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Moto G Android 4.4 KitKat Update Problems Emerge

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The new Motorola has adopted a strategy to be one of the first manufacturers to update its smartphones to the latest versions of Google’s Android. The Moto G Android 4.4.2 KitKat update is a prime example.

We saw this with the Moto X getting Android 4.4 before some Nexus devices, not to mention Motorola issued Android 4.4.2 KitKat to the Moto G before most flagship devices from Samsung, HTC and LG. The only devices getting updates faster are Nexus units, or devices from the Google Play Store. However, being first isn’t always best, as we’re now seeing a few problems and issues arise after the Moto G Android 4.4.2 KitKat update.

Moto G Review - 7

The Moto G budget phone was first launched last year with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, but was quickly updated to the absolute latest and nearly stock version of Android 4.4.2 KitKat. Bringing with it camera enhancements, interface tweaks, reportedly better battery life, and a few other minor changes. However, users aren’t so lucky, and the Motorola Support Forums are filling up with complaints.

These problems have all appeared since the Moto G was updated to Android 4.4.2 KitKat, and weren’t present with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean the device first shipped to consumers with, so it’s important they get fixed quickly.

Reports suggest the biggest problem is phones dropping calls or losing the signal completely and missing calls, which is extremely important for a phone. This issue could be related to a bug where the phone is reporting no SIM card, which means no phone, text, or internet usage. Others are experiencing the Moto G working as expected, but still seeing the “No SIM” notification in the pulldown bar, which can’t be cleared.

Read: Moto G Review

These problems have been confirmed to be happening on the Verizon Moto G, prepaid options like MetroPCS, but mainly in units overseas and outside of the US. That isn’t all either. We’re hearing horror stories about the phones dropping service and falling into airplane mode, a mode which prevents all radios and signal completely for flights. Phones get stuck in airplane mode and are requiring a reboot to regain cell service, and more.

Some users, although not as often, are reporting the airplane mode pops up while trying to make calls, something which often causes the actual phone or dialer app to force close or crash. Killing the call and requiring the user to start over. Pretty puzzling and irritating stuff here.

MotoG-KitKat

We’re hearing if users disable data completely and use the Moto G on Android 4.4.2 KitKat simply as a phone for calls and texts, these issues aren’t present, but that’s yet to be confirmed. Either way Motorola has some serious bugs going on with the Moto G KitKat update, and they need to be addressed.

Read: Moto G vs Moto X: 6 Key Differences

With well over 400 posts and counting on the Motorola support forum, these problems are bigger than just a few limited cases, which means we can expect a bug-fixing update to arrive as soon as humanly possible.

For now users can try turning airplane mode on and off to regain signal for calls and data connectivity for internet and Facebook use, and if that fails a simple reboot seems to be fixing the problems. Of course these are only temporary and the signal dropping may continue later.

We’ll be sure to monitor the thread for more details, and will be looking for more details from Motorola and US carriers. An update should be coming to solve these irritating bugs that are plaguing users of the Moto G since being updated to Android 4.4.2 KitKat.

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. dougatron

    03/05/2014 at 7:30 pm

    I have had zero issues with boost moto g

  2. Rollo

    04/19/2014 at 4:34 am

    I’ve had a Motorola Defy+ (on Android 2.3.6) for 2 years + and have occasionally seen all the above faults on that too, so I don’t think it’s just Moto G or the KitKat update that does it – but I will still be upgrading to a Moto G soon and going for the Kit Kat update, ‘cos I think Google/Motorola have got cheap smartphones sewn up at the moment.

  3. Watsoft

    04/23/2014 at 11:19 am

    Had this phone since February and it worked like a dream until the latest KitKat update! It was giving me around 8 days of standby, with data, wi-fi and GPS switched off until it was needed…now I’d be lucky to get 2, even when switched to “Airplane mode” :(

    It all started one day when I had about 60% battery, which then dropped to 1% in an instant and the handset switched off. I have recharged using a Sony Ericsson charger (within Motorola’s own parameters – Don’t supply a charger in the UK) using the suggested methods to re-calibrate the unit and while the charge level doesn’t just drop off, the battery is discharging at an alarming rate (compared to what was achievable).

    I have switched all sync options off or to their lowest settings, but something is going crazy in the background that is working this handset like a dog and draining my battery. In part, this could be down to unexpected signal loss as the phone often shows no bars when I would expect to see at least 3. Even when I have 3bars, I go to the “button page” (you know, where you can switch stuff on and off, and get to settings) and the signal is shown in a muddy red (I think, cos I’m colour blind).

    Visit the official forum and you’ll see Motorola “Experts” (ha, ha) clutching at straws! They should have re-released the previous version, so that people had a functioning mobile while they worked on the problem and a solution in their lab!

    I can not turn anything else off to improve the situation, so what have the muppets mis-coded that is causing such a drain? This is obviously a software and not a hardware issue, so hurry up and get it sorted Motorola!

  4. MaxsoundCarAudio Uk

    04/24/2014 at 4:28 am

    Hi , I`ve been using my moto g now for about 4-5 months now and the only issue I had when the kitkat was placed onto it was once it showed 1% of battery even though it was fully charged but after a hard reset it`s been 100% perfect ever since .I must admit that they should have left it on jellybean because not everyone wants to change there firmware every 6 months especially when the moto g was operating fine on jellybean so why fix something that is not broken ?Apart from that slight glitch it`s been great with no signal loss , airplane mode , sim card issues what so ever !I hope Google/Motorola iron out any faults with this phone because for the money I think there better than most flagship phones .Thanks for reading this review and lets all keep intouch about the Moto G …Cheers

  5. Pete James

    04/24/2014 at 7:41 am

    My moto g is totally unreliable, it drops calls, sticks in the middle of composing text, and often looses the camera . V disappointed

  6. Mike Goldberg

    06/02/2014 at 5:22 pm

    On my third Moto G and second SIM card in just over 2 months because phones would not see the SIM card. How do I prevent the phone from downloading Android 4.4.2? As received it runs on 4.3 but getting messages every hour or so to download the new operating system.

  7. Boost moto G user

    07/13/2014 at 5:55 pm

    .. Well for me I have it on boost mobile and I’m not experiencing any problems that are listed up there. This is what I experienced , when I try to download an app from Google Play. If you download an app you get an arrow from the status bar right? Unfortunately my downloads just completely stop.. The arrow disappears from the status bar ): even though on Google play, the app still says “installing” or claims that its downloading it won’t finish. Its just completely stops! Wtf. For example: if I want to download angry birds it would download halfway, then all of the sudden the arrow or downloading logo from the status bar disappears.. I go to Google play and go on the angry birds app page( the page where u click download and rate) , it says its still says its downloading but its gets stuck at the same percentage of download! It doesn’t finish ;.: why does this happen? Does this count as affective and I’m able to exchange for a new one? This website says there might be an update to fix the bugs (in listed from above only I guess) will the update fix my downloading issue?

  8. Heather

    07/26/2014 at 3:19 am

    The only problem I’ve had with the update is with Play Music. I’ve had this phone for about a month now. I’ve notice that it can’t pay music with the “wmv” format for some reason. It can play mp3s without a problem. This problem didn’t show up until I updated to KitKat 4.4.4.

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