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Nexus 4 Android 4.4 KitKat Update Now Available

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Those who are looking to skip the Nexus 4 Android 4.4 KitKat update OTA, an OTA that according to Google is rolling out extremely slowly, now have the chance to as the Nexus 4 Android 4.4 KitKat update has been found lurking on Google’s servers and can now be manually installed by those that haven’t already sideloaded using Google’s factory images.

Last week, Google announced that it would be rolling out the Nexus 4 Android 4.4 KitKat update in the near future. It did not say when, only that it would be rolled out soon. Late last week, Google posted Nexus 4 Android 4.4 KitKat factory images and binaries to its developer site, allowing those with the kn0w-how to download and install the update. OTA updates typically follow though the Nexus 4 OTA did not arrive.

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Earlier this week, Google posted new factory images and binaries for the Nexus 4 Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade, saying that the new build offered some fixes to the previous one. Soon after, we learned that the Nexus 4 Android 4.4 KitKat OTA had started though only a few Nexus 4 owners saw the roll out. Earlier today, a Google engineer explained why the Nexus 4 Android 4.4 KitKat update is rolling out so slowly and why many Nexus 4 owners will have to wait a week or more before the update arrives.

Those who aren’t content with that now have another way to manually install the software, thanks to Google. The Nexus 4 Android 4.4 KitKat update has been found on Google’s servers, providing those with the ability to download and install the software the opportunity to do so. This is the same software that is rolling out to owners Over-the-Air, which means that we aren’t likely going to see another build posted any time soon.

Nexus 4 users who are unfamiliar with sideloading software will want to stay away from this file. Those who aren’t running stock software will also want to stay away from the software and simply wait for the OTA to roll out. Those who want to give it a go will need the Android SDK and will want to sideload the software through the adb sideload command. Those who are both stock and rooted can flash the update in recovery mode.

Owners who skip this manual installation method can simply wait for the OTA update to arrive though again, the roll out is expected to take a week or more to complete.

24 Comments

24 Comments

  1. Kaushal

    11/21/2013 at 2:05 pm

    I received kitkat update thru OTA on my nexus 4. I have not rooted my phone. Its about 238.5 mb file. And can be downloaded only thru wiki connection. Its available only till Nov-23 IST…

    I also wanted to tell you that i saw this kitkat update only after manually checking for an update.
    Setting>About Phone>System Update>Check. I didnt had to manually check for the update last time (for 4.3).

    i need to charge my phone (O God what a bad timing) to download Kitkat.. Hopefully is should be able to download in next 30-45 mins. Thanks…

    • Kaushal

      11/21/2013 at 3:01 pm

      I am back. i downloaded Kitkat. Its just 15-20 mins me using kitkat. So this all i noticed:-
      >Blue color icons in notification bar have changed to white
      >Wallpaper translucent
      >Few icon changed like setting icon etc.,,
      >Print function
      >Tap to pay (option within setting)
      >Phone feels much smoother & faster

      I’ll play with new kitkat & will share my finding. Until then thanks for reading this…..

      • arun

        11/21/2013 at 8:05 pm

        Hi kaushal,
        I too got the update notification but it not all downloading….I have good WiFi connection…

        • Kaushal

          11/22/2013 at 5:40 am

          Hi Arun,

          Battery level needs to be at least 90% (unlike 80% during last androids updates). If battery level is 90% or more try to turn-off wifi & then turn-off your phone. Wait for 2 to 3 minutes & turn on you phone & wifi. Remember when you phone is downloading kitkat i wont show in the notification bar (at least for first few updates). To check if your phone has started downloading kitkat you’ll have to go to setting>about phone>system update. If your phone is downloading you should see a thin blue line at the top of your screen.

          On a separate note, kitkat isnt going to drastically change your experience (except minor UI changes). On nexus 4, translucent works for some time (not consistently), tap to pay wont work because google wallet is not available in India, “ok google” doesnt work (also on the main/home screening). You’ll have download an updated version almost all apps/games (like facebook, whatsapp, chrome, etc.) Without downloading the new version these apps may not work or behave properly.

          The only advantage is the phone feels much smoother & faster.

          I would still recommend to download kitkat as i think google will push update to fix these bugs. Thanks for reading…..

          • xan

            11/23/2013 at 1:01 pm

            my update had no issue at 50%….

          • arun

            11/23/2013 at 11:35 pm

            I don’t know I have earlier install updates but this time I’m at all able to do. I followed the above procedure still it shows waiting for downloading for more than 3 hours… Should I have to update manually?? or the update has gone?

    • kiki

      11/21/2013 at 3:04 pm

      How do find the wiki link??

      • Robert

        11/21/2013 at 11:35 pm

        A typo. He meant WiFi.

    • jack

      11/21/2013 at 7:05 pm

      Are the status bars transparent?

      • wmc

        11/21/2013 at 7:53 pm

        not on the nexus 4. I think only nexus 5 is transparent. I received the OTA for kit kat about 4 hours ago.

    • Nathan Todd

      11/22/2013 at 2:01 pm

      I got it this morning too in New Zealand OTA after manually checking for updates. How come it says available until November 24th?

  2. kathye

    11/21/2013 at 2:13 pm

    My Uncle Daniel just got a stunning Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL65 AMG just by working from a macbook… try here……. https://iop.li/5×6

  3. Andi

    11/21/2013 at 2:25 pm

    anybody tried?

  4. Mert

    11/21/2013 at 2:44 pm

    I have downloaded the update approximately 20 minutes ago and then phone rebooted itself in order to install but surprisingly I got an error! Restarted phone and now it appears there is no update and my phone is up to date. How ridiculous is that?

  5. hasan

    11/21/2013 at 3:00 pm

    Just got the update for my nexus 4…… Phone seems to getting really hot near the camera lense…. Apart from all the fancy features i am not impressed with the update

  6. raj

    11/21/2013 at 9:08 pm

    Those who wants to update 4.4 from 4.3– go to Settings-Apps-ALL- Google Services Framework “app”, Cleardata & force closed it, and checked again in settings- About phone-system update-Check Now

  7. NeeY

    11/21/2013 at 9:08 pm

    I got my Nexus 4 to KitKat successfully :) No complains… wow

  8. Prashant Bothra

    11/21/2013 at 9:12 pm

    I still haven’t got the update! Is it safe to do the manual update as per the link given in a few sites? (https://www.phonearena.com/news/Nexus-4-KitKat-updates-now-available-for-download-and-sideload_id49579)

    I am not a very techie person and can only manage to do the basics! Safe?

    • Robert

      11/21/2013 at 11:50 pm

      Seriously, just wait for the OTA. But it’s a good idea to prepare: create more empty storage space, remove some dodgy apps, update apps as many are being fixed for KitKat, do backups with Carbon perhaps, and listen for the problems others will be having…

      • Dapinder

        11/22/2013 at 1:33 am

        I have updated the OTA for kitkat amdroid but my default launcher is the same as in previous android version. No chamges in home screem widgets application launcher. What should i do?

        • Robert

          11/22/2013 at 8:20 pm

          It’s normal. The Nexus 5 actually gets a different KitKat than other phones. Lame, I know. It’s Google’s way of testing interface changes that they’re not sure about. You can download one of a number of re-packages of the Nexus 5 launcher from the Play Store, if you want to try it. Search “KitKat Launcher”

  9. Kaushal

    11/22/2013 at 5:46 am

    Hi Dapinder,

    There are lot of guys (mostly nexus 4 users) that have reported these bugs. So dont worry. I am sure google will send an update (big-fix) in next couple of weeks.

    I also remember although we are google nexus users but google will surly keep few feathers for only nexus 5 users. However at this time no one can (except google) say list of feathers only for nexus 5 users. But i am sure we’ll not get all the nexus 5/kitkat feathers….

    Thanks for reading…..

    • Dapinder

      11/22/2013 at 6:18 am

      yes..your right…so many faced the same issue and morever …the launcher is available in many nexus 4 kitkat devices…so i think will definately fix this.

  10. Dev

    11/22/2013 at 10:45 pm

    i received update notification on my nexus 4 , but by mistake declined the request.
    how can i get the updates again….its not showing up anything in system updates..

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