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HTC One M8 Android 5.1 Update: What You Need to Know

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As we push deeper into 2015 and into the Lollipop release for HTC smartphone owners, more details have continued to emerge. Over the past month or so we’ve seen multiple HTC One M8 devices receive updates to Android 5.0 Lollipop, but today the Android 5.1 update has arrived for some. Here we go over a few things HTC One M8 owners can expect regarding the Android 5.1 Lollipop update.

In November Google released the initial Android 5.0 Lollipop update, and shortly after it arrived the HTC One M8 and original HTC One M7 Google Play Edition handsets received the new software. However, the regular version had to wait a few months, and HTC missed its initial goal of all owners getting it by February. We’re now in April and almost all US carriers have delivered Android 5.0, with AT&T starting the rollout as of yesterday.

Read: HTC One M9 vs HTC One M8: What Buyers Need to Know

While Google and HTC are still busy getting the original Lollipop update out to HTC One M8 owners, those with a Google Play Edition HTC One M8 can expect to see the latest Android 5.1 Lollipop starting today. Google’s latest release aimed at fixing some of the many bugs plaguing the initial update.

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The HTC One M8 Android 5.0 Lollipop update is finally here and delivering tons of new features and changes to HTC’s flagship smartphone, but the Android 5.0 Lollipop update is also causing problems for many. The update initially started outside of the US for unlocked or developer devices, and then in February the HTC One M8 in the US finally received Android 5.0 Lollipop for some.

Over the past few months the rollout has continued, but we’re seeing a lot of complaints from owners who’ve received Android 5.0 Lollipop on the One M8. While Android 5.0 Lollipop brings tons of new features, improved interface and lockscreen controls, and a tweaked notification bar, there are a lot of issues too.

Owners have mentioned apps crashing, freezes, device reboots, lag with the keyboard, and other small issues. Not to mention terrible battery life. That said, we’ve heard a lot of success stories where the update has been nothing but positive for most.

HTC One M8 Android 5.1 Update

With that, we move to Android 5.1 Lollipop. Google announced it back in March and slowly started pushing it out to many Nexus smartphones and tablets. Motorola updated a few devices to the release, and now starting today the HTC One M8 Google Play Edition is getting the same treat. Android 5.1 Lollipop isn’t too much different, but has some neat new features, and fixes most of the bugs users have been experiencing.

Read: Android 5.1 vs Android 5.0 Lollipop: What’s New

Google tweaked the quick settings, improved screen pinning, changed the notification and do not disturb features, and fixed a lot of bugs. However, we’re hearing the memory leak that is causing apps to crash is still present, and may not be fixed until Android 5.1.1 Lollipop arrives. That means we may see Android 5.1 for the One M8, or HTC may wait and deliver Android 5.1.1 Lollipop instead, but we’ll have to wait and see.

The Google Play Edition runs stock Android, so the update is already done and rolling out now. One M7 owners can expect it to arrive soon as well. For the rest of you HTC One M8 owners with HTC Sense UI, the update could take a little longer.

Android 5.1 Lollipop Update Release

Aside from the Google Play Edition getting Android 5.1 Lollipop starting today, we have no new details regarding when regular variants will see the update. That said, like previous updates, owners can expect the developer edition and unlocked international units to see it first, then some regions outside the US, and eventually carriers stateside will begin the push.

lollipop

The original Android 5.0 Lollipop update hasn’t even completed yet, with AT&T only starting to push it to select owners as of yesterday. Most other carriers in the United States delivered it in February and March, but that still isn’t a good sign for the latest release. This means Android 5.1 Lollipop for regular owners is still a month or more away.

Delays

Most likely HTC is already working on Android 5.1 Lollipop for the One M8, but we don’t have any additional details at this time. Carriers in the United States have a 4-6 week testing period, so even if it was ready today, it won’t start rolling out until 4-6 weeks later once testing is finished. That means that most owners will be on the current Android 5.0.2 Lollipop that’s out right now, at least for the next month or two.

At the same time, there are only a few small changes in Android 5.1 and the update shouldn’t take HTC too long to implement, unless they plan on merging the new Sense UI 7.0 from the HTC One M9. If that’s the case, the update will be delayed even further. Possibly not arriving until sometime in June, and hopefully as Android 5.1.1 Lollipop instead.

Android 5.1 Problems

Android 5.1 Lollipop has a few problems of its own, and Google’s quickly released a few different versions of it for the Nexus 6, and we’re already getting reports that Android 5.1.1 Lollipop is coming soon. What this means is that while we’re seeing 5.1 for the Google Play Edition HTC One M8 today, the regular HTC One M8 may skip it and see Android 5.1.1 instead, sometime this summer. Carriers are silent when it comes to updates, but HTC employees will keep us up to date on Twitter, and we’ll be sure to follow all the news and update as we learn more.

For now, those with a Google Play Edition HTC One M8 can be on the lookout for a small 240 MB update bringing their device to the latest Android 5.1 Lollipop update. Once HTC or carriers confirm it’s headed to regular units, we’ll be sure and update.

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. Robert

    04/09/2015 at 5:55 am

    I just updated to 5.0.1 on an M8 last week. It was like it was an intentioal sabotage of my phone. Sucks battery, freezing apps, and most importantly I can no longer sync with my Microsoft Exchange corporate email. No email, calendar, or contacts. I need this back!! Verizon said it’s not their problem, Google support directed me to HTC, and after a whole day of “support” I was told someone would get back to me in 7-10 business days. All worked great until Lollipop killed it. Help!

    • James

      04/09/2015 at 8:54 pm

      I’ve heard that a factory reset fixes that, so it wouldn’t hurt to try that.

      • juice

        04/10/2015 at 7:48 am

        A factory reset keeps the Lollipop update in it and does not revert back to what you bought the m8 with.

    • Joe

      04/10/2015 at 10:33 pm

      HTC failed big time with its lollipop update. It’s almost as if they didn’t test ANYTHING during the whole summer that google released android L to developers. Unfortunately you can’t revert the software unless you root your phone, or if the HTC guys accept taking your phone to flash KitKat on it for you.

      I had the same problem on my m8, but I rooted it and converted it to the google play edition B) It’s so smooth now!!!

  2. RRivers

    04/11/2015 at 2:20 am

    Not sure where all of this information was obtained, but I got the notification for 5.02 update on my AT&T HTC M8 yesterday. Did the update a couple of hours ago with no problems updating, and seemingly no problems with the update. Still looking through the updates, but like what I see, although not sure I like the card view on previous apps anymore than I liked the flat layout. Otherwise everything else is fine, the colors are great, and the Wi-Fi seems to be fast than with Kit-Kat.

  3. Jack

    04/12/2015 at 6:47 am

    After the 5.0.1 update the phone is full with bugs. Very distressing the dropping WIFI, the hang up black screen, the dial pad fail, the always running unstoppable blink feed and the dot view which dawns the battery, slow camera, crashing apps, etc. But the absolute distressing the incompetent support service which promised will reply but never ever replied. The last few weeks I really thinking to change my mind after many years and buy a iPhone…

  4. Miguel Olid

    04/12/2015 at 2:13 pm

    Thursday night prior to this I read something about HTC One M8 getting another software update from 5.0.1 to 5.1. Don’t know if that is true but if it does happen I hope it’s better than M8’s last update which I just got on March 9th, 2015. Will this new update have Advance Calling 1.0?

  5. Allam H

    09/13/2015 at 12:18 pm

    just updated 2 weeks ago(late August 2015) to Software 4.20.631.3. Android 5.0.1 sense 6.0.
    Extreme battery drainage, WiFi fades in and out and is now very slow, blue tooth doesn’t auto connect to any devises (have to mannually connect every time to saved devices), phone is very slow switching between apps and functions. List goes on and on.
    Doing a system reboot, and factory reset 2 times does not do anything

    without rooting the phone is there any way of restoring the previous version or is it a waiting game till the new update comes my way. (I’m in Ontario, Canada)

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