Nexus 10 Lollipop Update: 5 Things You Need to Know

Earlier this month, Google started rolling out a collection of Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop updates including an update for its aging full sized tablet the Nexus 10. With Google’s Nexus 10 Lollipop release still ongoing, we want to take a look at some of the important things you need to know about the release and the update itself.

In October, Google announced a number of new products including a Nexus 6 smartphone from Motorola, a Nexus 9 tablet from HTC, and an Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, and Nexus 5. It also confirmed Android 5.0 Lollipop for its stable of Google Play Edition devices. At the time, the company did not offer any release date specifics.

Earlier this month, Google’s Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop release date finally arrived for select Nexus users including owners of the Nexus 5, Nexus 4, Nexus 10 and Nexus 7. The update, one of the biggest in the history of the Android operating system, takes Nexus users from Android 4.4.4 KitKat to Android 5.0 Lollipop and delivers a number of new features including the update’s new Material Design.

It’s an exciting time to be a Nexus smartphone or tablet owner and more specifically, a Nexus 10 user. This is the third major update for the Nexus 10 and it comes as a bit of a surprise given how old the device is. Google typically pulls the plug on software updates after 18 months but it, for whatever reason, decided to keep owners of the Nexus 10 in the fold. The company also decided to keep the Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 2012 around as well.

With the Nexus 10 Android 5.0 Lollipop update in full swing, we want to take a look at the five most important things we think you need to know about the Nexus 4 Android 5.0 Lollipop update and the Nexus 4 Lollipop release from Google.

Nexus 10 Android 5.0 Lollipop Update Still Rolling Out

The Nexus 10 Android 5.0 Lollipop update is still rolling out two weeks after the software was first released for Google’s large screen tablet. We still haven’t seen it emerge on several of our Nexus devices and it’s clear that Google is slow rolling this update out to Nexus users. In fact, the roll out is much slower than the standard Nexus Android update push.

If you still haven’t spotted the Nexus 10 Android 5.0 Lollipop update, don’t panic. You’re in the same boat as tons of other people. You should also know that there is no benefit in checking 100 times a day through the Nexus 10’s settings. You only should check a couple of times a day to see if the update is there. Typically, the update will show up without warning in your notifications.

One thing that you should not do is attempt to force the update through Google Framework Services. We repeat, do not use the Google Framework Services “trick” that other sites and other Nexus users will probably recommend if your update hasn’t arrived. It’s not a trick and it can harm your device. In fact, the problem’s gotten so bad that Google itself warns against using this method when trying to update.

If you haven’t received the OTA yet, we recommend taking a look at these tips.

It’s Not Worth Sideloading

You should know that the Nexus 10 Lollipop update, at this point, is not worth sideloading. Sideloading, for those not familiar with the term, allows you to manually install the update ahead of the OTA. It’s a process that many Nexus users use to bypass the long OTA wait times. At this point though, with several weeks gone, it’s not worth subjecting yourself to any potential headaches.

Many of the initial Nexus 4 Android 5.0 Lollipop problems we heard about were from people that had no business sideloading the software. Impatient, novice users that were taking the plunge for the first time. It’s something that we warned against over and over and there are always some people that don’t listen. If you’re growing impatient, and you’ve never sideloaded before, relax. The OTA process is a much safer way to get the upgrade and it should arrive soon.

Android 5.0 Lollipop Problems

If you haven’t installed the Nexus 10 Android 5.0 Lollipop update yet, you should know that there are some major problems plaguing the software. If you’ve owned a Nexus device for awhile now, you probably know that this is part of the game. Those of you that are new, note that Android problems always plague Nexus devices. It’s the trade off. Google gives you access to all of the latest features, you serve as a guinea pig.

We’ve taken a deep dive into these Android 5.0 Lollipop problems and while most complaints from from Nexus 7, Nexus 5, and Nexus 4 users, there are several Nexus 10 issues at hand as well. In fact, there are a number of system wide Android 5.0 Lollipop problems that are plaguing Nexus users of all shapes and sizes. There is reason for you to investigate these issues.

It’s important to get familiar with them before the update arrives. That way, you know what to do should an issue pop up on your Nexus 10. You’ll also want to ensure that you have the proper resources in place. Sites like the Nexus Help Forum are a great place to start.

Fix for Major Nexus 10 Android 5.0 Problem

There is one major issue that seems to be plaguing Nexus 10 users in particular. Owners of the tablet are complaining about a loss of sound after installing the Android 5.0 Lollipop update. Thanks to the forum, there seems to be a workaround for the issue and we want to relay that fix here to those that are in need after moving to Android 5.0:

1. Restart/Reboot your Nexus (sometimes 5-10 times).
2. If restart does not work, try running in safe mode (instructions and info here). If your sound is working in safe mode, its likely an app is causing the problem. Try uninstalling your most recent app (you can do this from My Apps list in your Google play store account).
3. Also make sure your volume is turned up on your Sound settings.

Users are reporting success with the fix though it’s not guaranteed to work for everyone. If nothing else works, it might be time for a factory reset on a device that’s going to turn three years old next year.

You Don’t Need to Install It Yet

With those in mind, you should know that you don’t have to install the Nexus 10 Android 5.0 Lollipop update when the OTA arrives. In fact, as we’ve pointed out, there are some reasons not to install the Nexus 10 Android 5.0 Lollipop update when it first arrives. Have you done the proper preparation? Have you tracked down potential fixes for potential bugs? Are you ready for the big changes that the Material Design brings? These are questions you need to answer before installing Google’s latest Nexus 10 update.

If you do decide to blindly update to the Nexus 10’s latest and perhaps last major Android upgrade, you should know that you can flash to a ROM or back to KitKat if the Android 5.0 Lollipop update doesn’t play out like you wanted it to. It’s not a difficult process but it’s going to take some time, and some knowledge, so you’ll want to be sure that you want to make this move.

Our advice is to wait a few days for the smoke to clear and then make a decision. You should know that Google typically rolls out bug fixes a few weeks after the initial release so there’s a chance that we could see one roll out in the near future to alleviate some of these initial problems. Just some food for thought.