Google started pushing out the Android 5.1 Lollipop update to its Nexus devices, but unfortunately users of the Nexus 5 are having some serious problems. At this point, it appears as if the Nexus 5 is the only device having serious updates with Lollipop.
Nexus 5 now prone to memory leaks
Nicole Arce of the Tech Times reports that owners of the Nexus 5 are reporting random restarts, problems connecting to networks, issues with hot spots and memory leaks. Android 5.1 was supposed to solve some major bugs Android devices have had over the last year, but unfortunately it only created new problems for Nexus 5 owners. This was the first major update to Android Lollipop.
The memory leak issue happens when the Nexus 5 doesn’t release memory after it’s no longer being used by a particular app. This issue has been a recurring one for the device, and the Android 5.1 update has not fixed it for the Nexus 5.
However, it appears to have been fixed for older Nexus devices that had the same issue with the first Android Lollipop version. In November with the first Lollipop update, Nexus device owners complained that they were using up to 1 gigabyte or more of RAM before they crashed. It would happen whenever the user would swipe to close an app, and the device would then use up 100 megabytes of RAM or sometimes even more.
Eventually it would crash because there wouldn’t be any RAM left to do anything with. This issue seems to have gotten worse with Android 5.1 on the Nexus five, according to the Tech Times. And Google doesn’t seem too worried about it because it isn’t planning an immediate fix for it.
Other problems with the Nexus 5
Other Nexus 5 owners complained that their phones are just restarting randomly, even when all they are doing is touching the screen. One user reported that his Nexus five shuts down automatically when he presses the power button to either unlock or lock his phone. The issue started right after he installed Android 5.1.
Connectivity for both data and Wi-Fi are also causing problems for some Nexus 5 users. One reported having data connection problems on and off since the 5.1 update last week. When he can connect to his mobile carrier’s network to use data, he said he has to restart his device and turn on Airplane Mode.
Another Nexus 5 owner said her phone stopped being able to turn on her Wi-Fi hot spot and that none of her devices can see the hot spot, even when the device indicates that it is on.
Any hope for Nexus 5 owners?
According to the Tech Times, Google isn’t in a rush to fix any of these problems. However, some are suggesting workarounds.
One possibility that was mentioned in Google’s Product Forums was to clear out the cached data by going to Settings, then tapping on Storage, and then tapping on Cached data. A dialogue box then pops up, and the user can then tap OK. This has been offered as a solution for Nexus 5 owners dealing with the random restart issue. Another suggestion for dealing with this issue is to change some of the phone’s settings. For example, they could change their unlock setting to swipe or look for other settings that can be changed to clear space on the phone if low space is an issue.
Another possibility is to reboot the Nexus 5 in Safe Mode. Users can then check to see if the power button is working properly. If the button is working, then the issue is a third-party app, like perhaps a notification widget or lock screen app. The worst-case scenario would be to reset the phone to its factory settings, but users should back up all their files before doing this.
Sometimes just restarting the device or removing the SIM card and putting it back in can help with mobile data problems. Other suggestions include adjusting the cell network settings, especially the name of the Access Point, but this is a more involved suggestion that only those who are familiar with the process should attempt.
