Does a Factory Reset Increase Performance/Battery?

[xweb10]

I am running 4.4.2 as per the recent update. The MAXX runs great with a few stutters here an there, but I get the feeling it can run better. Android Kernel is the # 1 app sucker as per the GSAM battery app.
Is a factory reset after an OS update a good idea or would I just be spinning my wheels? It would be nice if the affects it were documented somewhere.

 

[wizzrah]

I am running 4.4.2 as per the recent update. The MAXX runs great with a few stutters here an there, but I get the feeling it can run better. Android Kernel is the # 1 app sucker as per the GSAM battery app.
Is a factory reset after an OS update a good idea or would I just be spinning my wheels? It would be nice if the affects it were documented somewhere.

You'd just be clearing the sdcard and resetting it to its original state. I'm not sure if it would increase battery life though.

 

[B. Diddy]

Many people advocate a full factory reset after a system update, since it clears out the various system caches that might otherwise retain obsolete data from the previous system version, and could potentially slow things down. If you don't want to go that route, you could try just wiping the system cache partition, which won't erase any personal data or settings, so there's no harm in trying it. Follow these instructions: https://motorola-global-portal.cust..._detail/a_id/93895/p/30,6720,8697/action/auth

 

[pappy53]

I am running 4.4.2 as per the recent update. The MAXX runs great with a few stutters here an there, but I get the feeling it can run better. Android Kernel is the # 1 app sucker as per the GSAM battery app.
Is a factory reset after an OS update a good idea or would I just be spinning my wheels? It would be nice if the affects it were documented somewhere.

I don't think that the update is 4.4.2, just 4.4.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[doogald]

I am running 4.4.2 as per the recent update. The MAXX runs great with a few stutters here an there, but I get the feeling it can run better. Android Kernel is the # 1 app sucker as per the GSAM battery app.
Is a factory reset after an OS update a good idea or would I just be spinning my wheels? It would be nice if the affects it were documented somewhere.

I'll let you know in a couple of days. I just factory reset the phone this evening. I've had the phone since launch day, and KitKat for a while now; it should take a few days to see if the phone has better battery life after the reset.

 

[xweb10]

I'll let you know in a couple of days.

I appreciate it. I also just switched to ART to see if there are any differences. So far, same as before.

I don't think that the update is 4.4.2, just 4.4.

My apologies...

 

[doogald]

I'll let you know in a couple of days. I just factory reset the phone this evening. I've had the phone since launch day, and KitKat for a while now; it should take a few days to see if the phone has better battery life after the reset.

After a couple of days, two things:

1. My battery life is back up to the way it was on 4.2.2
2. I don't think that the factory reset had anything to do with it. The first day, my battery was the same, about 20% worse than under 4.2.2. But, I finally discovered the reason. I had set up an app called dropSync to synchronize a couple of folders on my phone with Dropbox, but I had recently set up one folder than I hadn't realized was causing a lot more syncs than before. This was hitting the battery. I changed DropSync to work only when plugged in (which is good enough for what I need) and battery life is normal again. (I highly recommend this app, by the way - it made the factory reset far more efficient, because I was able to get everything back fast).

So, I don't think that a factory reset changed anything in my case. That's not saying it wouldn't help in your case, though.

 

[xweb10]

I highly recommend this app, by the way - it made the factory reset far more efficient, because I was able to get everything back fast

Thanks for posting your results.
What are you backing up with DropSync? Photos and music?

 

[doogald]

Thanks for posting your results.
What are you backing up with DropSync? Photos and music?

My camera folder, yes. (The nice thing about DropSync is that I can delete the bad photos anywhere that I have Dropbox and they get deleted from the phone, too.) I have a folder called media, where I store my custom ringtones, notifications, and wallpapers. I also sync the Pocketcasts folder for my podcasts, so I don't lose those. I use a Plume for twitter and I sync the folder where the settings can be exported (which makes it easy to start over with a factory reset phone), and I do the same from Dropsync itself. I also sync the Download folder. I used to use Llama for profile management so I have that synced as well, though I now use the Assist app for that.

I use Play Music for music so that's all stored on the cloud. (I also use Pandora and that's obviously cloud based.)