topic Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues in XPERIA archive

Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

smjohns — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 10:40:10 GMT

Hi,

My Z3c phone received the Android 5.0.2 update last week and although I have been generally happy with the update, the wi-fi performance has taken a big hit and doesn't seem as reliabile as it was. I have also noticed that connections are dropped and recreated randomly throughout the day even though the device has not moved from the access point. This is particularly true when using application such as Situations and Smart Unlock. The developers of these apps have confirmed that there are problems with the 5.0.2 update and that Google fixed these with v5.1. Do we know when Sony will be releasing this update for the series Z devices?

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

Rickard — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 14:39:48 GMT

Sorry to hear that you have issues with WiFi.

What router/access point are you using and would it be possible for you to test if this also happens with other networks?

Do you see any difference in performance if you restart the phone or turn off bluetooth?

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

smjohns — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 15:11:24 GMT

Hi Rickard,

Thanks for your reply. I have rebooted the phone a couple of times since upgrading to 5.0.2 (plus just now) and reboot times are now 4-5 times longer since the upgrade to Lollipop. This has not resolved the issue and I have tried disabling bluetooth but this does not help either. If I forceibly stop both of the applications I have mentioned above then Wi-Fi is a little more stable but still not as good as when the device was running KitKat 4.4.4 (with or without both applications running). There is a general feeling that this issue cannot be fixed by upgrading the two apps and instead can only be fixed by the implementaion of Android v5.1. What are Sony's feeling on this? Are they planning to move to 5.1 when it has been formally released? Are there any quick bug fixes that can be deployed before this? Weirdly the 5.0.2 upgrade has also consumed about 2gb of internal storage, which is a little annoying but still have approx 6gb free so assume this is not adding to the issues.

I guess there is no way to return to KitKat until a less buggy version of Lollipop is released?

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

sunshower — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 18:02:11 GMT

I confirm the same issue after the upgrade to Lollipop. Since first minutes the connection to my home wi-fi router started to drop and reconnect itself and this cycle repeats randomly everu 5-10-20 seconds. Phone didn't have any problems with this router while it was with KitKat. The router is supplied by T-Mobile and is Thomson branded, it successfully serves all household devices still with no issues. Nno imaginable actions solve the problem: reboots, swithching BT off, location off, tried almost everything. The phone is unusable with wi-fi. Please fix this ASAP! Or provide us temporary legal way to rollback to KitKat until stable build of Lollipop is achieved. There are plenty of other issues with this upgrade but I mentioned them in other threads.

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

smjohns — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 18:14:04 GMT

Although not nice to hear of others with issues, it is nice to know that this is not just me. Just posting up to add that this issue affects all my wi-fi networks, home and work. I am now not sure that the above quoted apps are exacerbating the problem or simply highlighting them as having disabled both apps I notice the wi-fi drops outs are still occuring.

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

Rickard — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 07:06:26 GMT

What happens if you try your phones in safe mode? Do you see any issue then?

Could you also test this with another WiFi network to see if something has happended with your device or if this is an issue that happens with a specific access point/router?

It's not possible to downgrade the phone using our softwares.

@smjohns

I'm afraid i'm not familiar with those apps and their compatibility with Android 5.0.2. If they require Android 5.1 i'm afraid my only suggestion is to look for alternatives that are compatible with 5.0.2 and that you stay tuned to our blog for the latest information on upcoming updates.

Lollipop does take up more space so it's normal that you have less free space after the update.

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

smjohns — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 07:20:19 GMT

Hi Rickard,

Thanks for your continued support on this. As confirmed above I am no longer sure that the Wifi issues are caused by the two applications. I have tried uninstalling both but the drop outs are still occuring. The reason I thought they were linked to the issue was that every time the wifi drops out and reconnects, the apps trigger events, which I was noticing on my phone (e.g. another application being launched or screen unlock being enabled). Without the applications installed the wi-fi still drops out and then reconnects but it is a little more tricky to spot. The issue occurs at work, at home and when out and about and connected to any wifi. Judging by other forums this could be a bit of a recurring theme with 5.0.n.

Really hope that Sony / Google can resolve these issues soon as the phone has become a real pain to use. v5.1 hopefully won't be long.

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

sunshower — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 10:22:38 GMT

I have found one provision of other phone user about this issue with Lollipop, so it means not only Sony devices affected.

Looks like using a WPA-Auto Personal settings which auto switches back to WPA, vs exclusively using WPA2, means that the pmf=1 setting in the ini gets ignored, so... yeah.. solution is to either root your phone, or use a lower encryption on your wifi. It is a very easy fix to disable the pmf setting.

Now we only need to know would Sony acknowledge this and do something about it.

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

Rickard — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 11:05:17 GMT

Thanks for the information but could you please test safe mode and let me know if this also happens in safe mode?

@sunshower

That's not an issue on Z3 Compact as we don't have pmf on. WPA2 only works fine with our devices.

Which model is the Thomson router?

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

sunshower — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 11:49:33 GMT

I tried the safe mode, the issue persists. I've put up a one-minute video of it with two dropouts https://youtu.be/JVBJjokjpz8.

One thing I've noticed in both safe mode and normal mode is if you "forget" the network and connect to it again with entering password, it holds up ok until you go out of range, and then when you return in range and phone reconnects to the same network automatically, dropouts are starting and never ending until you re-connect manually again with entering password after "forgetting".

The router is Thomson TG782. It serves two Pcs and another android phone just ok, and all my guests never had problems connecting to my home wi-fi with their smartphones. Moreover, my Z3 Compact phone worked with same home network perfectly under KitKat until I "upgraded" it....

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

smjohns — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 12:17:25 GMT

Yep issue occurs in safe mode too.

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

sunshower — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 14:14:42 GMT

Is the new firmware build for our phones 23.1.A.0.740 intended to fix this problem?

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

sunshower — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 10:06:29 GMT

Ok I'm done suffering for the sake of nothing and waiting for answers or at least acknowledgements. Lollipop update made my phone unusable. I'm flashing KitKat back.

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

smjohns — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 11:17:15 GMT

Where did you get this firmware version number from? I am running 23.1.A.0.726? This issue is getting really frustrating now so hope Sony fix this soon.

How are you flashing back to 4.4.4? I assume this requires a repair shop?

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

Rickard — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 15:03:14 GMT

This is not a known issue so it's something that we are investigating. But to me it sounds like you have two different issues.

@sunshower

This sounds like something that happens with a specific access point/router and we are looking into this.

@smjohns

As this happens with all WiFi-networks that you connect to and also in safe mode it seems you have a general issue with WiFi in your phone. I would recommend that you try to reinstall the phones software using PC Companion but please note that this will reset your phone and delete all your data.

If the issue should still remain I think that this needs to be examined and fixed at a repair center. For more information about how to submit your phone for repair and where, contact your local support team.

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

smjohns — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 15:15:11 GMT

Hmm....that is not helpful as it takes ages to set up the phone again after a complete factory reset. This is further complicated by me not being able to back up my phone as it is totally (internal and SD card) encrypted and your PC software only supports unencrypted phones. I.e. you either have an encrypted phone that you can't backup or you have an unsecure phone that you can back up. Also a bit annoying for me is that your PC software will only instally on my laptops C drive which does not have the necessary 5gb of space required for a phone re-flash.

If you are sure that this will sort my problems then I will give it a try. Judging by others commenting on wifi issues with v5.0.2, I am thinking that this will not help.

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

sunshower — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 18:43:05 GMT

Here is the info on the firmware build I refer to: http://www.xperiablog.net/2015/04/20/new-firmware-23-1-a-0-740-certified-for-xperia-z3-series/.

Today I tried the connection with the other wi-fi networks, the issue persists. So it is present always - in phone's safe mode and with different networks. This is just unacceptable because with previous KitKat firmware and same set of applications installed there were absolutely no issues.

What does this PC software "repair" do exactly? Just flashes the same latest firmware with full wipes? If so, you can do it without it, just from your phones setting menu - restore to factory settings. I suppose the result will be the same. Concerning flashing the previous build back - itis possible to do yourself at home if you''re skilled enough. There are detailed instructions on the internet.

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

smjohns — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 16:42:36 GMT

@Rickard

Well I have spent the day restoring my phone. I first factory reset to remove all encryption and data then performed a firmware repair using the PC Companion software. I then spent the next few hours re-encrypting the entire phone, restoring all of my settings, apps and data. I will let you know how the wifi performs over the next few days. One thing I did notice is that when the phone was encrypted but not set with a pattern, pin, password to unlock it, the phone re-booted fairly quickly (ok not as quickly as KitKat). I then enabled a pattern lock and now the bootup takes much longer and not far off what it was before I rebuilt the phone. Either Lollipop is really bloaty around this or you have an issue with the code. Thankfully it seems that PC Companion is now able to backup the phone after it has been totally encrypted so hopefully any future restores will be much easier to complete.

If there are bug fix updates for this firmware, please can you work really hard to get them out as the phone is definitely no longer fast on Lollipop.

Re: Android 5.0.2 - Wi-Fi Issues

Rickard — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 09:04:03 GMT

@sunshower

When you perform a repair of the phones software in PC Companion or Bridge for Mac it reinstalls the entire firmware. While you can perform a master reset from the phone i would recommend that you do a repair instead just in case something went wrong when the phone was updated.

@smjohns

Thanks for testing this! Please keep me updated if it has helped or not.

Regarding the time it takes to start or restart the phone i think you have selected the option "Require pattern to start device" when you set the pattern lock. This will increase how long it takes.

Automatic Wifi connection doesn't work after Lollipop update

Lazze79 — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:07:27 GMT

When i come home my phone tries to connect automatically to my home Wifi.

After Lollipop update Wifi connection fails almost every time.

When i go to wifi settings there is an authentication error.

Then i have to manually select settings and Wifi and tap connect, then wifi connects and everything works ok,

untll next time i leave home and come back.

This is annoying problem because i have limited mobile data and it would be enough if

phone would use wifi when i'm home.

I have tried to delete wifi connection and then connect it again but same problem occurs.

Thanks if you can help.