Google Nexus 7 Tablet (2013) Kit Kat causes a lot of lag

[benhmadison]

Perform a factory reset. It's always advised to do so after taking an ota.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[HalizDad]

Re: Kit Kat causes a lot of lag

This matches my experience. Just kind of random lag, but doesn't last long and no real Patten. Stock was a bit more responsive.

YouTube seems ok for me. maybe a bit slow to start and load videos but playback in a window and full screen seems fine. But I'm on Clean Rom and Elemental kernel.(default settings on the kernel. That might matter.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using AC Forums mobile app

I don't think the lag is from Kit Kat, but from some random app update of late. Mine started lagging last night something horrible, and then it would stop. I don't have 4.4 yet.

 

[jaimeastin]

Re: Kit Kat causes a lot of lag

My brand new Nexus 7 with almost no apps (Skype, SkyDrive, infinite Flight, OneNote, RD, Netflix, Chase/BoA Banking Apps, and maybe one or two more)... These apps were even running in the background. I was trying to browse the play store and it was so sluggish and lagging with every attempted input. I don't have mail or an other services set up yet. I thought it was maybe my screen protector, but I had no issues before kitkat.

I wish I would have not let it install KitKat as I did not have any issue before hand. It is my fault... I should have read up on the update and waited. I had no expectations for it, other than I would be fine. I see many people were waiting on it... I guess I will just factory reset my device. I have nothing to lose at this point as nothing is set up... It just bugs me that it would have these issues. I could see if I had hacked it or had many apps and services modified. Shoot, it is almost stock...

I know in time it will be good, but man I want to go back to jellybean...

Just an update.. The performance really does stink on my Nexus 7. I almost want to return it. This KitKat update has something to do with it. I am really not happy with it now. It isn't even fun to use as I have to power it off just to get stable performance...

Since I have used an android device in a while, What is the best way to factory reset it and restore it to a state where I am? On my surface/windows phone it will download all of the apps that I had installed... I am not looking for the data as it may or may not restore, but at least putting all of the apps back will be nice. I will try a restart before I flash it back to 4.3. This reminds me of taking my mac from 10.6 to 7... Oh did I hate lion... I hated it so much I stopped using it... Then I sold it... I don't want to get rid of my Nexus, but honestly I has not met my expectations and I still use my surface for fun. Is it just the play store that is super sluggish after the KitKat update? No novice here guys, I am more than a tech Junkie professionally and personally.

One of my android buddies told me that Android just needs the OS restored every so often for best performance. That is no good... It is like the old windows days... Seriously. Android is going through all of the pain Windows did a decade ago.

 

[Rev2010]

Re: Kit Kat causes a lot of lag

One of my android buddies told me that Android just needs the OS restored every so often for best performance. That is no good... It is like the old windows days...

That is pure nonsense and he doesn't know what he's talking about. I've used a Droid 2 for two years, a Galaxy S3 for the past 17 months, and the wife has used an Atrix for two years and now a Note II for a year and we've never needed to reload the OS for any sort of performance issues. Matter of fact I only flashed my OS once on my Droid 2 and that was only because of Motorola's awful color scheme change when they went to Gingerbread I believe it was. I flashed back to Froyo and used the device until the physical keyboard started failing hence the upgrade at the end of my contract. Upgrades often cause problems and it's always best to wait and read all the feedback for weeks afterwards before you make the jump. This isn't limited to Android, Windows is well renowned for update problems, both in small updates and major OS revisions. Apple's system OS's also have similar growth pains. I work in IT for a living and numerous times their OS updates have broken remote access to our firm. Even iOS 7 came with numerous complaints and I can tell you firsthand it's very sluggish on older devices like the iPhone 4.

But saying Android needs an occasional wipe and reinstall to keep running smooth is pure hogwash.


Rev.

 

[kal1209]

That's bad if it requires you to reset it every so often. I just got into the android world but now I see why people like the simplicity of iOS.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Citizen Coyote]

Re: Kit Kat causes a lot of lag

Just an update.. The performance really does stink on my Nexus 7. I almost want to return it. This KitKat update has something to do with it. I am really not happy with it now. It isn't even fun to use as I have to power it off just to get stable performance...

Since I have used an android device in a while, What is the best way to factory reset it and restore it to a state where I am? On my surface/windows phone it will download all of the apps that I had installed... I am not looking for the data as it may or may not restore, but at least putting all of the apps back will be nice. I will try a restart before I flash it back to 4.3. This reminds me of taking my mac from 10.6 to 7... Oh did I hate lion... I hated it so much I stopped using it... Then I sold it... I don't want to get rid of my Nexus, but honestly I has not met my expectations and I still use my surface for fun. Is it just the play store that is super sluggish after the KitKat update? No novice here guys, I am more than a tech Junkie professionally and personally.

One of my android buddies told me that Android just needs the OS restored every so often for best performance. That is no good... It is like the old windows days... Seriously. Android is going through all of the pain Windows did a decade ago.

Under Settings, go to Backup & reset, make sure the backup options are checked, then perform the factory reset. After the tablet finishes up, it should automatically download any app you had installed before. The data backup is problematic; in my experience some apps restore fine, others start out stock. If an app has a separate backup option, I would turn that on.

Once upon a time some Android devices may have required a factory reset to clean out all the cruft, but that was in the past and impacted by manufacturer skins. I have never done a reset on my year old Nexus 4, and it works flawlessly. Current Android devices are no more in need of resets than any other device out there, but if you're having issues it's one way to try and solve them. If this fails to fix your lag, you can also try manually reflashing the factory image.

 

[jaimeastin]

Re: Kit Kat causes a lot of lag

That is pure nonsense and he doesn't know what he's talking about. I've used a Droid 2 for two years, a Galaxy S3 for the past 17 months, and the wife has used an Atrix for two years and now a Note II for a year and we've never needed to reload the OS for any sort of performance issues. Matter of fact I only flashed my OS once on my Droid 2 and that was only because of Motorola's awful color scheme change when they went to Gingerbread I believe it was. I flashed back to Froyo and used the device until the physical keyboard started failing hence the upgrade at the end of my contract. Upgrades often cause problems and it's always best to wait and read all the feedback for weeks afterwards before you make the jump. This isn't limited to Android, Windows is well renowned for update problems, both in small updates and major OS revisions. Apple's system OS's also have similar growth pains. I work in IT for a living and numerous times their OS updates have broken remote access to our firm. Even iOS 7 came with numerous complaints and I can tell you firsthand it's very sluggish on older devices like the iPhone 4.

But saying Android needs an occasional wipe and reinstall to keep running smooth is pure hogwash.


Rev.

I am in the IT industry and so is he (Programmer/System Administration; He is a systems administrator) . In my experience it is not farfetched, especially with the many flavors of android and many devices it runs on. This is why I chose the Nexus, to get the best experience possible service, update, and hardware wise so I would avoid the headaches. He is also an avid android fan, so he is not trying to slander it all.

We also experienced things like this with other OSes and Mobile OSes. Shoot, you are right about iOS, We pretty much banned updates on iOS due to the constant bugs in each release... Broken support for Exchange, VPN, etc.. It was always something. Android complaints were usually data/storage related to the slowdowns, unrecoverable storage space, and ... Plus, you never know what people are doing to Android devices with hacks and other poorly written software modifying systems performance. This is why I am a little disheartened because I purchased this nexus to be stock and not customized or hacked. I am sure things will eventually resolve themselves. These things happen to every system... That is why I am more mad at myself for allowing the update without looking into it. I figured since it was so close to stock, it would not make that much of a difference. Oh and believe, I do get it when things are pretty much perfect for one and how unimaginable it is that someone with the same product is having issues... That is until I actually see theirs for myself to determine they are being foolish or their concerns are valid.

 

[jaimeastin]

Re: Kit Kat causes a lot of lag

Thanks. I will look into this. Yeah, I understand that that was older devices that required sometimes harsh fixes. That is why I chose a nexus to get the best experience possible. I am sure I will get these things resolved and will be a happy camper once more. I do enjoy the size and design of the nexus 7. I am always turning people on to my surface and other devices I own. Now people are asking questions about my nexus 7. Despite this little issue, I have nothing but good things to say. Especially with the deals popping up now, I have two people preparing to buy one this week.

 

[jaimeastin]

True... As much as I dislike iOS for its design and apple way or the highway (I have had a couple ipads, iphones, and macs to say this), they work for the people who like it. But you lose so much customizing and options with ios compared to android and even windows rt. The later have some refining to do, but they are leaps ahead in my opinion over ios. Mostly, because these devices work for me and my environment so much more freely and efficiently than ios... We were joking in the office a few days ago saying that iOS is for Old people, LOL! It is like a big button phone, LOL! Exaggeration, but I do think it is simple for everyone yet messy to work with.

 

[Spaz888]

Under Settings, go to Backup & reset, make sure the backup options are checked, then perform the factory reset. After the tablet finishes up, it should automatically download any app you had installed before. The data backup is problematic; in my experience some apps restore fine, others start out stock. If an app has a separate backup option, I would turn that on.

Once upon a time some Android devices may have required a factory reset to clean out all the cruft, but that was in the past and impacted by manufacturer skins. I have never done a reset on my year old Nexus 4, and it works flawlessly. Current Android devices are no more in need of resets than any other device out there, but if you're having issues it's one way to try and solve them. If this fails to fix your lag, you can also try manually reflashing the factory image.

Citizen Coyote, the apps are not the problem. I just finished doing an automatic update on my Nexus 7 Second Gen to Kit Kat. The UI definitely has a significant and most notable lack of responsiveness to it. It is no longer snappy like it was before. I first noticed it on the wife's Nexus 7 First Gen. I thought maybe it was due to the slower CPU; however, that's not the case. Just going into settings and making a selection often results in multiple attempts to select the function you want. The sluggishness is clearly an issue with Kit Kat. It's ironic since the Kit Kat update was suppose to speed up the touchscreen so that it responds faster and more accurately than ever before.

Once the download is pushed onto other Nexus devices and eventually to other non Nexus devices, more people will be coming forward. Only then, we will likely expect a fix to the problem. For right now, we will just have to live with the update.

 

[B. Diddy]

For all of you who are having issues with the KitKat update, how many of you have tried a cache partition wipe? This tends to help smooth things out after a system update.

http://forums.androidcentral.com/go...e-nexus-7-2012-2013-cache-partition-wipe.html

 

[kernmal]

For all of you who are having issues with the KitKat update, how many of you have tried a cache partition wipe? This tends to help smooth things out after a system update.

http://forums.androidcentral.com/go...e-nexus-7-2012-2013-cache-partition-wipe.html

This!
Clearing the system cache is the first thing that I do after an update.



Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Rev2010]

Re: Kit Kat causes a lot of lag

I am in the IT industry and so is he (Programmer/System Administration; He is a systems administrator) . In my experience it is not farfetched

We also experienced things like this with other OSes and Mobile OSes.

Well part of the point I was making and neglected to include is how one's use of the operating system is typically responsible for the vast majority of issues with OS performance. My point was that running a nice clean OS that is handled responsibly will not require a wipe and rebuild every "now and then" to keep it running fine. Unless there is some improper coding (bugs) or inherent file system flaw the OS shouldn't magically on it's own slowly get worse and worse. Sometimes this *appears* to happen and people blame it on the OS when it's in fact the hard drive getting old and losing performance for example. If people load up 6 different launchers to try in Android, 5 different file managers, 5 different 3rd party keyboards, 35 games, 4 different music players, have tons of Widgets running, etc then yes they are probably more prone to experience some performance issues eventually. Similar to how in Windows installing, uninstalling later, etc would cause fragmentation so the drive head needed to jump around more. If an OS/machine is kept nicely maintained and not abused it shouldn't just start slowing down with over time unless the components themselves are aging or coming close to end of life cycle.


Rev.

 

[Citizen Coyote]

Citizen Coyote, the apps are not the problem. I just finished doing an automatic update on my Nexus 7 Second Gen to Kit Kat. The UI definitely has a significant and most notable lack of responsiveness to it. It is no longer snappy like it was before. I first noticed it on the wife's Nexus 7 First Gen. I thought maybe it was due to the slower CPU; however, that's not the case. Just going into settings and making a selection often results in multiple attempts to select the function you want. The sluggishness is clearly an issue with Kit Kat. It's ironic since the Kit Kat update was suppose to speed up the touchscreen so that it responds faster and more accurately than ever before.

Once the download is pushed onto other Nexus devices and eventually to other non Nexus devices, more people will be coming forward. Only then, we will likely expect a fix to the problem. For right now, we will just have to live with the update.

You obviously did not see that I was responding to someone who specifically asked how to backup and factory reset their tablet. I was not blaming apps for any perceived lag under KitKat.

For what it's worth, my Nexus 7 has been working perfectly fine under KitKat. No lag. This is not a universal problem. As B. Diddy recommended, try wiping the cache partition.

 

[idshiy]

same here

Sent from my Nexus 4 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[jaimeastin]

Re: Kit Kat causes a lot of lag

Well part of the point I was making and neglected to include is how one's use of the operating system is typically responsible for the vast majority of issues with OS performance. My point was that running a nice clean OS that is handled responsibly will not require a wipe and rebuild every "now and then" to keep it running fine. Unless there is some improper coding (bugs) or inherent file system flaw the OS shouldn't magically on it's own slowly get worse and worse. Sometimes this *appears* to happen and people blame it on the OS when it's in fact the hard drive getting old and losing performance for example. If people load up 6 different launchers to try in Android, 5 different file managers, 5 different 3rd party keyboards, 35 games, 4 different music players, have tons of Widgets running, etc then yes they are probably more prone to experience some performance issues eventually. Similar to how in Windows installing, uninstalling later, etc would cause fragmentation so the drive head needed to jump around more. If an OS/machine is kept nicely maintained and not abused it shouldn't just start slowing down with over time unless the components themselves are aging or coming close to end of life cycle.


Rev.

HAHA,

We in the IT industry can be so jaded, disconnected, and arrogant can't we?! Always thinking it is them vs us... Believe it or now, all of my systems personally and professionally are for the most part 98% issue free. 98% is just a BS number to represent I have no known issues within reason and error before some smart alec questions it... Whether it is osx, windows, Linux/unix, or any other major mobile OS is irrelevant in the end. I don't care what I have, I take great care of it by learning, using and maintaining it professionally.

My response was to you the thread in question that I like others have experienced or noticed a "perceived" lag after the KitKat update... I also informed the community that my nexus 7 was almost bare bones. There are no launchers or silly customizations... I'm too old or that... er ummm I'm only 28... I mean I am not in to this level of customizations or hacks. I have many devices that I use as tools. I am not trying to make one device the one and only. My requirements with the nexus was simple and it fit the bill.

There are a few variables that could have attributed to the again "perceived" lagginess, but the old and true it must be the user has got to be to pasture in this case. I am not only a "techie" but a professional in the industry as well... Even with that, I am still not saying that I know it all or have the answers. I am just joining with this community to find an answer to the problem that "some" of us are experiencing. It is not a big problem... Just a nuance that in all fareness 4.3 was perfectly fine to/for me. I personally have no benefits from 4.4. That is why I summed my original post with it was my fault for installing the update before I researched it. I still get the lag. Closing open apps does not fit it better than powering off and powering it back on... I mean why would that fix it?


Now, running a nice and clean operation system "should" not have any problems... Updates are just like software installations... They both add/remove and otherwise make changes to the core OS... This can cause problems to a "perceived" clean and working OS that could very well force a reinstallation to the previous working conditions. Computers are nothing but coded instruction that should only do what it is instructed to do, but any silly rabbit in the industry know that if anything can happen it will happen. I have not found one perfect programmer or programming in any OS. They all have nuances. Unhandled errors, memory leaks, caches, etc can and will evenly slow an OS down which is relevant to the architecture and design of the code and OS.

Fragmentation... No secret, Android has it... Does it make it bad? No... It is just one of the nuances with Android and almost any other open/semi open environment. Take in that there is little restriction to who can use it and hardware, you can create many cases of mess. This/was the same with Windows in the past decade. They are just now getting over if and if creating their own hardware is the answer, I am for it... This is why I chose the nexus. Android as it was meant to be utilized.

Lets just relax and end this branch on this thread.. It has now digressed and offers no real contribution to the thread. Thanks for your help and we will see each other around the forum for more enlightening conversation.

 

[Rev2010]

Re: Kit Kat causes a lot of lag

Lets just relax and end this branch on this thread.. It has now digressed and offers no real contribution to the thread. Thanks for your help and we will see each other around the forum for more enlightening conversation.

I wasn't trying to argue with you, I was merely reflecting further on your original statement of, "One of my android buddies told me that Android just needs the OS restored every so often for best performance. That is no good... It is like the old windows days... Seriously. Android is going through all of the pain Windows did a decade ago."

Merely pointing out "Android" itself, or any other popular OS out at the moment, isn't inherently flawed in a way that requires it to be occasionally wiped to maintain smooth operation. Yes, there are many complaints of KitKat being laggy, and I don't doubt that at all and it's why I haven't updated, but that is different than needing an occasional wipe and reinstall (your buddy's comment), that seems much more like a buggy or poorly coded release. Anyhow, not looking to keep the discussion going further as we both seem to agree anyway.


Rev.

 

[Rule9]

Re: Kit Kat causes a lot of lag

Is there such a thing as an OS today that doesn't benefit from an occasional reset? If so, I'm unaware of it.

 

[Rev2010]

Is there such a thing as an OS today that doesn't benefit from an occasional reset? If so, I'm unaware of it.

I've been running Ubuntu Linux for about 5 years now, the same revision, with zero issues in performance since the day I installed it and it's my general "use for everything outside of music writing/recording" machine. For my music creation machine, being I'm also a musician that writes and records, I use a separate Windows 7/Windows XP dual boot Core I7 based machine for around 4 years as well with no issues. But that machine I don't even keep actively connected to the Internet, I keep the NIC turned off in the bios. It's dual boot due to the change in my music software and old projects still done in the old software under Windows XP. Either way, no issues whatsoever.

Rev.

 

[Rule9]

I've been running Ubuntu Linux for about 5 years now, the same revision, with zero issues in performance since the day I installed it and it's my general "use for everything outside of music writing/recording" machine. For my music creation machine, being I'm also a musician that writes and records, I use a separate Windows 7/Windows XP dual boot Core I7 based machine for around 4 years as well with no issues. But that machine I don't even keep actively connected to the Internet, I keep the NIC turned off in the bios. It's dual boot due to the change in my music software and old projects still done in the old software under Windows XP. Either way, no issues whatsoever.

Rev.

let me rephrase that:

Is there such a thing as a mainstream OS today that doesn't benefit from an occasional reset? If so, I'm unaware of it.