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Android 4.4.4 KitKat Problems Frustrating Many Users

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In the weeks since Google’s Android 4.4.4 KitKat release, we’ve seen a number of new updates roll out, delivering enhancements and bug fixes to users outside of Google’s stable of Nexus smartphones and tablets. And while the new KitKat update is working fine for some people, others are dealing with frustrating Android 4.4.4 KitKat problems.

At the beginning of June, Google pushed out Android 4.4.3 KitKat, a small incremental upgrade to Android 4.4.2 KitKat that delivered a number of fixes to tackle Android 4.4.2 KitKat problems. Android users of all shapes and sizes had, for months, been complaining about a series of Android 4.4.2 KitKat issues and fortunately, Google listened to their pleas.

Android 4.4.3 KitKat and its laundry list of bug fixes headed out to Nexus users on June 4th and to other users in the days after. And almost immediately, we started hearing about Android 4.4.3 KitKat problems on the Nexus 5, Nexus 4, and Nexus 7. Small updates like Android 4.4.3 KitKat might bring fixes but they also typically bring problems of their own.

In late June, Google rolled out a new Android 4.4 KitKat update in the form of Android 4.4.4 KitKat. The update, which fixed one Android 4.4.3 KitKat issue, was delivered to Nexus users and since then, it has rolled out to numerous other devices bringing Android 4.4.3 KitKat’s bug fixes and a patch for an OpenSSL vulnerability. It also brought some Android 4.4.4 KitKat problems along with it.

Soon after the Android 4.4.4 KitKat release, Nexus users started complaining about Android 4.4.4 KitKat problems. As we pointed out, Nexus 5 owners were complaining about bad battery life. Nexus 7 owners were running into Wi-Fi issues inside Android 4.4.4. Nexus 5 owners were encountering keyboard lag, Nexus 4 owners were bringing up issues with the dialer, and Nexus 7 users said that they’ve run into random reboots after replacing Android 4.4.3 KitKat with Android 4.4.4. Most of the issues were problems in Android 4.4.3 KitKat as well.

Nexus 5 Best Cheap Phone May

In the days since, we’ve seen a number of other complaints emerge, not just from Nexus users, but from owners of other devices running Android 4.4.4 KitKat. We don’t want to beat a dead horse but what we do want to do is bring up these issues, point users in the right direction, and bring attention to them so that companies like Google, Sony and others can investigate them.

Android 4.4.4 KitKat update problems are, unsurprisingly, still frustrating many Nexus users. Google’s Product Forums are littered with complaints about Android 4.4.4 KitKat. Some of the latest issues including poor battery life on the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7, random reboots to the Nexus 4, the usual Wi-Fi issues, GPS problems, random freezing and lock ups, problems with email sync, and more.

Nexus users aren’t alone. Moto G users are reporting issues with Wi-Fi, Moto X owners are chiming in with battery life complaints, and owners of Sony’s Xperia devices are now noticing some issues with their upgrade to Android 4.4.4. Xperia Z1 users are chiming in with several Android 4.4.4 problems including battery life, camera issues, and more. The camera problems seem to have been carried over from Android 4.4.2 KitKat.

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The Nexus Android 4.4.4 KitKat issues are far more plentiful given that those updates are more widespread. Android 4.4.4 KitKat updates for the Moto X, Moto G, Moto E, Droid Ultra, Droid MAXX, Droid Mini, Sony Xperia Z1, Xperia Z1 Compact, and Xperia Z Ultra are currently limited to a small number of devices in very specific regions.Android L on Android 4.4.4

As we’ve pointed out several times, those that can’t find temporary fixes in forums will want to try booting into safe mode. Booting into safe mode will disable three party applications. Often times, this can help you isolate an issues on board. Try this. If this doesn’t work, look for a temporary fix or if the device is old, try a factory reset. Just remember to back up key files.

Unfortunately, for many of these issues, there isn’t a guaranteed fix. And with no Android 4.4.5 KitKat update in sight and Android L not expected to land until the fall, there is a good chance that many of these Android 4.4.4 KitKat users will be stuck dealing with their issues for several weeks or perhaps, several months.

Android L is expected to deliver a number of bug fixes to Nexus users and beyond including a battery life increase for the Nexus 5, a device that has been struggling to hold a charge since launch. The update is rumored for the fall alongside a Nexus 8 and is available for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 developers right now in an early beta form.

14 Comments

14 Comments

  1. Mike

    07/25/2014 at 4:50 am

    On my Moto G, 4.4.4 causes a green screen freeze on voicemail with no way of accessing dialler or inputting numbers. Any ideas?

  2. Joey Smith

    07/25/2014 at 2:25 pm

    As I can read, these updates are making our lives very sad and full of frustrations because everything gets worse than before. Oh my God, this is awful!!!!!

  3. Dave

    08/05/2014 at 5:01 pm

    Verizon Moto X updated with 4.4.4. I don’t receive text messages in either Messaging or Hangouts apps.

    I have done the following but it has not helped:
    1) Cleared Partition Cache
    2) Changed default SMS from Hangouts to Messaging and vice versa.
    3) Reset app preferences
    4) Booted into Safe Mode

    Does anyone have other suggestions before I go through a factory reset?

  4. suchit

    08/05/2014 at 11:54 pm

    i logged ticket with google to fix this issue. they said do factory reset to fix it.
    thats annoying.

    • Dave

      08/06/2014 at 9:49 am

      I had been trying to avoid doing the factory reset. I did end up contacting VZ wireless help (611). I spent an hour doing a number of things including what I had previously listed above. No additional steps from tech support helped. In the end, a factory reset did resolve the issue.

  5. Edgar

    10/16/2014 at 10:30 am

    I have camera and battery problems since 4.4.4.

  6. Cam

    11/01/2014 at 11:20 pm

    Those “dialer issues” seemed to be because of phones using non-default animation scale. Change the animation scale in developer options to 1x and you’re good to go.

  7. acerbic

    11/02/2014 at 5:38 am

    I have a nexus 5 and have never had any problems with the is or the device. 4.4.4 runs fine if you own a google device. Buy google 4 google

  8. guisela

    01/08/2015 at 9:07 am

    My sd card is not read ever since I updated to Kitkat 4.4.4 Is there anything to do???

  9. mohammad

    02/16/2015 at 10:54 am

    Hi
    I have made Backup by Android 4.3 and then I up dated my Sony.z to android 4.4.4. But now it doesn’t restore my back up that I made by 4.3. What I should to do to fix it?

  10. bradley

    08/15/2015 at 4:02 am

    Es file explorer cant move ANY FILE and it is VERY FRUSTRATING. I have never been a big supporter if the Andriod OS but with Symbian off the market and only ONE system to deal with, now we have this NONSENSE. I hate it

  11. LM

    09/02/2015 at 4:41 am

    My Blutooth on Samsung Galaxy Core Prime no longer works (cannot see other devices or connect the one it was paired with previously)… Very frustrating…

  12. al

    03/09/2016 at 7:55 pm

    I think that google who is making billions off of users frustrations need to really call Bill Gates back to fix the problem the government probably started to begin with if Bill cant fix it nobody can.

  13. John Anthes

    07/20/2016 at 11:18 pm

    Since the 4.4.4 update I cannot charge my battery through a USB on another computer. Only charges using external power.

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