If you recently updated you nexus 5 and Nexus 7 with the latest Android L Developer Preview and facing some problems with the OS and want to go back to the Android 4.4 Kitkat. Here is the complete guide which you can follow on your device and downgrade your device to Android KitKat. Android L Developer Preview is not the stable release and has some bugs and most of the users are facing some problems with the device and most of the application will not work on the latest developer preview. If you are facing the same problem with the Android L and are wondering how to go back to Android 4.4 KitKat, follow the instructions below.
The guide is pretty simple and all you need the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 Kitkat system, images and ADB drivers to install the same on your nexus. Also, make sure to backup all your important photos, contacts and other files.
Downgrade Nexus 5 & 7 to Android 4.4
Step 1. Download ADB files from here in your computer. Extract the folder on your desktop. In this guide we are using the Windows PC.
Step 2. Download the Android 4.4.4 KitKat factory image from the below mention links:-
Nexus 5 KitKat factory image
Nexus 7 (2013, Wi-Fi) KitKat factory image
And extract the folder on your desktop.
Step 3. Now Open the ADB and Fastboot folder that you extracted on Step 1 and move all of the files from the OS folder into the ADB folder.
Step 4. Now put your Nexus 5 and 7 in fastboot mode. First switch off your phone, Press and keep holding the “Volume UP + Volume Down + Power” buttons together until you see the bootloader screen (aka Fastboot mode)
Step 5. Now connect the device to the PC with the USB cable.
Step 6. Now click on the flash-all.bat if you’re on Windows PC or flash-all.sh if you’re on Linux, now the flashing starts.
Step 7. Now the flashing process will start on your devcie and this will take some time.
Once the process is done, you phone will reboot and your device is running on the Android 4.4 Kitkat. If you are still facing any issues, drop in a comment and we would be glad to help.
I can’t find the flash-all file
Hi, after i downgrade, my nexus 5 just stuck on the booting icon and never starts. If i manually turn the phone off, it just restart by itself.
I was wondering what can i do in this case
will i still be able to get ota updates if i downgrade to 4.4.4? also, will my nexus 5 run slower?
Once you back on official 4.4.4 ROm , you will get the OTA update.
@Bob Extract the file again and you will see the files in the folder 🙂
what flashall file do i use if i have an mac
@ummm On a Mac, copy-paste the following command -:
./flash-all.sh
You need to use terminal window and adb drivers folder.