How fix severe battery drain since 7.1.1 update?

[Meme73]

Ever since I did the 7.1.1 update on my phone (Moto Z Droid)it is all [removed] up!  Battery severely drains, only get maybe an hour of use..if lucky!  Phone dies even when says that has enough battery left.  Some of my apps aren't working correctly.  Tried everything to fix...and last resort did factory reset which actually seemed to make it worse!  I really liked the phone when I got it but now it is worthless!  I can ONLY use it if I keep it plugged in all the time.  So much for being a "mobile" phone.  I can't take it anywhere cause it will die in a few hours because the battery drains even when NOT in use and even in Safe Mode!  My phone was working fine before I did this 7.1.1 update.  I so regret doing it because it has totally ruined my phone.

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Message edited by Verizon Moderator.

[Wiz632]

I have two suggestions, one you have probably tried and one you probably won't like. First check the performance setting, I think they default it to high when you update it. Two would be go to walmart and purchase their large battery pack. I grabbed one for a trip and it works like a charm. It holds 5 phone charges, that is the claim and I don't think it is too much of an exaggeration if it isn't true, and is only 40 or 50 bucks. Way cheaper than a new phone.  The brick one is also fast charge capable. You could go with one of the cheaper stick ones but those slow charge usually and I think your phone would die faster than it charges. My fear though is it may get rather hot in a pant pocket so I would suggest a jacket, wouldn't want you to explode. The brick does take several hours to charge but once you are home it shouldn't matter.

That is all I can think of so you don't have pay Verizon/moto/android or whomever to fix their own mistake.

[Meme73]

Thanks....will probably be forced to get a battery pack because I can't trust the phone.  It will say I have 44% battery left and then just suddenly die.  And I only get maybe an hour of use if I am out, because it drains even when I am not using it!!!  This phone is really worthless!! Works fine if I keep it plugged in all the time while using but I hate doing that and what good is the phone when I can't really take it anywhere.  This will be my LAST Motorola phone!  Their batteries are terrible...my previous Motorola phone had battery issues as well.  Plus I read that the Moto Z2 Play that just came out has a downgraded battery from the original Moto Z Play???  Seriously Motorola....one would think they would learn from their bad battery mistakes and start making phones with good battery performance.  They Clearly don't get what consumers want!

[JGwiz]

Problem:  after updating 7.1.1, battery drain becomes excessive.

Possible solution: look in your apps for a piece of garbage called "AppFlash."    Verizon baked this in to the update and pushed it onto your phone when you weren't looking.

After taking the update my battery life was horrible and I was lucky to have 35% after 5 hours of light use.

Then I found AppFlash.   I cleared the data and cache, then disabled it.  ( you cannot remove this horrible intrusion on your life....only disable it.)

Now after 5 hours of light use, I'll have 75% battery.

Please try this and let others know your experience.   The Verizon reps will never admit to this app being a problem.

[Meme73]

Thanks...Appflash is from the recent download..i just received that one a few weeks ago...And I did not download it...will NOT be downloading ANY new updates.  7.1.1 really [removed]  up my phone then there was a download a month later in Sept and that made everything even worse(didn't think that could be possible).  So I am done with these horrible downloads....will wait till Oreo comes out and then see.

It irks me that all the moderators claim how these updates and downloads are Suppose to make the phones better....um...NO, from what I have read and in my experience that is all bull.  What I would like to see is a company make a phone where if these updates and downloads mess it up, there is a way to revert it back.  Now that is a company I'd buy a phone from!

Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/ghei36>

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Message edited by Verizon Moderator.

[stef7]

Countless people report issues following an update to an Android device. They incorrectly assume that an update will complete without any issues and all should be well. The problem with that logic is that OTA updates cannot be programmed knowing all the multitudes of different user configurations that exist in the user community. Some portions of memory may not be cleared sufficiently, and this may impact how background services and applications run following the update.

In many many years of being on Android, perhaps 75%-80% of the time taking an OTA on various devices, for various updates, on various versions of Android, I had a successful experience with an OTA without having to do anything to address unexpected device behavior following the update.

Users with long-time Android experience will tell you, *MAYBE* your OTA will complete without resulting behavior problems. However, if some arise, your first attempt to fix it's operation is to perform a System Cache Wipe (done from the System Recovery / Boot Menu). This is not the same as an Application Cache Clear (done from Settings Menu). Carrier support sites tell you how to perform an Application Cache Clear, which is an easy thing to do. The problem is, this generally doesn't fix problems following an OTA. It's the System Cache Wipe that you must research via Google, if you don't know how to boot into the System Recovery / Boot Menu...

If this doesn't correct behavior, then the subsequent recommendation is Android users are encouraged to back up their personal content to a PC or Cloud, and perform a Factory Device Reset, aka Factory Data Reset (FDR).

In fact, there is a population of Android veterans that actually take the step of performing an FDR *BEFORE* they take the OTA update. Seems extreme, but they generally never report subsequent problems.

High battery use following an Update is usually caused by applications re-syncing content following an OTA. There is high radio use (cellular or WiFi). People know that following an OTA, it's best to leave the phone on WiFi to do the resync, otherwise they might experience high-data use on their plan.

If your battery usage is high, and the phone is warm, chances are, the radios are doing a lot of communication of data, or the CPU frequency is very high. On Android, you can go into settings and find out what apps are consuming battery and WiFi or Cellular data. You can download free apps that will show you the CPU frequencies, and how long it's spending in high-frequency states. There are ways to sleuth what is causing your battery to drain fast.

The easiest thing to do though is at first notice of a problem: perform the System Cache Clear. Beyond that, do the backup and perform the FDR. This is good medicine for your device following an OTA where things didn't go smoothly.

HTH.

[Wiz632]

I understand not wanting to download the new updates after those experiences, but the updates could theoretically fix the issue. It is doubtful, bit that is sort of what updates are for. Is there a place to see exactly what you are downloading?  The message you get on the phone just says [removed] ike we added new security features and ui fixes, but doesn't actually tell you what it is, and i don't ever see a link to notes anywhere. Even games release patch notes every time they update so one can actually know [removed]  was updated in detail without having to guess.

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Message edited by Verizon Moderator.

[Meme73]

Yes...I have recalibrated the phone several times.  I have tried everything under the phone to fix this mess!!.  What you seem to not understand is that it was the 7.1.1 update that did this.  And ever since I downloaded it my phone battery has slowly kept getting worse and worse.  To the point now that I can ONLY and I repeat ONLY use my phone when it is plugged into the charger.  The charge says 100%, and as soon as I unplug it and try to use it the phone powers down(although it says it is at like 97% full battery) and I get the battery is dead sign.  Then when I plug the phone in to charge, the battery will now read something else now maybe ex. 75% full, and if I ever do (did) a hard reset the battery amount would change every time.  This issue is directly from the 7.1.1 update.  It rendered my phone useless!  So I need info on how to either get a new version of 7.1.1 downloaded to my phone or revert back to 7.0.  Read everything online!  The 7.1.1 update has done this to MANY phones, and now we as customers who trusted Verizon and Motorola, have to deal with this frustrating mess...and according to many people who just changed the battery....it continues to still do this battery drain because the 7.1.1 update was corrupt!!  Companies need to take responsibility and do the right thing and  fix this mess that THEY created by sending out a corrupt software update.  We are told these updates "help" and "better" our phones and it is all complete BS!  This was not the case in this situation.  Personally...I am truly disgusted how this is being handled by all parties involved!

[dominic75]

Has verizon or lenovo figured this problem out yet, its been  many many months. I would also like to revert back to 7.0, can verizon do this for you?

[Ann154]

dominic75 wrote:

Has verizon or lenovo figured this problem out yet, its been many many months. I would also like to revert back to 7.0, can verizon do this for you?

No. You can't revert to the previous version of the OS.

[vanigo]

Hi Ann I was wondering if the update to 7.1.1 was automatic?

[vzw_customer_support]

We know how important it is to make sure that your software is up to date. When there is a new update for the phone, you will get notifications asking if you would like to upgrade. To check for the latest software update you can use the following link.

https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/motorola-moto-z-droid-editions-update/

FranciscoP_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

If my response answered your question please click the Correct Answer button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this.

[Meme73]

Did you even read this thread before responding?  It was an update that <<removed>> up my phone along with everyone's else's in the first place!!...Maybe try replying back to the question asked....which is how do we fix the damage the 7.1.1 update did to our phones!...Nobody from Verizon seems to be answering that question.

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[Meme73]

All parties involved know about the issue but have chosen to do nothing!  This includes Verizon Customer Support...all they do is offer up the same old junk....which does not fix the issue....which is that the 7.1.1 update ruined our phones and nobody wants to take responsibility.

[knitwriter]

Hi,

I'm having the exact same issue as you are. Super frustrating. I haven't performed all of the steps you have to fix it, and after reading what you've been through, I don't feel like going through them will be helpful.

The latest in my case is I will take the phone off the charger, use it for 15 minutes, and it will drain to 78% and shut down. If I try to turn it back on, it says battery 1% and shuts down. I plug it back in and it starts charging again at around 78%.

I purchased an extra battery pack in December when I started noticing the fast drain (which was not quite this fast...I would get at least two hours before it would drain to 44% or so), but now, even with a full battery pack attached, the phone shuts down at 78% of battery life. It's like it won't see or access the battery pack that is attached.

I have never disliked a phone more in my life. I have been a loyal Android user for years and years--I've never owned an iPhone. This is my second Motorola phone and it will probably be my last.

The only thing I can think of doing at this point is removing my SIM and reverting back to a previous, slower phone until I am eligible for a "Free" (ha!) upgrade. Or moving to a different company entirely. We're about to add a fourth user to our family plan and some of those other companies are starting to look pretty enticing at this point....

Cheers for listening.

[vzw_customer_support]

knitwriter,

A phone that holds a charge is one of the best kinds to have, so let's not give up so soon. We obviously wouldn't want to see you go, but when you have this issue with the phone dropping to 78% after 15min, have you looked at Settings > Battery to see what is listed in there? Does the phone ever get warmer than usual when this fast drain happens? When you have a full charge on the phone next time, restart it into Safe Mode and see if you notice any differences in power consumption: http://vz.to/2gVivCC . Be sure to keep it in that mode after this 78% as well, and keep us posted.

RussellM_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

If my response answered your question please click the Correct Answer button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this.

[knitwriter]

Hi Russell,

The phone was at 100%. I just unplugged it to restart it and try in safe mode and in doing so, the battery discharged completely.

I looked at the settings>battery and didn't see anything out of the ordinary, since it has been plugged in. Screen was taking 1%. All apps are optimized for battery life.

When it recharges, I will try to start in safe mode again. Hopefully it won't immediately drain the battery again.

<<removed>>

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[knitwriter]

Restarted again in safe mode. Went through all the checks and the battery check failed. Something is wrong with it but the phone doesn't give me any indication of what to do to fix it.

Still in safe mode. Battery was fully charged 30 min ago and the settings say it will be empty in 35 min.

What now?

[Meme73]

Knitwriter...I am sorry that you are in the same boat as all us here. This is beyond frustrating.  Unfortunately the moderators here and on the Lenovo blogs are worthless.  The problem stems from the 7.1.1 update it did something bad to our phones.  Everyone is hoping that the Oreo OS will help to fix this issue. I am with you...I have always had a Motorola phone but because of the extremely poor way they have dealt with this.... basically doing nothing to fix it... I will never buy a Motorola again!  Plus I inform everyone not buy a Motorola as well. 

[vzw_customer_support]

knitwriter,

Thanks for giving that a shot. We appreciate your effort. We do want to keep working on this with you. Is your phone currently backed up, so taht you could complete a factory reset of your software?

[asjhnsn]

You Verizon people don't get it. Factory Reset does not work. It makes it worse somehow. My phone was such a brick I went back to a 4 year old windows phone. Release 8.0 for this phone. That is our only chance!

[Meme73]

Knitwriter....also...just an FYI...the last stitch effort they always tell you, what they told me at Lenovo, was to do a factory reset.  It wipes everything and is a pain in the butt.  Unfortunately it did nothing for my phone and many others.  In fact, it seemed to not only not fix my problem but made my phone even worse.  As I said before this is because the problem stems from the 7.1.1 update and unless you can revert back to 7.0, which many have done that are technically inclined, or possibly reflash 7.1.1...unfortunately nothing is going to work.  Some have gotten new batteries and it did fix the issue, some it did not.  Almost all were thru Lenovo who not only replaced the battery but also reflashed 7.1.1. and some even had to have their motherboards replaced as well since 7.1.1 even managed to screw some parts up.  Anyway, good luck in your journey, hopefully you can find a fix for yours.