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Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 Problems: 5 Things to Know

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Google’s Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 update is finally gaining steam. The Nexus 4’s latest update brings bug fixes for Lollipop problems but it also appears to be causing problems for some users. With that in mind, we take a look at these Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 problems.

Back in April, Google confirmed the Android 5.1.1 update, a follow-up to the Android 5.1 Lollipop update that started rolling out in March. Android 5.1.1 isn’t as big as Android 5.1, it’s a shade over 15MB, but it comes with some essential bug fixes for owners of the company’s Nexus smartphones and tablets.

Google’s Nexus Android 5.1.1 roll out has been agonizingly slow and it only recently started rolling out to owners of its smartphones which includes the aging Nexus 4.

The Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 update started pushing a few days ago and this week, it has finally started to pick up steam in late May. It’s still not available to all Nexus 4 users though it now appears that a good portion of its owners have been bumped up to Google’s most current version of Lollipop.

Incremental Android updates like Android 5.1.1 Lollipop always have the potential to have a huge impact on performance. In some cases, the impact is positive. Others, negative. While the Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 update is still new, we’re already hearing about some Android 5.1.1 problems plaguing Nexus 4 users.

With Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 problems swirling, we want to take a look at everything you need to know about these issues. This roundup offers a look at the issues themselves and some steps to take if you do happen to run into Android 5.1.1 problems on your Nexus 4.

Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 Problems Plaguing Users

Android Lollipop problems have plagued some Nexus 4 users since the original Android 5.0 release back in November. Over time, Google’s worked to correct these issues with a series of updates including Android 5.0.1, Android 5.0.2, Android 5.1, and now Android 5.1.1. Each brought its own set of fixes and each brought its own collection of problems.

The Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 update is rolling out slowly but we’re finally starting to see Nexus 4 owners post their feedback about Google’s latest update. The Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 brings bug fixes for Lollipop problems but it looks like some users are already running into problems with Android 5.1.1.

Nexus 4 users are complaining about several problems including severe battery drain, Android 5.1.1 installation problems, boot issues, video playback issues (a carry over from Android 5.1), random rebootsproblems with the Nexus 4’s soft keys, various other battery drain issues, issues with the touch screen, black screen of death, battery drain problems, and more. Google’s forums and other Android-centric forums feature a number of complaints about the new update.

Nexus 4 Android 4.4.3 Review Early - 1

It’s important to note that most of these Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 problems are isolated issues, at least for right now. There are a few, battery drain in particular, that seem to be affecting more than a few people but it typically takes a few days for battery life to settle down.

We point these Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 problems out for a few reasons. One, we want to generate discussion because discussion always leads to potential fixes. And two, as a reminder.

Nexus 4 users need to be cautious when it comes to Android updates, even small ones like Android 5.1.1. That’s why we always recommend preparing for these Android releases. You may not be able to completely stop all of the bugs from surfacing but a little prep work never hurts.

Not Everyone Though

Not everyone is suffering from Android 5.1.1 problems though. We’ve also seen some solid feedback from Nexus 4 users. One user says that it’s running fine and we’ve spoken to several other Nexus 4 owners who say that Android 5.1.1 fixed at least some of the issues they were having on older versions of the software.

If you haven’t installed Android 5.1.1 yet, you’re going to still want to dig into user feedback before installing or deciding against it. We haven’t seen a ton of feedback yet but that’s probably because Google is taking its sweet time with the roll out. We should see more as we push into June.

Nexus-4-575x465

It’s also worth mentioning that Android 5.1.1 could potentially fix some Lollipop problems that aren’t listed in the software’s change log. For instance, the Android 5.1.1 update appears to have fixed Android Device Management issues on the Nexus 5. This issue wasn’t called out in the software’s change log. Just another reason why you’ll need to dig before you install.

You Can Downgrade

Those experiencing Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 problems have a few options. One option is a downgrade back to Android 5.1, Android 5.0.1 or even Android 4.4 KitKat if Lollipop isn’t performing.

We’ve put together a handy guide that will take you through the downgrade process for the Nexus 4. The guide is for Android KitKat but if you can find the appropriate files, it will help with a downgrade back to an older version of Lollipop.

Fixes for Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 Problems

We’ve also put together a list of common Android 5.1.1 problems and fixes that will help Nexus 4 users struggling on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. These fixes cover battery drain issues, problems with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, even slow charging issues. There are a great starting point for those that need help right now.

What’s Next

Finally you should know that you’re probably going to have to be pretty proactive if you’re dealing with Android 5.1.1 problems on the Nexus 4.

Google hasn’t announced an Android 5.1.2 update and we haven’t seen any Android 5.1.2 rumors emerge. That doesn’t mean that an update isn’t coming, it just means that we could be weeks, even months away from a release. So you can’t depend on Google and an Android 5.1.2 update, at least not yet.

Android M Easter Egg

At Google I/O 2015, Google announced Android M, a follow-up to Android Lollipop. While the public Android M release won’t happen today, Google did release a Android M beta for the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, and Nexus 9 ahead of a public release in Q3 2015.

Now here’s where things get interesting. Rumor has it, the Nexus 4 won’t get Android M and security updates will end sometime in the near future. In other words, this could be the end of the road for the device. Again, you can’t depend on Google for fixes at this point so you’ll definitely want to do your own research and digging if you happen to stumble into an issue.

13 Comments

13 Comments

  1. Mohsin Khan

    06/01/2015 at 1:25 am

    5.1.1 having a problem with Battery… as it drains fast and charge slowly. It takes almost 3-4 hours for complete charging.

  2. slangofoil

    06/01/2015 at 10:31 am

    8 paragraphs before you get to the actual point of the article. God almighty, learn how to write for the web!

    • chanhol

      08/19/2015 at 3:41 pm

      Only 8 paragraphs? I’m not entirely sure there was ever any point to this article, other than to get clicks to this site. I’m surprised a human being put their name on this silliness.

  3. Bull Durham

    06/01/2015 at 1:45 pm

    I had not planned to update to 5.1.1 till it was stable but my phone updated ota on its own. The battery drains fast and takes hours to charge. The phone locks up in sleep cycle. I can’t believe they are planning to release M this year when L is still running at alpha quality. Google is obviously using the OS as a tool to force people to buy phones every year now instead of every two years as it used to be. Next they will make it so turning off google spyware is no longer optional.

  4. Mike

    06/02/2015 at 10:37 am

    Downgrades from 5.1.1.1 to 4.4. Problem solved. I went from under 1.5 hours per charge to 90% after 4 hours with light usage.

  5. aissa

    06/03/2015 at 3:41 am

    Too much text with very few important information. Just grtting around the bush. The journalist who wrote this article should learn how to summarize.

  6. David

    06/16/2015 at 3:03 pm

    Unfortunately 5.1.1 unfixes the silent call problem that was fixed with 5.1. After my phone has been on for a couple days, calls sent and received result in complete silence on both ends. The only way to remedy this issue is to restart the phone. This problem was introduced with 5.0 and remained in 5.0.1. Looks like I’ll have to downgrade back to 5.1. Oh, the hassles of software releases that aren’t full vetted!

  7. S SHAH

    06/25/2015 at 4:48 am

    AFTER UPDATING TO 5.1.1 I M HAVING BACK KEYS ISSUE.. THE SAME PROBLEM IS BEEN SEEN WITH OTHER 2 DEVICE ALSO. MY BOTH FRNDS ARE HAVING NEXUS 4 & THEY R FACING THE SAME ISSUE..
    PRESENTLY I M USING THE SOFTKEY APPS TO ACCESS MY NEXUS 4..

  8. Max

    07/27/2015 at 8:37 am

    Sleep of death almost constant after upgrade to 5.1.1. Have had no choice but to downgrade to good old 4.4.4! Thanks for telling me how to get my phone back and working.

  9. Chester

    10/05/2015 at 12:58 pm

    Just contending with fast battery drain but hope subsequently Google would have to do something about that.

  10. Quentin

    10/12/2015 at 11:05 am

    I can’t believe after all this time the nexus 4 still has the undelivered text message issue. I managed to get round it but its very sloppy update bug fixing on there part. As is all the other issues I’ve been having. My nexus was more stable when I originally bought it in my opinion. I love my nexus 4 and was going to replace it with a current model but at this stage why bother if they can’t fix bugs that have been a pain for soo long. Come testers and programmers get it together.

  11. Pat

    10/16/2015 at 3:48 pm

    how long does the download take? My phone is going for 5 hours now and still not finished.

  12. Charly

    11/06/2015 at 10:35 am

    Can’t receive phonecalls since upgrade to 5.1.1. What is the point of a phone?

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