If a Samsung phone is losing charge around wireless Android Auto, the setting to try is “Start Android Auto while locked.” David J. Buck reported a smaller overnight battery drop on his Galaxy Z Fold5 after turning that option off; his account is one owner’s experience.
Try the startup setting Buck reported
Buck said he searched Settings for Android Auto and opened Startup. He described Android Auto as being under Connected Devices on Samsung. His reported steps were:
- Search Settings for Android Auto.
- Open Startup.
- Turn off Start Android Auto while locked.
- For automatic startup, choose If used on the last drive, the option Buck said he selected.
The overnight battery change he reported
Before changing the setting, Buck said his Galaxy Z Fold5 went from 80% to about 50% overnight. Afterward, he reported a drop from 80% to about 76%. He said he tried the setting for a few days. Buck also said his Motorola Moto G did not show the same drain in either of two cars he tried.
Those are Buck’s readings from one Galaxy Z Fold5. A separate user reported hourly figures on a different phone and connection setup.
Active use and a background connection
On December 22, 2022, SaNdMaN reported the following comparison in a CyanLabs community discussion:
| Reported use state | Phone and connection | Reported battery use |
| Maps and music | 5,000 mAh phone with a Motorola MA-1 | 8% per hour |
| Android Auto linked and running in the background, not actively used | Same phone and adapter | 4% per hour |
These are SaNdMaN’s self-reported figures, not a Samsung-specific rate.
Other options Buck mentioned
Buck also mentioned checking whether Bluetooth reconnects after being disconnected, turning off wireless Android Auto, unpairing the phone, using Tasker to stop Android Auto when it is not in use, or switching to wired Android Auto.
