Fix Nexus 7 lag in 7 easy steps.
Looking for how to fix Nexus 7 lag? Is your Google Nexus 7 lagging after Kit Kat update? Is your Nexus 7 exhibiting lag after an update in general? Then read on! In this post you’ll see how to speed things up a bit with a short and simple trick to speed up your Nexus 7. 
Being a very happy owner of a Nexus 7 (1st Generation), in my opinion the best 7 inch tablet out there (superseded only by the 2nd and 3rd generation Nexus 7’s), I was getting frustrated with a noticeable slow-down of my device. Having gone through several Android OS updates in recent weeks (most recently Kit Kat 4.4.2) ,
About Screen screenshot showing latest Kit Kat 4.4.2 installed
I could only really attribute the slowdown to these as nothing else major had changed such as new apps or launchers etc. which could otherwise explain such a drastic slowdown. After a little research, it turns out that OS updates in general leave behind certain temporary files in a cache which can bog the new operating system down. These files are OS system files such as logs and temporary caches etc. There is no personal or settings data stored in these files so it is safe to purge them. In particular, after an update it gives the new operating system a clean-slate (no pun intended) to operate with. To do this you have to undertake a little trick called “Wipe Cache Partition”. Once I had done this, it seems to have immediately made my device zippy and responsive again! Woohoo! 🙂 How to Wipe Cache Partition on Google Nexus 7
Disclaimer: This is not guaranteed to make your device faster, nor do I take any liability whatsoever for any issues that arise from following the below procedure which is here purely as a suggested solution to fix Nexus 7 lag.
The steps below can be a bit tricky/finicky to get right so I suggest you read through them a couple of times first before attempting them. Also apologies for the quality of the screenshots (taken on my digital camera) but there is no method of capturing screenshots in the state Android is in below as it’s before the OS has properly booted. 1. Power off your tablet. 2. Now press and hold Power + Volume Down until you see this screen:-
Now use the Volume keys to select Recovery (press Volume Down twice), until your screen looks like below and then press Power to select.
3. You should now see the Google logo for 5-10 seconds before you see an otherwise blank screen with our little Android buddy looking worse for wear and the text “No command.”
4. Now press the Power Button and the Volume Up button at the exact same time and also count a full 3 seconds (1 one-thousand, 2 one-thousand…) before releasing the Volume Up button. That should land you at the screen below. n.b. some users have reported issues with this step so you can try the version outlined by google themselves (While holding down the Power button, press the Volume Up button) https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/4596836?hl=en-GB
5. Again here, use the Volume buttons to move the cursor up or down. Press Volume Down 3 times to highlight “wipe cache partition” then press Power to select. (Be careful not to select “wipe data/factory reset”).
6. By now your cache should have been wiped clean, it took about 1~2 seconds on my Nexus. You will then have a confirmation message in the bottom left of the screen like the screen below:
7. Press the Power button with “reboot system now” selected (which should be selected by default) and your Nexus will boot up and hopefully be much more responsive and snappy! Hope that helps some others of you who are getting bugged by the lagging of the Nexus 7 after KitKat update. Did this fix Nexus 7 lag for you? Then please leave a comment to let others know your feedback and whether it helped you as much as it did me!
I get thirsty typing!
If this helped and saved you time and or headaches, show me your appreciation and perhaps buy me a coffee! 😉
Worked a treat,fantastic fix. Thanks!
This was very helpful. Thank you.
Do you know if this technique works on Android phones such as the Droid DNA?
Hi Terry,
In theory this should definately work on other phones and devices running Android, however the trick is to find the right instructions for that particular device to get you to that stage.
Thanks,
R.
This solution took 2 minutes and now my Nexus is snappy as ever! Thanks a ton!
I can’t get past stage 4 to get to stage 5 – any clues/help?
Just sorted out my lagging nexus after lollipop update, thank you so much. Followed Google instruction for step 4, cleaned cache a few times, now running like when it was new. Awesome.
This was extremely helpful. I too was considering purchasing a new tablet. But I see a world of improvement in the performance. Thank you so much!!
I had the same problem. I tried letting up on the volume button while holding the power button and totally locked my Nexus up. After I was able to reboot it I then held for 3 seconds and let go immediately of both and I was allowed to continue. I hope this helps.
awesome!, going to tape instruction to my Nexsus case.
This worked for me. I also had trouble on Step #4. It’s key to press the Power Button and the Volume Up button at the exact same time and also count a full 3 seconds (1 one-thousand, 2 one-thousand…) before releasing the Volume Up button. I’m very grateful for your post. I absolutely was considering purchasing a new tablet. Cheers!
Thanks a lot Tina. I was also stuck in the same way, your instructions did the trick.
Rob – might I suggest you copy her instructions to the relevant place? Seems like a lot of us are getting stuck just on step 4.
Hi Michael, I have updated Step 4 a little to reflect Tina’s comments.
Thanks for stopping by.
R.
Hi I have just been trying these steps and could not get past step four so tried as you suggested google method – but with both it just powers off and now it will not power on at all. Yikes – Any suggestions Lyn
It even works after installing lollypop!
Nice one Rob, helped a lot. I followed your method at step 4 (3 proper seconds hold) and now my 1st gen N7 is a lo faster, cheers!
Thank you! Works great. I had to use the Google method on step 4.
This seems to have worked wonders for my 7! It was nearly unusable before. Solo much better now! Thank you!!!
Works well, thanks!
Worked like a charm.
Easy to follow steps and clear instructions! Thanks so much
did step by step and looking forward to having back my speedy tablet….but worse than ever….dissapointed.
Seems to be quicker, I had no problems following instructions. I had updated to lollipop and noticed how slow it was. Thanks for the tip.
thanks dude! only 30 seconds took me! love it!
Thank you so much for the easy to follow instructions. For step 4, I held down the Power button, and gave a short push on the Volume Up button at the same time. That worked for me. Everything else was a piece of cake. Love how it seems like I have a new Nexus 7 again.
it still lags 🙁
I tried this method, and at first it made no difference. Then I went back and cleared the cache 4 or more times, just clicking “wipe cache partition.” Now, the Nexus 7 is back to normal. Just wanted to post for those that may still have problems after the first wipe. Try wiping multiple times.
I tried this and yes I agree…my nexus is now running far better. Thanks
Bingo – that worked like a charm.
Definitely better but still not 100%. It was getting very frustrating, at least this has restore mine to a level of usefulness again. Thanks.
I followed these steps exactly with the minor change of holding the 2 buttons for 5 seconds instead of 3 in step #4 and it worked perfectly. Thank you for helping without major, time-consuming multiple steps.
Great result. Thanks, Rob!
This was super helpful!! I also had to use the Google method on step 4 and I cleaned the cache twice. Works much better!! Thanks!
Works!!
Wow!!! It works just great!!! Thank you so much! I was thinking of throwing my nexus against a wall….. Now it’s just working like a brand new one! So happy! 🙂
Worked like a charm on my old 8gb nexus 7. My tablet had become slow Almost to the point it wouldn’t do anything and I hadn’t used it in months.
Cleared the system cache and it is a huge improvement.
Thank you. “While holding down the Power button, press the Volume Up button” worked for me.
thanks it helped a lot…..
My 7 it’s usable again! I can take it out the dresser drawer and use it again.
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Works! Note is really fast again, thanks a lot!
Thanks for sharing this very easy to follow procedure. I’ve wiped the cache partition of my Nexus 7 a couple of times now with significant positive results in its performance.
Thanks for the instructions! Got my Nexus much faster after I installed Lollipop and it began lag like hell.
Worked like a charm. I’ve been so frustrated with it, and now I love it again and don’t want to throw it out the window. Thank you.
Thanks. You saved my Nexus. It was using 75% of my ram and after this quick fix I’m using 11%. Wooooohooooo!
You rock! I was ready to toss the tracker in the trash. But thanks to the easy peasy instructions I have my best friend back!
You rock! Easiest to follow instructions ever! Still slower that it should be but much faster than it was!
Thank you!
Thanks! It’s amazing that something so simple can make such a huge difference.
Great job. Tried a few times at counting to three but eventuly got it. 🙂
Thanks! Worked great.
thank you …this works…nexus working much faster now…really appreciate this. 🙂
At step 4 I only needed to tap the up volume up to reveal the screen with options. Thanks again
Seems to have worked to me thank you☺
Your steps to clear cache worked! Now 2012 Nexus 7 with lollipop back to its’ old self. Thanks.
Thanks Rob. The cache wipe procedure did speed up my Nexus 7 but not entirely: the main issue was an initially unresponsive touch screen when coming back out of an app to open another, with the only real way to open a new app being to close and reopen the device.
Also tried the ‘multiple cache wipe’, as suggested here, which seemed to resolve the touch screen issue, but only for a while.
Being reluctant to go for a factory reset, I wondered if there was an issue with the launcher: I was using the Locker Master launcher app. I have uninstalled Locker Master and the touch screen issue has gone.
I had emailed the developer about 5 days ago, giving them first right of response to this issue but they never replied, so I am now sharing here.
Tried it and a lot of lag teken away. Can play a game again and not lag away :p
It works perfectly i used my nexus 7 laggy for months 🙁 this 30 seconds solution worked for me wonderfully
Step 4 doesn’t work for me, nor do any of the different variations I’ve seen and I’ve just realised why – my vol up button doesn’t work. To adjust the volume I click it down and then adjust on screen. Is there any way of accessing this menu which doesn’t involve the volume up button? My nexus is halfway to being an expensive paperweight!
It works! Thank you!
But, is this a permanent solution? Or does it have to be done once in a while?
Works so far. …