[Update: Jan. 22] Google Pixel 6 & 6 Pro users report devices not charging with some third-party chargers or cables (workaround inside)

New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….

Original story (published on November 27, 2021) follows:

Since Google launched the Pixel 6 phones, many users have come up with several kinds of bugs and issues with these handsets.

It seems that these phones are not very well optimized with the latest Android 12 and Google still needs to do some improvisation in its new OS in order to make it work seamlessly on its new smartphones.

We have covered several Pixel 6 issues such as slow fingerprint, network problems, Bluetooth connectivity bug, and many more. And it seems that the streak of issues with Pixel 6 phones is not over yet as new bugs continue to pop up.

Looking at the smartphone market trend these days, Google also removed the charger from the box of Pixel 6 lineup leaving users with options to either use a charger from their older device or buy a new one.

However, those who are using older or any third-party chargers are having trouble charging their Pixel 6 handset. Whenever they plug the device into any USB Type-C cable or third-party charging brick, it does not charge.

As a result, those affected took to the Google forums and Reddit (1, 2, 3) to raise a complaint about it, and here are some reports for reference:

I have had the same problem with my newly purchased Pixel 6. I see no reason why is should not charge with a 2amp USB A charger, all be it at a slower rate. All my other usb C devices do. (Source)

Just bought a Pixel 6 and last evening I plugged it in to my old Huawei P40’s charger. This morning I found it 0% charged and turned off. After that I connected it to a Samsung S9 charger and it takes around 3 hours to fully charge. What’s happening? (Source)

Some users say that the device charges slow using third-party chargers or cables, while others are complaining that the device does not even charge or barely charges.

It seems that the Pixel 6 series does not support certain kinds of chargers, especially proprietary ones from brands such as OnePlus, OPPO, Huawei, etc.

Fortunately, there is a simple solution for this issue. Users can either use a Google charger, or a third party PD-capable charger will also work.

Meanwhile, we would recommend you to use a Google-branded charger for charging your Pixel 6 devices for a better charging experience.

However, Google has not yet responded to users’ complaints and we hope that the company soon comes up with a good reason as to why third-party cables and chargers are not supported on Pixel 6.

That said, we will keep you updated on the further development of this issue as and when anything new comes to our notice.

While this issue continues to afflict Pixel 6 users, one affected person reports a rather interesting workaround that worked for them.

Turned off developer mode and got the first full charge on my new Pixel 6 since I got it on Tuesday!
Source

An individual has shared some interesting observations regarding the issue with charging the Pixel 6 devices. Here’s what they have to say:

Speculation from observation: The Pixel 6 seems to try read the cable’s capabilities to determine how much power can be safely drawn, if it fails do that (I guess this is a specification that came with one of the recent USB C spec updates?), it just won’t charge at all. No fall back to a safe slow charge was implemented here. Newer cables of latest specifications will probably announce to the phone what they can handle. I have ordered two new USB-A to USB-C cables (USB 3.1 spec) and now all my chargers work with the Pixel 6. Even my oldest 10W charger can now charge my Pixel 6, slowly of course, but steady. (Source)

With Google yet to say anything on the matter, many are still unsure if their existing chargers will work or not. In the meantime, here are some chargers that are compatible with the new Pixel devices.

A product expert on the Google forum clarified that users will face issues when charging their Pixel 6 using a USB-A connection. And using a USB-C to USB-C cable for charging may resolve the issue. This whole situation is well explained in the article here.

Reports say that the January 2022 update for Pixel 6 did not fix the charging issue. And still, these handsets reject or do not work with some USB-C cables.

And Google also listed this as an intended behavior. So, we can’t expect a fix for this issue anytime soon. This means that you’ll have to spend a little more to find a cable that is compatible with your Pixel 6.

Note: We have more such stories in our dedicated Google section, so make sure to follow them as well.

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