Nexus Android 5.1.1 Update: 5 Things to Know in April

With the month of April coming to a close, we want to take a look at what owners of Google’s Nexus smartphones and tablets need to know about the Nexus Android 5.1.1 update and release as we head into the month of May.

Late last year, Google extended an Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrade to owners of its Nexus devices. Android 5.0 Lollipop was and is a substantial update for Nexus users as it delivers some huge changes to the look and feel of the Android operating system. Like all big software updates, Android 5.0 Lollipop also arrived with some big time problems, problems that continue to this day.

Nexus users in particular have been voicing concerns about Lollipop problems since November. Those complaints have continued after Google’s Android 5.0.1, Android 5.0.2 and Android 5.1 Lollipop releases. From battery life problems to random reboots to issues with connectivity, Lollipop’s problems have battered Nexus users from all over the world.

Earlier this month, Google released a brand new update in the form of Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Android 5.1.1 Lollipop isn’t a big update but it is an important update for many Nexus smartphone and tablet users. Problem is, the update has only rolled out to one device, and a niche device at that. There are tons of questions swirling around but Google has chosen to remain silent.

With the month coming to a close, we want to take a look at what Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, and Nexus 9 users need to know about the Android 5.1.1 update and release. This mini roundup will catch oblivious users up to speed and it will serve as a reminder to those of you that have been following along since day one.

Nexus Android 5.1.1 Update Still Limited

With just a few days to go before the calendar strikes May, Google’s Android 5.1.1 release for Nexus devices remains extremely limited. As of right now, it’s available for the Nexus Player, a niche product that the company introduced last year. The Nexus Player Android 5.1.1 OTA is rolling out and those who own the device should check for a prompt.

Nexus Player users that don’t have a prompt can download and install the update straight from Google. Those that are familiar with the sideloading process can take this file and get the Android 5.1.1 update and its fixes on board right now:

• Android 5.1  -> Android 5.1.1: LMY47V from LMY47D

Nexus 9 & Nexus 7 Android 5.1.1 Updates

Earlier this month, Google’s developer portal listed Android 5.1.1 Lollipop builds for the Nexus 9 and the Nexus 7 2013. For reasons unknown, Google decided to scrub those listings and they now reference older versions of Android 5.0 Lollipop. That doesn’t meant that the Nexus 7 and Nexus 9 Android 5.1.1 updates won’t be coming though. Google’s Sascha Prüter provides some insight.

In response to complaints from angry Nexus 9 users, Prüter says that the Nexus 9 has not reached its EOL (End of Life) and that it’s simply a matter of Google wanting to take its time to ensure that the bug fixes it does include on board the Android 5.1.1 update actually fix the problems plaguing the device. Here are his comments in full:

EOL would mean that there are no more updates coming (which is incorrect). The fact that another Nexus devices gets the update earlier signals to you that a product is EOL? I don’t understand that.

I totally understand the frustration of N9 owners who are hitting issues but because of that its even more important the 5.1.1 update for Nexus 9 actually fixes these problems. So I think it’s the right step to prepare an update that actually improves quality and fixes the issues that have been reported instead of rushing out something that doesn’t help the majority of customers. And I don’t think it’s in the interest of anyone if we’d artificially hold updates to other Nexus devices that are ready to go in the meantime.

Prüter doesn’t confirm any other details but it’s clear that Google has more Android 5.1.1 updates up its sleeve. It’s just going to release them when its ready to, without any major announcements.

Nexus 5 & Nexus 6 Android 5.1.1 Update

Google hasn’t announced anything and it hasn’t dropped a Nexus 5 Android 5.1.1 update into AOSP but we’re confident that the company is planning to release a Nexus 5 Android 5.1.1 update in the future.

Google’s Android 5.1.1 Lollipop change log comes with some fixes for the Nexus 5. So unless Google is trolling Nexus 5 users dealing with major problems, it appears that a Nexus 5 Android 5.1.1 update will be rolling out sometime in the future.

The change log also references fixes for the Nexus 6 (shamu) and the Nexus 10 (manta). In other words, it looks like this update will be hitting more than just Google’s Nexus Player. At this point, it’s just a matter of when.

Android 5.1.1 Features

Thanks to Android Police, we know what’s coming with the Android 5.1.1 update. The Android 5.1.1 update won’t bring new features to Nexus smartphones and tablets. Instead, it’s filled with bug fixes including some key solutions for camera crashing problems, random reboots, and some smaller changes that should help to stabilize the software.

Start Preparing Now

Google hasn’t announced any Android 5.1.1 release dates and there’s a good chance that it won’t. That means that the Android 5.1.1 roll outs for devices like the Nexus 5, Nexus 6 and others could come at any time.

We’ve put together a game plan for Nexus users that includes steps to take ahead of the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop release. It also includes some release day tips that we think Nexus users will find helpful as the company works to get its Android 5.1.1 update out to Nexus users all over the world.

It could be days, weeks, even months before some Nexus users see the update but it’s never to early to prepare. Nexus users will want to keep that in mind as April gives way to May.