Android Auto was my battery’s greatest enemy till I modified these settings

Nothing ruins an extended drive like shedding 30% of your battery earlier than you attain your vacation spot.

That saved taking place to me with Android Auto. It ruined the enjoyable, particularly once I needed to take heed to music or test how for much longer I needed to drive with out worrying about my telephone dying earlier than I arrived.

I didn’t need to cease utilizing Android Auto, so I attempted altering a couple of settings as an alternative. Here are 4 modifications that helped me sort out the drain. I used to be stunned by how little I needed to change to make my lengthy drives much less traumatic.

I turned my brightness down, and it truly helped

A dimmer display can imply much less battery drain

I used to maintain my telephone’s brightness fairly excessive as a result of I needed to see the whole lot clearly whereas driving. But I didn’t notice how a lot that might drain the battery, particularly on longer journeys. So, I turned it down a notch, and it made a distinction in how rapidly my battery dropped.

You don’t should hold adjusting the brightness manually, both. Turn on Adaptive brightness, and your telephone will alter the display primarily based on the encompassing gentle. It’s useful whenever you’re driving by a sunny stretch after which enter a shaded street or a tunnel.

On Samsung telephones, go to Settings -> Display and allow Adaptive brightness. You may decrease the brightness manually when your telephone’s display is on. If you normally go away your telephone display off whereas utilizing Android Auto, although, this setting could not make a lot difference during your drives.

I finished apps from operating within the background

Put unused apps to sleep earlier than an extended drive

I don’t want each app on my telephone doing its factor whereas I’m out driving. Shopping apps, video games, and apps I opened as soon as and forgot about can wait till I would like them. So, I began placing those I hardly ever used to sleep as an alternative of letting them run within the background.

On my Samsung telephone, go to Settings -> Battery -> Background utilization limits -> Sleeping apps. Select the apps you need to add. If you barely use sure apps, you may add them to Deep Sleeping apps, too. Just watch out with that choice as a result of these apps received’t run within the background or ship notifications till you open them.

I wouldn’t put messaging apps or Google Maps to sleep. But Weather & Radar, NotallyX, and different apps I hardly ever open can wait.

I turned off location entry

Stop pointless apps from monitoring your location

Whenever I set up a brand new app, I rush by the setup to get to the good things. A number of faucets on Allow, and I’m in. But someplace in these permission pop-ups, I may need given the app entry to my location with out considering twice. That’s not at all times an incredible concept. Some apps don’t have to know the place I’m, and sharing that data can put my privateness in danger. So, I turned off permissions wherever they weren’t wanted.

On Samsung, go to Settings -> Security and privateness -> Privacy -> Permission supervisor -> Location. Tap an app and select Don’t enable if it doesn’t want your location. For apps that want it often, you may choose Allow solely whereas utilizing the app as an alternative.

I wouldn’t want location entry for Google Maps or Waze as a result of they’re my savior throughout drives. But for apps like Google Keep or Spotify, which don’t have to know my whereabouts, eradicating location permissions is a straightforward cleanup. It could not magically repair the battery drain, however less is more.

I switched to wired Android Auto

Why a USB cable may also help save battery

Wireless Android Auto is handy, and I like not having to take care of cables each time I get into the automotive. But on longer drives, I observed my telephone getting heat and shedding cost quicker than I anticipated. Wireless Android Auto makes use of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth whereas operating navigation and different apps, which may put further pressure on the battery.

So, I switched to wired Android Auto. I plugged my telephone into the automotive utilizing a good-quality, brief USB-C cable. The cable can cost my telephone, relying on how a lot energy the automotive’s USB port provides.

If your telephone retains connecting wirelessly, test whether or not Android Auto settings supply a wi-fi connection toggle. Developer settings can also supply a Wireless Android Auto choice, relying in your model.

Wireless is useful, however for lengthy drives, I’ll take a cable and a extra dependable cost.

My subsequent weekend journey is sorted

With these modifications out of the way in which, I’m feeling significantly better about my subsequent weekend journey.

Before the journey, I’ll additionally obtain offline maps earlier than leaving, so I don’t should rely completely on cellular information when the community will get patchy. If 5G protection is low, I’ll swap to LTE and see if that helps my battery last more. I’ll additionally hold my telephone out of direct daylight as an alternative of leaving it to bake on the dashboard.

With all these modifications, I’ll have a enjoyable lengthy drive.