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Help Nexus 5 randomly Powering off possibly Lollipop issue

Parthanu said:
Hi Prashanth, Which city in India are you at? If Bangalore, please let me know the name of the repair shop you went to. I am having the same problem:(... Thanks
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I am in Bangalore city ,my name is Gurumurthy no 9740427957, the service center name is mobile care center, 57, 11th main 4th block opp paid vijay hall,Jayanager Bangalore 11 .pH 08042039084, 9886742955. Evan I had this problem in nexus 5 which is 18 months old ,he charged rs 1650. Now its working fine ,no issues.
 
Ok, so, plot twist!

I always thought it was a hardware issue with it being a faulty power button making the phone turn off/restart, because it stopped once I started using Gravity app where you can wake the screen without using the power button. The fault began to happen when the phone first updated to Lollipop. Like I said, I thought it was a hardware issue and the fact it happened after the Lollipop update I thought was just a coincidence.

Then when we got the 5.0.1 update, I tried using the power button again like normal, and it would keep turning off/restarting still, so back to gravity app it was.

When we got the 5.1.1 update, I didn't even think to try out the power button until about 4 days ago when I was bored and thought why not give it a try. Well, it's been 4 days and the power button is working like it should, and I have no need for Gravity app. So maybe it was a software issue? I'll keep everyone posted if it's still working or not.

Will be interesting to know if anyone else is using gravity app on 5.1.1 because of the power button problems. Give it a try and report back!
 
Might have been software all along, might not. Personally I always thought it was a software bug having to do with the memory leak that there was on the boot animation, but I don't know how that explains away your prior symptoms. Who knows! Just happy you're not having the issue anymore!
 
Issue persists after downgrading to KitKat. It seems that issue is with power button only. But with lollypop, if it turns off it's taking more than 20 mins to turn on. It's optimizing the apps like when there is an upgrade.
 
anil2381 said:
Issue persists after downgrading to KitKat. It seems that issue is with power button only. But with lollypop, if it turns off it's taking more than 20 mins to turn on. It's optimizing the apps like when there is an upgrade.
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Lollipop 5.1.1?
 
Hello guys,

My Nexus 5 started acting quite the same : random shutdown within 15 to 30 minutes of activity, or within a few hours after a factory reset (which I tried already).

Something odd that hasn't been said yet : my phone refuses to power up (the power button doesn't react) unless the phone is connected to its charger. I must connect it to the charger, then the charging icon appears, and now I can boot it (it's not a battery capacity problem, i only need to connect it a few seconds, then I'm fine).

I'm probably running Lollipop 5.1.1, I'll check tonight. The bug did not start happening right after an update or something, nothing specific had happened.

I'm gonna try to gravity screen trick and keep you up to date.

--- 2015/07/01

Hi again guys,

The gravity app didn't work for me. It makes sense because my nexus doesn't shutdown specifically when I use the power button (once it shut down while I was on the phone with someone).
I'm currently trying to run the safe mode. Seems ok so far.

--- 2015/07/07

Hey guys, so, safe mode didn't work. I contacted Google and they replaced my phone. I'll never know what happened.

Side note, the remplacement phone they sent is even worse. After a few hours of use, the screen barely works, it's unusable. I'd bet on 5.1.1 bugs. It's getting irritating. And we're talking about Nexuses...
 
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I have faced this issue in KitKat, Lollipop all versions. Issue is with power button only. I found out that LG service center started repairing power buttons seperately. When I called him, he told if issue is with power button and fixed it would cost 380INR. I will go today or tomorrow for that replacement and update you after that.
 
My Nexus 5 is also shutting down at random. This is what I found:
  • When running normally (i.e. from the battery at near 100%) it shuts down randomly.
  • When running while plugged into the recharger it NEVER shuts down randomly.
I have tried running in "safe mode" and I observe the same behaviour:
Random shut downs when running on battery power but never a random shutdown when plugged into the recharger.

I noticed that the random shutdowns occur during power intensive activities such as: gaming, videos, and connecting to my workplace e-mail server.

My Nexus 5 is running Android 5.1.1 and it is 2 years and one month old.
I hope it is a software issue but I fear it is a hardware issue (e.g. battery).
I have posted a hardware query on the Google Store where I bought my Nexus.
The only things I have not tried are flashing the cache or tearing the thing open.

Any opinions on what might be wrong?
 
That's interesting ^^^^

I think mine is definitely the power button after months of trying to diagnose the problem, because if i haven't pressed the button for a very long time, like two months for example, i can use the power button with no problems for a week or so, then the problems start again regardless if it's plugged into a charger or not. It's just a worn out connection or whatever with the button imo.
 
[Interim update]
I think there are two types of random shutdown problem with the Nexus 5:
  1. Some have a diagnosed worn power button.
  2. Some have an undiagnosed battery problem (not able to supply peak power?).
My Nexus 5 (running Android 5.1.1) is shutting down at random and I think it has problem 2.
This is what I found:
  • When running normally (i.e. from the battery at near 100%) it shuts down randomly.
  • When running while plugged into the recharger it NEVER shuts down randomly.
I have tried the fixes below but the problem above persists:
  • Run in "safe mode"
  • Clear the cache
  • Factory reset
Using a battery monitor, I've noticed the voltage dipping to 3.3v (from 4.3v) when a crash happens but I'm not sure if this is a symptom or the problem.

I'm interested in any opinions on this. I'll supply more updates when I have them.
 
I kinda have a similar problem, I think. I'm updated to the latest version. A couple of weeks back, it just powered off and I couldn't get it to boot up well past the "Google" logo and the colored dots. It would reset and reset showing just the Google logo. I gave up on it for that day and just plugged it. I turned it on after a few hours and I've had no problem up until yesterday. Same thing, powered off by itself and it was the repeating Google logo (sometimes up to the rotating dots) all over again. It's been almost a day and I've tried doing a hard reset (When you hold down the power button and the lower volume button?) to no avail. Again, the best I've gotten is back to the lock screen, but as soon as I try to use it, it powers off.

Power button problems?
 
Burino said:
[Interim update]
I think there are two types of random shutdown problem with the Nexus 5:
  1. Some have a diagnosed worn power button.
  2. Some have an undiagnosed battery problem (not able to supply peak power?).
My Nexus 5 (running Android 5.1.1) is shutting down at random and I think it has problem 2.
This is what I found:
  • When running normally (i.e. from the battery at near 100%) it shuts down randomly.
  • When running while plugged into the recharger it NEVER shuts down randomly.
I have tried the fixes below but the problem above persists:
  • Run in "safe mode"
  • Clear the cache
  • Factory reset
Using a battery monitor, I've noticed the voltage dipping to 3.3v (from 4.3v) when a crash happens but I'm not sure if this is a symptom or the problem.

I'm interested in any opinions on this. I'll supply more updates when I have them.
Click to expand...

That sounds like exactly my problem too.
I'd be interested to know what you find out. I have been experiencing the same issues. My phone is like 18 months old so I was thinking about trying to replace the battery, but that doesn’t seem like it will solve my problem either.

I was also following a thread over @ google's product Forums, the seem to be having similar issues too discussion over there. (https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/nexus/IJSOuc7gw0w )
 
[Final Update]

I am afraid I will never know the reason for the random shutdowns on my old faulty Nexus 5 because the Google Store replaced it with a refurbished unit. The refurbished unit works perfectly without reboots (obviously).

My best guess is that my two-year old Nexus 5 had a worn down battery and it could not cope with power spikes such as high cpu use + wifi access.

BTW, another symptom of my old faulty Nexus 5 was that it would fail to restart fully after a random shutdown, unless I had it plugged into the recharger (in which case it would restart after a log laborious process that sometimes included re-optimizing all the apps). This might help some users narrow down the fault.
 
[Final Update]

I am afraid I will never know the reason for the random shutdowns on my old faulty Nexus 5 because the Google Store replaced it with a refurbished unit. The refurbished unit works perfectly without reboots (obviously).

My best guess is that my two-year old Nexus 5 had a worn down battery and it could not cope with power spikes such as high cpu use + wifi access.

BTW, another symptom of my old faulty Nexus 5 was that it would fail to restart fully after a random shutdown, unless I had it plugged into the recharger (in which case it would restart after a log laborious process that sometimes included re-optimizing all the apps). This might help some users narrow down the fault.
 
I've started to get powering off issues. Typically my battery will be around 60-70% and I'll open an app or in process of doing something in an app (not the same app everytime). When all of a sudden my Nexus 5 powers off. I power on and it'll say it has 5-6% battery! I plug it in and a few moments later it'll report the correct battery level.
If I don't plug it in right away it'll power off again as it still thinks it is at 5-6% battery. I've cleared cache in the hopes that'll fix it but it hasn't.
 
csiemers said:
I've started to get powering off issues. Typically my battery will be around 60-70% and I'll open an app or in process of doing something in an app (not the same app everytime). When all of a sudden my Nexus 5 powers off. I power on and it'll say it has 5-6% battery! I plug it in and a few moments later it'll report the correct battery level.
If I don't plug it in right away it'll power off again as it still thinks it is at 5-6% battery. I've cleared cache in the hopes that'll fix it but it hasn't.
Click to expand...

I just purchased a couple of used Nexus 5. One of them has this exact same problem. I manually flashed Android 5.1.1 but the problem persists. I'll swap the batteries tomorrow and see if the problem is now present in the other phone. I'll report as soon as I have results, thanks for the guidance.
 
From my testing, i would like to confirm that downgrading the firmware from Lollipop to Kitkat 4.4.4 does not solve the problem (at least in my case). I flashed my N5 with Kitkat factory image downloaded from the official firmware repository but the problem of random power off still persists.

Fernandoarafat, please do share with us the outcome of your test of replacing the battery on affected unit. This would help narrow down source of the problem.
 
Burino said:
[Final Update]

I am afraid I will never know the reason for the random shutdowns on my old faulty Nexus 5 because the Google Store replaced it with a refurbished unit. The refurbished unit works perfectly without reboots (obviously).

My best guess is that my two-year old Nexus 5 had a worn down battery and it could not cope with power spikes such as high cpu use + wifi access.

BTW, another symptom of my old faulty Nexus 5 was that it would fail to restart fully after a random shutdown, unless I had it plugged into the recharger (in which case it would restart after a log laborious process that sometimes included re-optimizing all the apps). This might help some users narrow down the fault.
Click to expand...

Hey Burino,
I'm having the exact same issues (for about a month now) and had the phone for 17 months. I didn't think Google would replace it but how did you manage to get Google to send you a refurbished unit?
 
Just called google today to try to sort this issue out; I'm out of warranty so there are no options for me, though I purchased through the google play store.
If anybody else has information as to how to fix the problem (replace battery?) I'd love to know!
 
Burino said:
[Final Update]

I am afraid I will never know the reason for the random shutdowns on my old faulty Nexus 5 because the Google Store replaced it with a refurbished unit. The refurbished unit works perfectly without reboots (obviously).

My best guess is that my two-year old Nexus 5 had a worn down battery and it could not cope with power spikes such as high cpu use + wifi access.

BTW, another symptom of my old faulty Nexus 5 was that it would fail to restart fully after a random shutdown, unless I had it plugged into the recharger (in which case it would restart after a log laborious process that sometimes included re-optimizing all the apps). This might help some users narrow down the fault.
Click to expand...

Hey Burino,

Apologies to bring this old thread alive again..!!

My phone, N5 has similar symptoms as you depicted in your Interim Updates, point #2. After reading this thread and other blogs also, I was a little confused on what could be the next steps. Should I downgrade it to Android 4.4.4 (Kitkat), or just walk up to a LG service center and ask for their advice (I personally do not think this as much of a solution as I do not suspect a hardware issue), or some other steps to resolve the issue.

Appreciate your help in advance!!!

Thanks
 
I also think there is more than one issue here. I was having the same symptoms (I.e. after the Lollipop upgrade I started getting spontaneous power off with 90% charge, but no power off when plugged in) and tried many of the solutions here (gravity screen, resets etc.) with no luck. My phone was about 14 months old.

Good news though: I finally changed the battery and my phone is like new. It was quick, cheap and easy to do (and I'm a clumsy oaf). I don't think this will work for everyone but it is definitely worth a try before abandoning hope.
 
Edgcumbe said:
I also think there is more than one issue here. I was having the same symptoms (I.e. after the Lollipop upgrade I started getting spontaneous power off with 90% charge, but no power off when plugged in) and tried many of the solutions here (gravity screen, resets etc.) with no luck. My phone was about 14 months old.

Good news though: I finally changed the battery and my phone is like new. It was quick, cheap and easy to do (and I'm a clumsy oaf). I don't think this will work for everyone but it is definitely worth a try before abandoning hope.
Click to expand...

Where did you get the battery/is it original LG?
 
Hi, I was suffering with the same problem. I tried re-booting etc but nothing worked. Im not a techy in the slightest but thought I'd have a go at uploading Andoid M (6.0). I managed to donit and have not had the issue since (2days). There's plenty of guides on hire to do it. Good luck.
 
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