In December, LG rolled out the first Android 7.0 Nougat updates for the popular LG G5. And now that we’re in February, most owners should be on the latest version. It offers improved performance, better battery life and a host of new features. But the LG G5 Nougat update is causing problems for some.
Google officially released Android Nougat in August 2016 after a long beta period replacing Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Most carriers did, but not all. Either way, owners will want to read up on some potential bug fixes.
The first LG G5 Android Nougat updates kicked off in early December, and it’s slowly but surely coming for most. Our link above goes over everything new. Then, below we explain some LG G5 Android Nougat update problems and how to fix them.
Now most LG G5 owners have been using Nougat for the past few months and there is a lot of information available. Countless users have complained of a number of issues. From battery lifeLock screen glitchesto many other things XDA Developers.
It’s worth noting that many claim the experience is great, while others are not so much. So depending on the situation, one or all of our tips below may help.
LG G5 Nougat Update Issues
LG doesn’t have the best track record with updates, and we’ve seen similar issues on the LG G3 and G4. Still, most of the bugs should be minor things that can be fixed or fixed by upgrading to Android 7.1.1 or 7.1.2 Nougat in the near future.
Other than that, these are some common LG G5 Android Nougat update problems and how to fix them.
Battery Life Issues
This is a complaint we’ve seen on almost every phone at some point, especially after Android updates. The LG G5 has a 5.3-inch display and also a small 2,800mAh battery. So it may not be the best, but Android Nougat is supposed to do better, not worse.
Overall, Android 7.0 Nougat should provide significantly better battery life, but it may take a few days to settle. However, if you notice an abnormal discharge, there may be a bigger problem.
LG G5 has a removable and replaceable battery
First, we recommend turning off any features you don’t need. Location services for Bluetooth, WiFi, NFC, GPS and Google Maps, and even push notifications from Facebook. However, these only add a small amount of extra battery.
Go to Settings > Display and turn off Always On, lower the screen brightness or check for rogue apps that are draining the battery faster than it should. This happens from time to time. Go and check to see what is using battery life the most. It is usually the display or the Android operating system (Google Services). If an app is at the top of the list, delete it and uninstall it. Most of the time reinstalling the app will fix this or delete it completely. Some may not be ready to work with Nougat, but most should be ready by now.
Another option is to use battery saver mode in battery settings or Smart Settings has an option to automate all settings and options for optimum battery life throughout the day. Remember to replace the battery with a fully charged one using the replaceable battery if necessary. It’s there for that.
While some say battery life is stellar, others say the opposite. Everyone’s uses and applications are different though. Try several reboots by holding down the power, clear the cache or use LG’s tools to clean the phone. One more reboot and hopefully everything is better. This should fix any battery issues.
Slow Charge Speeds
For whatever reason, many reports mention charging speeds. The G5 features USB Type-C and Quick Charge 3.0. It should be charged between 0-70% in about 30-40 minutes. It fully charges in about 90 minutes and is a quick device to charge overall.
If not, a few things could happen here. First, make sure to use the dedicated charger that comes in the box. Secondly, in the battery settings menu there is a setting to turn off “Fast Charge”. Make sure this isn’t turned off somehow during the Nougat update. Some report plugging it into the charger and rebooting the phone, “Fast Charge” is displayed on the screen. This shouldn’t happen, but give it a try. We may need an update from LG in the near future.
Another suggestion is to buy one of our recommended Quick Charge 3.0 chargers for the LG G5 and enjoy the fastest possible charge. Also use a good brand and reliable cable. It’s not some cheap cable you find at the gas station or in a drawer. The phone can charge at this high speed, but the charger in the box is Quick Charge 2.0 only in the US. Get one from our link and enjoy faster speeds.
LG G5 Fingerprint Issues on Nougat
Overall we were very impressed with the LG G5 fingerprint scanner. It’s faster and easier to set up than the Galaxy S7, very precise and works great. Some are having problems after Nougat or recently added a case and it’s not working as well as before. Here are a few suggestions.
If you are experiencing LG G5 fingerprint scanner problems, the best option is to delete all the registered fingers. Then simply redo it all. Especially if you’ve added a case. The right angle is important and one case can change that.
Come in. We recommend users add both index fingers on both hands for easy unlocking. Also maybe a third finger.
This will provide a good experience going forward and should resolve any pending fingerprint issues. Also, if you’re getting lots of errors or failed attempts, make sure the browser is clean. Otherwise, Nougat shouldn’t have changed anything about it.
LG G5 Bluetooth Problems
It seems that with every update there are several reports about Bluetooth or WiFi. We’re not sure why. Most of the time, you only need to repair devices because something is lost during translation. There is a known sound issue on Android 7.0 which is fixed in 7.1.2 so wait for the update if the following doesn’t help. We know that’s not the news you want to hear.
First, unpair and repair any device that is trying to use Bluetooth, as this may fix the problem. And if any “permissions” pop up during this process, make sure it’s allowed. You can also find the permissions with the search tool in the settings and make sure none of them were denied accidentally.
Another way is to go to settings > general > smart settings and make sure an app or profile isn’t shutting down or messing with Bluetooth. Custom profiles turn off WiFi or BT to help with battery. This can be more aggressive with Nougat. Close. Finally, rebooting usually fixes minor issues like this.
Some say music streaming is fine, but calls over Bluetooth don’t work. do you see this? Let us know in the comments below.
LG G5 WiFi Problems
Owners have mentioned slow WiFi performance, interruptions, or speeds that are too slow to load websites. It depends on many variables, the location of the device and even the router. However, Nougat added to the disappointment.
LG fixed some WiFi issues with software updates in 2016, but some of them could re-emerge with Nougat. Try our tips below and we’ll report back to LG to see if anything is known at this time.
For now, try resetting your home router or modem. Another option is to go to settings > connections > WiFi and forget the wireless network. Then reconnect, enter the password and it should now stay connected. We can expect more improvements when Android 7.1.2 Nougat arrives. LG often has issues with WiFi.
LG G5 Notification LED and Lock screen
Above the display, next to the ear speaker, are notifications and an LED to indicate that the phone is charging. This can sometimes be disabled and some say it doesn’t work in Nougat. We also hear of notifications appearing on the lock screen, but this may vary by app.
For what it’s worth, LG’s notification LED only works for apps like default notifications or LG’s own messages app. Not third party installed from Play Store. Many have an LED option in the settings like Handcent or Textra. Go in and reset the LED notification. Owners can also download a third-party app to improve and customize the LED. we recommend you to try Light Flowthen set custom LED colors for a number of different situations.
This should fix the notification LED related issues. Also, make sure the LED is enabled in Sounds & Notifications. Yes, there is a setting to turn it off.
Final Thoughts and Factory Reset
Finally, some mention that the Always On Display is not the same. Our LG G5 on Nougat doesn’t have any of these issues so most of them are probably in isolation. Make sure Always-On display is enabled in settings as it may have been turned off somehow for better battery life.
If all else fails, unfortunately the best step I take with every major software update is a factory data reset. This will delete absolutely everything on the phone. However, it opens a clean slate to work with you and the device. It clears the cache, all update remnants and usually fixes almost everything.
Go to Settings > Back & reset > Factory Reset > Erase. This process will take a few minutes, restart once or twice, and it will go back to the way it was when it came out of the box. We recommend backing up everything first. After reset sign in to Gmail and restore as much as possible, start over and hopefully enjoy a better experience.
These are just a few of the problems we’ve heard of. do you have others If so let us know below. Otherwise, stay tuned for some bug fix updates or Android 7.1.1 and 7.1.2 Nougat coming in the near future. Good luck.
