Tag: Android KitKat

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Downgrading Nexus 4 to Android Jelly Bean 4.3

Shortly after I updated my Nexus 4 from Android KitKat 4.4 to 4.4.2 and finding out that tethering was still broken, I downgraded to Android Jelly Bean 4.3.

The downgrading process included unlocking the bootloader and installing Nexus 4 Android Jelly Bean 4.3 factory image.

Nexus 4 back to Android Jelly Bean 4.3

Within the hour I once again have a functional  Nexus 4 mobile hotspot.

Nexus 4 Tethering and Mobile Hotspot

I do not use the Nexus 4 as a phone. I don’t even know what the phone number is.

If you’re using your Nexus 4 as a mobile hotspot on T-Mobile USA network, stay away from Android KitKat.

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Android KitKat 4.2.2

Sometimes on Thursday, December 12, 2013 both my Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 received the Android KitKat 4.2.2 update. My colleague’s Nexus 5 received the update on Wednesday, December 11, 2013.

After updating to Android 4.2 KitKat, I tested the tethering and mobile hotspot feature. It is even more broken than before, specifically within T-Mobile USA network. If your Nexus 4 still running Android Jelly Bean 4.3 and you use it as a mobile hotspot, avoid Android KitKat at all cost.

Android KitKat 4.2.2 on Nexus 4

Android KitKat 4.2.2 on Nexus 7

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Does Android KitKat Detect Unauthorized Tethering on T-Mobile USA Network?

According to a few Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 users, Android KitKat now detects unauthorized Tethering on T-Mobile USA network.

A colleague of ours noticed that after upgrading to Android KitKat on a Nexus 4, Tethering & portable hotspot no longer works. Devices connected to the Wi-Fi hotspot are redirected to T-Mobile login page.

Android Kit Kat Tethering Carrier Login

When an iPhone is connected to the Wi-Fi Hotspot from a Nexus 4 running Android KitKat, options to “Auto-join” and “Auto-login” appears.

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The iPhone then tries to connect to a T-Mobile login page, but the page never loads.

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We then use a Nexus 5 which came with Android KitKat pre-installed to create a wi-Fi hotspot. The result was the same, it forces connected devices to log in.

Another colleague of ours still has a Nexus 4 running Android Jelly Bean 4.3. The Nexus 4 is connected to T-Mobile USA network and without tethering plan. Devices connected the Wi-Fi hotspot created by the Android Jelly Bean-running Nexus 4 were not asked to log in.

We then inserted a working AT&T micro-SIM card into the Nexus 4 with Android KitKat. We had no issues using tethering through this phone.

At this point, it seems that Google has added codes in Android KitKat that detect unauthorized tethering. So far, it only affects Nexus phones (4 and 5) on T-Mobile USA network. We purchased the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 from Google Play SIM-free and unlocked.

Is it possible that Google has added this “feature” to appease T-Mobile?

After all, Google has partnered up with T-Mobile (and Sprint) to sell Nexus 5.

Google Nexus 5 T-Mobile Sprint

We recommend users to wait from upgrading to Android KitKat on their Nexus 4.