Help Nexus 4 Stuck in Boot Animation

[RodrigoBR]

If you got as far as a reboot after flashing the factory image, then you probably just didn't wait long enough or your download was corrupt. Try downloading the image files again and reflash. I don't know about hours, but first boot does take a good long time.

The OTA update is built for 4.4.4 -> 5.0 so you would have to do all the updates in between. Or you could flash the factory image and go straight to Lollipop, but you would lose your data. Which route you take is up to you.

Thanks! I´ll download the images again and reflash! Hope to get any luck this time!

 

[lunatic59]

Thanks! I´ll download the images again and reflash! Hope to get any luck this time!

Patience is the key here.

 

[jmaner33]

Me again!

So I'm going through the process of flashing 5.0 onto my N4, however I am unable to install the drivers for my phone! I am on a 64bit Windows 7 laptop, and have the drivers downloaded.

My issue is installing them. My N4 is not appearing on My Computer, therefore I cannot install them as I have seen. Also, without my N4 appearing on My Computer I don't believe I will be able to run many of the Command Prompt's necessary to flash a system image onto my phone.

 

[lunatic59]

Check this ... make sure and android devices you have are NOT plugged into your laptop and then reboot it. Now with the phone OFF, put the N4 in fastboot mode (volume down + power). Once the fastboot screen appears, plug in the phone to the laptop and put the phone down. Then go to start and right-click on Computer in the right column and choose "manage". From there expand system tools and choose device manager. The first thing in the list should be Android Phone and when you expand that list it should say Android Bootloader Interface. If you've got that, then you're good to go.

 

[jmaner33]

The first thing in the list should be Android Phone and when you expand that list it should say Android Bootloader Interface. If you've got that, then you're good to go.

No such luck. Followed your procedure, but I am only finding "Android" on "Other Devices"

I was thinking about just bringing this bad boy to an electronics repair place and letting them sweat it out.

 

[lunatic59]

In the device manager, does the android listing appear when nothing is plugged in? If so, delete it, reboot your computer and try again. It might be preventing the proper drivers from loading.

 

[kmm123]

PROBLEM SOLVED!

I had this problem and searched so many forums but couldn't find a solution. Factory reset seemed to be the last resort everyone was recommending. I can't believe no one has found the solution I did. My phone had a stock image

- install google USB drivers. I didn't have these installed before so it was tricky. eventually what worked was i put the phone in recovery mode (instructions on this thread and elsewhere on the internet). all cables need to be unplugged before you do this. once you have entered recoveryy mode, plug in the usb cable and conenct phone to PC. then selected "apply adb update" option. this caused the phone to show up on my computers device manager. from there i right clicked and slected update driver and then show all devices and then have disk and then select the downlaoded drivers. then select ADB interface.
- search for the latest OTA update and download that file
- use adb to sideload the OTA update
- reboot
-phone works like a charm now

 

[jterre]

In the device manager, does the android listing appear when nothing is plugged in? If so, delete it, reboot your computer and try again. It might be preventing the proper drivers from loading.

Hello. I am having the same issue as the original post. I have had the four circles merging into one locked up sign on screen. I tried clearing the cache and then tried a factory reset. The clearing cache did not fix the phone and the factory reset has been on the round balls merging into one screen for about 30 minutes.

I believe my next alternative is installing (flash) an operating system from my computer at home. I will attempt this tonight using the link posted earlier in this thread. I have zero experience doing something like this. I will probably post a note in that thread as well. Just trying to a) figure how long the factory reset should take, if it works, for the phone to sign on and b) how complex is it to flash a phone for somebody who has no idea how to do this. I am not a tech person at all, but can follow instructions.

 

[lunatic59]

Hi @jterre , welcome to Android Forums. I put a very detailed step-by-step for flashing the factory image for the Nexus 6 beginning with this post. Give that a read through and see if it is something you might want to try. Keep in mind that while there is no difference in procedure the files you want will be different.

I am assuming you want the latest firmware ... Android 5.1.1, so this is the link to the file you'll need for the Nexus 4.

I would give yourself 2 - 4 hours the first time because you're going to want to take it slow and pay attention to every detail.

If you want to try an automated solution, you could give Wug's Toolkit a try. That might be the simpler option for you.

Good luck and feel free to ask about anything that you might not understand.

 

[jterre]

Thanks! I have a Nexus 4. (and a Nexus 7 which works great) I will look through all of your instructions re the Nexus 6, I am sure they are very detailed. I might try the automated solution first. I have been messing around with computers for more years than I would like to admit, but this will tax my abilities and patience. I will go slow and be as meticulous as possible. I will probably try the automated route first, if that does not work, I will try the more detailed approach.

I never installed the latest version of Android. My wife did on her Nexus 4 and she did not give it rave reviews, so I was on the last version still. I don't mind upgrading to the latest version, just want my phone back...lol.

 

[lunatic59]

The jump from Android 4.4 to 5.x was a big one and a lot of people had mixed feelings about material design. If the issue was performance or stability, then a factory reset is in order. I rarely use updates to update. I almost exclusively flash factory images as it's much cleaner, IMO.

Good luck.

 

[codesplice]

We're here for you if you run into any problems.

I'm actually trying to get my N4 up and running again at the moment too (battery gave out over the weekend, time to replace it!).

(Edit: it works!)

 

[dapidc]

Before I got stuck in boot loop (spinning balls in four colors in elliptical orbit revolving around something), my problem was the phone just turned off when use. I haven't figured out why, but I was thinking this is the good time to unlock bootloader, install custom ROM - Marshmallow is out now, and unfortunately after following the guides to root it, reboot only give me the four colors, it's been 80 minutes now.

I am using CWM, I think I better switch to TWRP since the latest support copying files from PC from recovery. Or can I do it with CWM? Haven't explore it that much.

Anyway, if anybody have any advice or suggestion, may be links to guides - how tos, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[LuciaBa]

Hi @jterre , welcome to Android Forums. I put a very detailed step-by-step for flashing the factory image for the Nexus 6 beginning with this post. Give that a read through and see if it is something you might want to try. Keep in mind that while there is no difference in procedure the files you want will be different.

I am assuming you want the latest firmware ... Android 5.1.1, so this is the link to the file you'll need for the Nexus 4.

I would give yourself 2 - 4 hours the first time because you're going to want to take it slow and pay attention to every detail.

If you want to try an automated solution, you could give Wug's Toolkit a try. That might be the simpler option for you.

Good luck and feel free to ask about anything that you might not understand.

I'm stuck in a similar situation: Nexus 4, four balls spinning for ever... I tried Wug's Toolkit, but didn't go too far.
Any detailed instruction I could follow?

 

[dapidc]

I'm stuck in a similar situation: Nexus 4, four balls spinning for ever... I tried Wug's Toolkit, but didn't go too far.
Any detailed instruction I could follow?

Sorry, I try to answer while assuming that you are prepared to re-flash your ROM and lose all data.

Follow http://nexus4root.com/nexus-4-roms/android-6-0-marshmallow-root-for-nexus-4-frank-n4-rom/,
for recovery, to successfully install gapps please use the one in last post here http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-4/orig-development/mako-philz-touch-t2210081/page44.

It's minimal ROM, comes with minimal apps. It lets you choose apps whatever you want.

 

[LuciaBa]

Sorry, I try to answer while assuming that you are prepared to re-flash your ROM and lose all data.

Follow http://nexus4root.com/nexus-4-roms/android-6-0-marshmallow-root-for-nexus-4-frank-n4-rom/,
for recovery, to successfully install gapps please use the one in last post here http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-4/orig-development/mako-philz-touch-t2210081/page44.

It's minimal ROM, comes with minimal apps. It lets you choose apps whatever you want.

Thanks. It sounds a long way to go, as I never installed a custom ROM before...
No options to backup data first?

 

[dapidc]

Thanks. It sounds a long way to go, as I never installed a custom ROM before...
No options to backup data first?

O.K. That method I used to fix my bootloop problem, now I am using Frank's Marshmallow ROM, however for your case you might want to see the steps used by kmm123 above.

For backup, perhaps you can try MobileGo or AirDroid apps.

Anyhow, here is the steps I copy from above with some additional info:
- install google USB drivers. Find it here: http://developer.android.com/sdk/win-usb.html

I didn't have these installed before so it was tricky. eventually what worked was i put the phone in recovery mode (instructions on this thread and elsewhere on the internet). all cables need to be unplugged before you do this. once you have entered recovery mode, plug in the usb cable and connect phone to PC. then select "apply adb update" option. this caused the phone to show up on my computers device manager. from there i right clicked and select update driver and then show all devices and then have disk and then select the downloaded drivers. then select ADB interface.

- search for the latest OTA update and download that file (you can search one for your device from http://nexus4root.com/nexus-4-stock-firmware/)

- use adb to sideload the OTA update --> more info on this: https://twrp.me/faq/ADBSideload.html

... be patient here... may take some time to finish.

- reboot

 

[DJCHRISDaBRAIN]

Hi..I received a Nexus 4 with this problem. It was stuck in the X logo. I installed last update lollipop 5.1.1 and it was the same thing but now It was stuck at 4 flying circles logo. Then I decided to downgrade to Lollipop 5.0 and again it was stuck at the 4 bouncing circles. That was for hours in both cases. Then I followed testing with downgrading and this time I tried Kit Kat 4.4.4 then 4.3 but same thing.. Then I installed Jellybean 4.2.2 and boom!! It came back to life. After many hours reading and searching on the internet, testing and downloading the ROMS finally the solution was that. I don't understand Why Lollipop doesn't work but is good to have the Nexus working again! I hope this could help anyone out there!!

 

[codesplice]

Hi..I received a Nexus 4 with this problem. It was stuck in the X logo. I installed last update lollipop 5.1.1 and it was the same thing but now It was stuck at 4 flying circles logo. Then I decided to downgrade to Lollipop 5.0 and again it was stuck at the 4 bouncing circles. That was for hours in both cases. Then I followed testing with downgrading and this time I tried Kit Kat 4.4.4 then 4.3 but same thing.. Then I installed Jellybean 4.2.2 and boom!! It came back to life. After many hours reading and searching on the internet, testing and downloading the ROMS finally the solution was that. I don't understand Why Lollipop doesn't work but is good to have the Nexus working again! I hope this could help anyone out there!!

Glad to hear you got it sorted!

Were you flashing ROMs or the factory images?