Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop Problems: 5 Things to Know

Verizon was the first US carrier to push out a Samsung Galaxy S5 Lollipop update. It was also the first US carrier to roll out a second Galaxy S5 Lollipop update. With another Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop update pushing out, we want to take a look at what we know, and what you should know, about Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop problems.

Weeks ago, Verizon started pushing out its Galaxy S5 Lollipop update. The update came as a big surprise because the carrier isn’t typically first to major Android updates. As expected, the Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop update delivered a ton of new features and enhancements to the former flagship smartphone. It also, as expected, brought a new collection of problems to Galaxy S5 users.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Lollipop problems have plagued users since the start of the Galaxy S5 Lollipop roll out so it wasn’t a surprise to see those problems spread to the Verizon version of the device. The complaints started almost immediately after the update’s arrival and they only grew louder as the software hit more devices.

Just a over a week ago, Verizon started rolling out another Galaxy S5 Lollipop update. The update is currently pushing to Galaxy S5 users who did not receive the original Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop release. Now that the smoke from the new update is starting to settle, we want to take a look at what we think you should know now about Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop problems.

If You Haven’t Installed Yet…

The new Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop update is now just about a week old which means that most of you have probably encountered the prompt to download and install the update. And while some of you probably went ahead and updated already, we know that there are a few of you that probably skipped the update for one reason or another.

If you haven’t installed the Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop update yet, we want to offer you some advice that we think could help you if and when you decide to take a jump to Android 5.0. They will also help lower the odds of seeing major Android 5.0 Lollipop problems.

First, take a look at how to should prepare for the update. This will help those of you that haven’t the slightest clue about Android or the Android 5.0 Lollipop update. After that, take a look at our release date tips. These tips will help you prepare your device and your brain for Android 5.0. Android 5.0 Lollipop is a big update and you don’t want to mess around.

Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop Problems

The original Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop update brought a number of big time problems to owners of the Galaxy S5. Battery life problems were rampant and performance issues plagued many users. It was enough to force Samsung and Verizon to go back to the drawing board to deliver another Galaxy S5 Lollipop update. Problem is, that update is also causing issues.

Verizon Galaxy S5 users on the new Lollipop build are also complaining about an assortment of issues. Not that this is at all surprising. Android updates always cause problems.

Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop problems reportedly include issues with the Smart Cover accessory, various issues with battery drain, problems with the launcher, screen rotation problems, problems with various applications, overheating issues, and issues with Bluetooth. Verizon’s forums are full of complaints about both Galaxy S5 Lollipop builds.

If you are experiencing Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop problems, note that there are some fixes out there that are worth trying. We recently put together a list of common Galaxy S5 Lollipop problems and fixes for those issues. We should also mention that we put together a special guide that will help you get better Galaxy S5 Lollipop battery life.

New Update Offers Improvements

While there are certainly issues, we’re also hearing that the new update has actually improved performance on many Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop variants. This thread in particular is full of success stories.

One user says:

Don’t know if I should say this out loud, but everything is running smooth post-OC4! Battery level much improved, no overheating, WiFi on all day, didn’t have to reboot or shut down apps… Looking good so far!!

Another says:

One day into this update and my phone is fantastic. It operates smoothly again and battery life is greatly improved. I went from 4 PM yesterday to 1:00 PM today on a single charge. That was with heavy use. Phone only dropped 4% overnight. Previously I lost 20-25% over night if off charger.

Several other users say that the new build actually wiped out their issues from the last build. So, if you’re dealing with Android 5.0 problems on the older build, you might want to think about installing the newer build. It appears that it’s having a positive effect for some Verizon Galaxy S5 users.

You’ll need to do a ton of digging if you haven’t moved up to Android 5.0 Lollipop already. Comb through user feedback on Android-centric forums and decide if the Android 5.0 update’s features are worth the risk.

You Can Downgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat

Reminder. If you are experiencing Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop problems and you can’t seem to fix those problems, you can try one of two things. One of those things is a factory reset. Before you wipe the phone though you might also want to explore a downgrade back to Android 4.4 KitKat.

Those of you that aren’t impressed with Android 5.0 Lollipop can drop back down to Android 4.4 KitKat if you want. You’ll lose Android 5.0’s features and enhancements but you might also drop some of your problems in the process.

We’ve stumbled upon a detailed guide on how to shift from Android 5.0 to Android 4.4 KitKat and you’ll want to take a look at that if you want to head back down to Android 4.4 KitKat.

Galaxy S5 Android 5.1 Lollipop Update

If you do stumble upon Lollipop problem or two on your Verizon Galaxy S5, you’re going to need to be extremely proactive. That means that you’ll need to actively seek out fixes.

We say that because there’s no guarantee that Verizon and Samsung will roll out a third Lollipop update in the immediate future. In fact, we doubt that they will. If they have one in the works, they’re not saying. US carriers rarely announce that kind of thing ahead of time so we’ll probably be waiting in the dark for th device’s next update.

We’re still not sure if the Galaxy S5 will get Android 5.1 Lollipop. Android 5.1 is Google’s latest version of Lollipop. Samsung reportedly hasn’t started development which means that a release is probably months away at least. So we encourage you to dig in and handle things yourself. By the end, you’ll have gained a ton of confidence and you’ll be ready for whatever is next from Verizon and Samsung.