Last Updated on April 9, 2017 by Mathew Diekhake

Nexus 5 owners are finding a pristine Android 5.0.01 Lollipop update rolling out OTA. Correspondingly, the same device has the official OTA zip file available for those preferring to jump the waiting line, or install the OTA manually because they can’t over the air with root access. Whatever your specific reason, we are about to show you the way of installing the file by yourself. You are preparing the installation by using ‘adb sideload’ command.

Since most of the amazing features that alter the OS from KitKat to Lollipop came with the first batch of 5.0 releases, the secondary 5.0.01 mainly focuses on improving stability, creating a smoother and faster ROM and fixing many bugs found in the existing software. As always, there are bugs that need fixing when we see large updates such as the one from KitKat to Lollipop. Today, the Galaxy S5 g900F in Poland is finding a second 5.0.1 update rolling out that addresses even more bugs.

Nexus 5 Lollipop

Lollipop lets users pick up where they left off with their earlier work, comes with multiple device compatibility, material design UI, material design app drawer, updates notification screen with smarter notifications, new Quick Settings, Tap and Go and the updated Easter Egg that plays like Flappy Bird.

We are taking you through a list of the essentials before starting the steps. That way you know what you are doing, how to prepare properly, what to look out for and more. Hopefully you start the steps with more knowledge and experience.

The first action you want to take is backing up the device data. That means making copies of all the data you’ve put on the phone since opening it up out of the box. Make a second copy of the market apps, call logs, SMS texts, pictures, photos, videos, music files, settings and more. There are two main ways of backing up the Nexus 5. The first is through application available from the Google Play Store. Many come with great features such as the ability to schedule future backups so you don’t have to yourself. However, they usually come at a premium price. The most popular way is by using the built-in features from the phone.

Backup the market applications:

  1. Turn on the phone.
  2. tap the “All apps” open from the home screen.
  3. Tap the Settings app.
  4. Find the “personal’ option and tap the “backup and reset” option.
  5. Check the Automatic restore option to bring back any settings and data after re-installing apps from Google Play.
  6. You’ll notice another box “backup my data.” Check that box if you want to back up the WiFi passwords, account data and settings. All information is stored on the Google servers securely.

Can you trust Google? Up until the last few years most websites could see what you were typing into Google search. However, since governments and other agencies have agendas with trying to find out our information, Google have hidden that sensitive data behind their own walls for us. Now when you are signed into your Google account, websites no longer find any information you typed that lead you to a webpage. That means I’m confident Google are more on our side than any government trying to spy on its citizens.

Backup Contacts

  1. Tap “all apps” from the home screen.
  2. Tap Settings.
  3. tap Accounts.
  4. tap the one you wish to sync.
  5. Tap the “menu” option.
  6. tap the ‘sync now” option.

Contacts are usually the one thing most people cannot afford to lose. Thankfully, it’s also one of the easiest aspects to back up since it doesn’t involve any media and usually consists of small memory usable because it’s text only files. On that note, here’s how you deal with media.

Backup pictures and other media

  1. Turn n the phone.
  2. Connect to the computer, notebook or laptop.
  3. – if it has a USB slot you can connect the phone.
  4. Select the MTP option.
  5. Find the phone disk drive from the computer.
  6. Drag and Drop the pictures to any location of your choice.
  7. – it’s best to create a separate new folder and transfer them.

 

The following is only for the Nexus 5 code-named Hammerhead. Do not attempt installing the files on any other of the Nexus devices. Each file is specific to the one phone or tablet. Even if the firmware build number is the same, it still gets made for each unique model number device.

Make sure you enable the USB Debugging Mode. The mode is available from the Developer Options menu from the Settings application.

The USB charging feature takes over if your device is plugged into the computer, as long as the computer is connected to the power source coming from the wall. You don’t want the computer or smartphone turning off until the last flashing finishes. That means adjust your batteries accordingly. Reserve at least 50% battery power on the phone and likewise for the notebook, laptop or computer.

The official OTA zip file will remove your custom ROM and root access. Don’t follow the steps unless you are willing to move back to stock Android with default Google bloatware. No doubt the ports will open up again soon after a third-party developer manages to find a new exploit.

That’s the point here: Google patches the past exploits used for rooting when they release a new update. We must find new exploits.

How to update to the new Android 5.0.1 LRX22C Lollipop on the Google Nexus 5

  1. Download the Android SDK zip file here.
  2. Use the computer for the file.
  3. Transfer the contents to the C:/ partition by creating a new folder.
    – extract the files to there.
  4. Launch the SDK manager from one of the files within the same folder.
  5. You can skip ahead to how to flash the firmware file now that you have SDK working. Any problems with SDK is usually to do with USB drivers. Download the Nexus 5 USB drivers from here.
  6. Download the official LRX22C zip file here.
  7. Change the file name to “Lollipop.zip”
  8. Move the same file to the  ‘platform-tools’ folder in the SDK directory.
  9. Boot the nexus 5 in recovery mode.
  10. Pick out the “apply update from adb” from inside recovery.
  11. Connect to the computer using the USB wire.
  12. Head back to the platform-tools folder and rick-click the mouse over the blank white area and hold down the Shift key.
  13. Now the command line is opening.
  14. Make sure the device is connecting by typing “adb devices”
  15. Type “adb sideload Lollipop.zip”
  16. Wait for the flashing to finish by itself. Do not touch any keys or remove the device until it finishes.
  17. Reboot the nexus in the normal mode.
  18. You are running the latest firmware available for any Google nexus device.

Although flashing the firmware is an official process by Google, sometimes things can go wrong such as getting stuck in a boot loop. Most common problems are easily fixes by applying a factory reset. Resets turn back the clock to when your device was brand new just coming out of the box. That means you must have the data backed up already or else it’s wiped clean.

Wipe cache partition

  1. Press volume Up + Power + Volume Down
  2. Press volume twice until you see the words “recovery mode’
    Press the Power button
  3. Wait for the red triangle screen with the Android logo
  4. Press Power and the volume Up keys.
  5. Release the keys when you see the Android system recovery
    Scroll to wipe data cache partition and use the Power key for confirming the process.

Performing the Hard Reset

  1. Tap the “All apps” option from the home screen.
  2. Tap “Settings.”Scroll to “personal” and tap “Backup & reset.”
  3. Tap the option “Factory data reset.”
  4. Enter your pin code if it prompts you.
  5. Tap “Erase everything.”