No data/file transfer available when Google 6 Pro connected via USB

January 3, 2024 9:36 PM

When I connect my Google 6 Pro via USB to a PC or to my car the phone only charges. It doesn't show up as a connected device on the PC, nor does it launch Android Auto on my car's head unit. I have tested this with multiple cables and PCs (but only one car). I have tried setting USB to debugging mode via the developer options to force the change but no dice. I've clean the phone's USB port with an air spray, no difference. Any suggestions as to what else I can try?
posted by Faff to Technology (8 answers total)

I've never had any luck with compressed air for cleaning out USB ports that have had enough lint wedged into them to start interfering with connectivity. Try a good squirt of a lubricant-free contact cleaner such as CRC CO to loosen things up, then gentle but persistent picking with a pin or sewing needle to extract the clog, then another squirt of contact cleaner for final rinse out. I've often managed to increase the seating depth of both micro USB and USB-C plugs by a whole millimetre that way. Bright lighting and a decent magnifier are a big help too.
posted by flabdablet at 9:43 PM on January 3, 2024 [2 favorites]

When you first connect, have you swiped down from the top to get notifications? There will be one that offers you options for USB, you have to choose 'file transfer' or 'PTP' or whatever (depends on what you want to do) to do anything other than charge
posted by TimHare at 10:57 PM on January 3, 2024 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: @TimHare no swipe down option is available and when I go into USB Preferences in Settings, all options are greyed out when the USB is connected
posted by Faff at 11:56 PM on January 3, 2024

I would try a couple different cables, there are power only charging cables that don't have the data wires.

Under developer options (google how to enable) theres a default usb settings menu which lets you default the drop down that was mentioned.
posted by TheAdamist at 3:36 AM on January 4, 2024 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: @TheAdamist have tried multiple cables, including ones that have previously worked. Have also tried switching the default behaviour under developer options and it makes no difference, even if I select file transfer.
posted by Faff at 5:42 AM on January 4, 2024

My Android Auto works okay, so this might not be the cause of your issue, but I had to use the USB-C-to-USB-C cable I got in the box to be able to connect my Pixel 8 to my PC when I got it recently. I was just fortunate that I had a laptop with a USB-C connector. I couldn't get my PC to see my Pixel with a standard USB-C-to-USB-A cable.
posted by possibilityleft at 8:09 AM on January 4, 2024

Best answer: For the Android Auto bit specifically, this happened to me recently with my Pixel 7a. Turns out the issue was that I hadn't run a System Update in a while -- immediately after I did this for unrelated reasons, Android Auto mysteriously started working again. Worth checking?
posted by HtotheH at 9:33 AM on January 4, 2024

Response by poster: @HtotheH winner! Running a security update has solved the problem, thanks for the suggestion.
posted by Faff at 5:10 AM on January 5, 2024