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7 common problems with the Nexus 5 and how to fix them
June 04, 2025
The Nexus 5 is recognized by many gadget lovers as one of the least expensive high-end Android handsets on the market, designed to give users optimized hardware and fantastic quality for a price that wasn’t going to break the bank However, just like any other phone, inexpensive or otherwise, the Nexus 5 has some issues, and although recent updates have provided some relief, a few problems continue to crop up. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the most common problems with the Nexus 5, while offering potential solutions on how to fix them.
Disclaimer: The Nexus 5 is still a great phone and chances are that you will not experience the problems that have been listed below.
Problem #1 – The battery life is poor / charges too slowly.
Many users have complained that the battery life on their device is not up to scratch, with the battery charge running out too quickly, or charging too slowly.
Potential Solutions:
Nexus 5 Accessories–Nexus 5 Cases
Problem #2 – Phone randomly shuts down
Although some people have reported that the recent Android update has removed the “random reboot” issue from their phone, others are still commenting that they experience random shut down issues.
Problem #3 – The email application keeps crashing
Some users have reported that they have trouble using the email application. Although an update has helped some people, others have found that it has made the situation worse.
Problem 4 – Poor audio quality
Users have found that the speaker is too quiet, or that the quality of the audio is low, with muffling and reverb. Although a software update was expected to fix this issue, some people are still reporting problems after the latest Android update.
Problem #5 – Problems with dropped network connections
Some people have reported that they struggle to keep their network connections alive. The update has helped some people with these issues, some are still experiencing problems.
Problem #6 – Loose power button
Some people have noticed that the power button rattles when moving their phone, or when it vibrates.
Problem #7 – “OK Google” doesn’t work
Some users have complained that the “OK Google” voice command stops working. Either the application does nothing whatsoever, or it just makes a small sound and does not load up the search engine page.
So there are some of the most common issues regarding the Nexus 5 that are still causing problems today. We will continue to update this list if more problems or solutions emerge, and if you’ve had any of these issues before, let us know how our solutions worked for you. While software issues may be unavoidable, you can always keep your device safe from any external damage. Don’t forget to check out our roundup of some of thebest protective cases and covers for the Nexus 5.
Talk about your Nexus 5 issues in our Nexus Smartphones forum
Here are some guidelines on how to perform a factory reset and clear the cache partition on the Nexus 5.
Resetting the Nexus 5:
Clearing the Cache Partition
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