2w ago

Hey gang, need some help. Looking for suggestions.

I have a Pixel 9 Pro XL, on Android 16 (beta 3).

When attaching to USB in my car, the Android Auto feature won't play my music, the vast majority of the time. I use Power Amp and music is fine over Bluetooth.

It's not the wire. Also, my GF's iPhone works fine.

So, definitely an OS/software glitch. I make sure that Total Adblock is turned off and restart my phone before attaching to USB.

The music may actually work about 2/10 times. However, I can't determine the exact situation during the moments it works.

Any ideas? TIA.

21 comments

Is Power Amp installed from Google Play or side loaded? Android Auto will inexplicably refuse to launch side loaded apps half of the time. If it is launching but no audio is coming out, this isn't the solution for you
To get around that I download my app (in my case, CoMaps) via Obtainium + Shizuku with the option "Set Google Play as the installation source"
Since Poweramp isn't FOSS, you'll have to download their provided apk & move it to /data/local/tmp with adb
Then you can run pm install -i "com.android.vending" /data/local/tmp/Poweramp-build-999-uni.apk
This will overwrite the installed app's installation source with Google Play and let Android Auto work with it
- Power Amp comes from Google Play store.
  
  Is it just Poweramp having issues playing or any audio while in Android Auto? Do you get turn-by-turn nav? Try another music app (newpipe has an android auto UI if you need something free to test with)
Lately Android Auto hasn't connected for me, unless I turn my VPN off
- VPN off or Split Tunneling works for me.
  I chose Spplit Tunneling because it fits my use case better.
  So for context, I have android auto not going through VPN, but I have my music player going through VPN.
- I believe this is only an issue with wireless android auto?
  Also that sucks, since I use a VPN to reach my library :(
- I'll look at that. I know I definitely have to turn off Total Adblock, but, I haven't clicked off the VPN.
I'd rule out Poweramp for sure, do other music apps work? Poweramp does works fine for me on graphine OS, which is also android 16.
You're on a beta version, so it could be related to that?
- Possibly. It's just very frustrating that everything does work occasionally.
  I just figure out how to replicate the exact sequence/situation/settings.
  I certainly can try another music player. But, I love Power Amp. It has the best features, IMO.
  
  I agree Power Amp is amazing, I don't care its not Foss and its worth the cost.
  I was think more as a troubleshooting step to see if something else has the same issue.
I have a similar problem but in my case android auto stops all together. Ik on a pixel 6 pro though. And I know when I charge my phone via cable, it's hit and miss with any cable. My port is to blame is my suspicion.
Have you tried cleaning your port?
In my car's case even when wired the audio runs over Bluetooth, that might be part of your problem? Also remember that USB cables can vary a lot in quality, I would try a cable you know to be reliable and see if that helps.
- I spent a bit of time consulting with the folks at Micro Center to find a high quality cable. As I mentioned, my GF's iPhone works fine.
Have you tried power cycling your car? I don’t have AA, but I have a similar issue with CarPlay where once in a while there’s no sound (wired or wireless). The only way I can fix it is to completely power cycle the vehicle.
- You mean turning off the engine, opening a door and shut it to make sure power is completely off? Yes. I try that.
  
  Yeah, that’s what works when it happens to me.

21 comments