizations. Android Auto 10 should start rolling out to production devices in the coming weeks if no major bugs appear.
In the meantime, if you haven't yet updated your Sony smartphone and Android Auto is still working correctly, you'd better not install the latest OS version. Restoring an earlier Android version is a cumbersome process, so delaying the update could help prevent the reported errors. Sony did not comment on the error, but I've contacted the company for more information and will update the article if I get an answer. No other brands seem to struggle with the bug, so if you use Android Auto with a Samsung phone, everything should work correctly, at least as far as the charging is concerned.
A recent bug defeats the purpose of Android Auto wired, breaking down the charging support and therefore causing an unavoidable impact on the battery level.
Users reported back in April that Android Auto blocks their phones from charging when connected to the cabin's head unit. The app runs correctly, but the mobile device no longer charges as long as Android Auto runs on the dashboard screen.
Users who encountered the error claim that using the same USB port in the car to charge the phone works correctly without Android Auto. When the application launches, the charging stops.
Several other Android Auto adopters confirmed the same behavior in their cars, and a Google Community Specialist requested phone logs for additional information. No further information has surfaced since then, so the current status of the investigation is unknown.
All users who encountered the glitch own Sony smartphones running Android 13, so Android Auto might not be the main culprit at first glance. The glitch could result from an operating system update error, as the mobile device could block the charging when Android Auto launches and a USB connection is active.
The glitch happens in various car brands, including Skoda, Mercedes, and Volvo.
Google has remained tight-lipped on a potential fix, but considering the ongoing investigation, you shouldn't hold your breath for a patch.
The company has recently released the first beta of Android Auto 10, but it's unclear if this version includes fixes for this error. The new build comes without significant changes, as Google focuses more on the app's reliability and under-the-hood optimizations. Android Auto 10 should start rolling out to production devices in the coming weeks if no major bugs appear.
In the meantime, if you haven't yet updated your Sony smartphone and Android Auto is still working correctly, you'd better not install the latest OS version. Restoring an earlier Android version is a cumbersome process, so delaying the update could help prevent the reported errors. Sony did not comment on the error, but I've contacted the company for more information and will update the article if I get an answer. No other brands seem to struggle with the bug, so if you use Android Auto with a Samsung phone, everything should work correctly, at least as far as the charging is concerned.
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