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Nexus 7 Android 5.0.1 Update: What You Need to Know

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Earlier this month, Google started rolling out the Nexus 7 Android 5.0.1 update, a bug fixer aimed at squashing Android 5.0 problems that emerged in the aftermath of Google’s November upgrade. With the roll out making headway, we want to take a look at what users need to know, right now, about the Nexus 7 Android 5.0.1 update.

In November, Google pushed the Android 5.0 Lollipop update that it introduced all the way back at Google I/O in June. As expected, the Android 5.0 Lollipop update delivered a number of new features, tweaks and enhancements to owners of Google’s Nexus devices including the all new Material Design. Android 5.0 is Google’s biggest Android update in years and an update that’s been installed by countless Nexus smartphone and tablet owners.

In the weeks after the initial Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop release, we started to hear more about Google’s new update. And while a lot of the chatter amongst Nexus users was good, we also heard about some of the Android 5.0 Lollipop problems affecting various Nexus users including those in possession of the company’s aging Nexus 7 tablets.

Nexus 7 Android 5.0 Lollipop Review Early - 3

Owners of the Nexus 7 2012 and Nexus 7 2013 took the social media and forums to voice displeasure about some of the bugs that emerged on board Google’s brand new update. And many of those Nexus 7 started calling for an Android 5.0.1 bug fixer to alleviate these problems. Fortunately, Google was hard at work behind the scenes and a short time ago, rolled out the Nexus 7 Android 5.0.1 update.

With Android 5.0.1 now on the minds of Nexus 7 users around the world, we want to take a look at what you need to know about Google’s brand new Android 5.0 Lollipop update. This roundup offers details about the update itself and advice on how to deal with Google’s first update to its brand new operating system for Nexus users.

Nexus 7 Android 5.0.1 Update

Google’s Nexus 7 Android 5.0.1 update is here and it has been available for a number of days now. For those that haven’t been paying attention or remain on Android 5.0 Lollipop, know that Android 5.0.1 is a bug fix update that’s arrived to fix some of the issues on board the Nexus 7 and other Nexus smartphones and tablets. The update started with tablets, now it has moved to smartphones.

According to the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop change log for developers, the update isn’t stocked with tons of bug fixes but the fixes that are there are extremely important. There is one fix that will help prevent a factory reset if the user inputs the right commands on the lock screen. There’s another that fixes a video playback issue on the Nexus 7. That’s a huge fix for many Nexus 7 users and a reason to consider installing the Nexus 7 update right now.

For most users, the Nexus 7 Lollipop update is worth installing.

For most users, the Nexus 7 Lollipop update is worth installing.

While the Android 5.0.1 change log is small, there’s always a chance that the update will tackle other bugs that aren’t listed on the change log itself. Battery life woes, Wi-Fi issues and Bluetooth problems are among the more popular Android bugs and occasionally, smaller bug fix updates will alleviate these issues without mentioning them amongst the fixes.

This is a small update in terms of size but for Nexus 7 users, it’s going to pack a significant punch.

OTAs & Missing Updates

The Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.1 update has been rolling out to the Wi-Fi model for a few days now and those who haven’t received the update already, should get it soon. The standard Google Nexus Android update takes about a week or so to push out to everyone so we should be nearing the tail end of the Google’s push for the 2013 model.

What’s interesting is that we still haven’t seen the OTA update for the 2012 version of the Nexus 7 Wi-Fi, a device that’s already been upgraded to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Google still hasn’t rolled out Lollipop, Android 5.0.1 or otherwise, to the cellular versions of the Nexus 7. It’s an extremely strange development given that non-Nexus devices have been upgraded to Android 5.0, which, sort of defeats the purpose of the Nexus program.

Android-4.4.4-Nexus-7-Review

Even more frustrating is the fact that Google remains silent about these upgrades despite pleas from users on its Nexus Help Forum. Google rarely announces updates ahead of time which means that Nexus 7 2012 Wi-Fi users and owners of the cellular models will probably be treading in darkness up until the actual roll outs start.

There’s A Way to Get It Early

Those of you that own a Nexus 7 2013 Wi-Fi and want to make the move ahead of the OTA can do so right now. If you want to move to LRX22C from KTU84P, you’ll want to grab this file and sideload. If you are looking to move to LRX22C from LRX21P, you’ll want to snag this file.

Novice Nexus 7 users are encouraged to wait for the Android 5.0.1 OTA to arrive. Sideloading often causes issues during the installation process and there’s a chance that some users will be forced to perform a factory install to return the device to normal.

Those who own the Nexus 7 2012 or the cellular models and wish to escape the long drawn out OTA process will want to start reading up on the sideloading process right now. This way, when the time comes, the process will be a far simpler endeavor.

Nexus 7 users should also avoid trying to “force” the update using the Google Framework Services “trick.” This is not a trick at all and it could potentially wreck performance on the device. Wait for the OTA or sideload the software ahead of time.

Android 5.0.1 Problems

The Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update is a bug fixer aimed at squashing Android 5.0 problems. However, we’ve discovered a number of complaints about the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update in the days after its release. Most of those complaints come from Nexus 7 users who have unearthed a number of issues on board their device post Android 5.0.1 update.

Nexus-7-LTE-Review-2013-Verizon-8-620x421

Nexus users are complaining about the inability to connect to wireless at work, screen rotation issues on the Nexus 7, various issues with Wi-Fi after installing Android 5.0.1, Android 5.0.1 installation issues, problems with Google’s “OK Google” function, even more Wi-Fi problems, issues with sound after upgrading, Bluetooth issues, problems with the home button, and we’ve also heard that some people have seen the notification, only to see it disappear. The list of problems on Google’s Nexus Help Forums continues to grow as more and more Nexus 7 users get updated to Google’s latest update.

Now, we don’t bring this up to make fun, we bring this up so that Nexus 7 users are aware that Android 5.0.1 could bring some problems of its own. We’ve put together some steps to take ahead of the Android 5.0.1 update that should help Nexus 7 users limit Android 5.0.1 Lollipop problems.

Fixes for Android 5.0.1 Problems

In response to those problems, we’ve outlined some of the more common Android 5.0.1 problems that have either popped up, or will likely pop up for Nexus 7 users down the road. We’ve accumulated these fixes after years and years of using Android and Google’s Nexus devices. And while they may not work for every single Nexus 7 user, they are a good starting point both before, and after, the Android 5.0.1 upgrade.

Nexus-7-LTE-Review-2013-Verizon-3

Third-party fixes for Android 5.0.1 problems will be your best bet for some time. Google typically does not push out bug fix updates in a rapid fire fashion so the next Android 5.0 update, be it Android 5.0.2 or something else, probably isn’t lurking around. We haven’t seen any significant trace of it in our analytics, a sign that a release probably isn’t imminent.

10 Comments

10 Comments

  1. David

    12/17/2014 at 9:29 am

    Dang, that was painful to read. just get to the point. I felt like a dog chasing my tail.

  2. Matty'O

    12/17/2014 at 8:15 pm

    As a Nexus 7 (2012) user I have completely given up on using it at all. I power it up once a day and pray the 5.0.1 OTA has *finally* come out (I’m writing this on my cell). Given how this debacle has hit the older tablets the worst (2012, “old”? really?), I can’t help but to wonder how much of this might be some kind of a dirty deliberate scheme to nudge people like myself to buy a new model. Some sort of Initiated Obsolescence, if you will. I genuinely wonder if Google really included such a item of malware that was intended to work a lot more subtly than it actually did. Given that, as the article pointed out, there is no word on a 5.0.1 for the Nexus 7 2012, but there is one for the 2013, it really makes me wonder all the more.

  3. Pete Shelby

    12/17/2014 at 9:00 pm

    Several weeks ago I received the notification for the OTA lollipop upgrade. Because of all of the problems I’d read about I was putting it off. When I was ready to take the plunge and experiment, before upgrading my Nexus 5, the OTA notification disappeared from my Nx7!

    To date I’ve yet to get the OTA notice. I’m still running KitKat 4.4.4 and now I’m wondering if I’ll ever get the OTA upgrade again.

    If Google pushes a bug fix, 5.0.1 e.g. I wonder if I’d be able to install that straight from KitKat? I.e. is it going to contain the full Lollipop OS or just a patch?

    As far as my Nexus 5 with Lollipop, it’s finally ground to a halt. After reading volums of forums the consensus seems to be that most of the problem is lollipops interaction with 3rd party apps.

    I’ve always run Nova launcher prime, it’s the benchmark, and never had a problem. A couple of days ago my Nx5 started shuttering and force closing. I finally had to reboot to safe mode because my system locked up. If I try to boot out of safe mode it locks up again.

    It appears the popular fix to this problem is to do a factory reset, run only core Google apps and then add back 1 app at a time (that you really need) testing functionality as you go.

    Currently, the phone is running perfectly in safe mode. Is fast, battery lasts forever and reception/wifi is great. I’m running the stock Google now launcher, which I hate but, everything is running like a formula 1 race car.

    Given what I stated above, I’m convinced the issue with lollipop, at least with my Nx5, is 3rd party apps and I’m going to start with Nova launcher. Instead of deleting all the apps, I’m just going to delete Nova and start there cause I’m pretty sure that’s the culprit.

  4. minds eye contracting

    12/17/2014 at 9:54 pm

    Personally I love it…no bug issues..most bugs gone but most notable improvement is my nexus 7 is twice as fast and I mean lightning fast as it was fast before so I am quite happy…only bug that really bugs me and is still there is once awhile the WiFi drops and I need to restart tablet been like that from day one but is infrequent so live with it but seems like a simple issue they should address.

  5. kunal

    12/18/2014 at 10:00 am

    Yet to receive 5.0 or for that matter any lollipop version on my n7 2013 WiFi even though it has stock unrooted android 4.4.4. Anyone with the same probs?

  6. Keith

    12/31/2014 at 6:56 am

    I have a 2012 Nexus 7. I tried 5.0 when it first released. My previously speedy tablet turned to molasses. I reset it and it helped slightly, but still not as responsive as 4.4.4 was. I factory reset it and then went back to 4.4.4. It’s responsive once again, and I don’t plan to try 5.0.x on it. It works. I like the look of 4.4.4 more than 5.0. The material design them looks very “flat”. We shouldn’t have to spend hours trying to get our technology to work right. I personally don’t have the time for it.

  7. Cecilia sekelic

    01/18/2015 at 4:28 pm

    Just installed upgrade now my Facebook and fitness pal are crashing constantly and do not liked merged email. Very disappointed and i was jus bragging about Nexus. How do i undo. Nothing is working properly anymore

  8. Ex nexus fan

    01/19/2015 at 9:59 pm

    My nexus32gb gen1 is now almost impossible to use with 5.02 I’m well annoyed it’s so v bloody slow everything is delayed. If you want to ruin your nexus go ahead download lollipop. Google should be taken to court and ask is 2013 users be given an update that actually works faster

  9. David roth

    02/04/2015 at 3:26 pm

    How do you fix as device with update keeps freezing

  10. Cheryl

    02/10/2015 at 5:28 am

    The updates totally suck, my nexus has done nothing but become unresponsive making it unusable

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