Android L Update for Moto X, Moto G, Moto E: How to Upgrade to 5.0 Lollipop Manually

Nov 26, 2014 01:14 PM EST

Android 5.0 Lollipop has now officially been released for Motorola's flagship devices, including the Moto X second generation and the Moto G second generation smartphones.

According to release notes published by Motorola, both smartphone models have received the Lollipop update and are set with the latest operating system software. As with any Android update, it's important to note that not all devices will be updated at the same time, so if you own a second generation Moto X or Moto G, it may be a few days before your specific phone gets the update.

Verizon was the first to start the Lollipop update on Monday, which surprised everyone, considering Verizon's record of not usually being first on the Android updates. Once updated, users have the option of switching between Android 5.0 Lollipop's Ambient Display and Motorola's own Moto Display lock screen. The manufacturer has noted that the Android interface may not be as efficient on battery life as their own software.

The release notes point out that users will experience some changes to their interface once the devices are completed with the upgrade. Material Design is Lollipop's new visual overhaul of the operating system that gives a more colorful look and feel to the device. Animations, system themes, widgets, and new applications come with the new package, as well.

To start the update, first make sure that your device's battery is at least 50% charged and you're connected to a wi-fi network. From there, the directions are simple, as stated in the press release:

If you have received a notification message for this update:

  1. Select "Yes, I'm in".
  2. After the software is downloaded, select "Install now".
  3. After the software is installed, your phone will re-start automatically.
  4. Your phone is now updated with 22.11.6

If you have not received a notification message for this update, follow the steps below to manually update your phone:

  1. Select the Settings icon in the apps menu.
  2. Select "About phone".
  3. Select "System updates".
  4. Select "Yes, I'm in". After the software is downloaded, select "Install now".  
  5. After the software is installed, your phone will re-start automatically.
  6. Your phone is now updated to 22.11.6

Motorola's Moto X is the 2014 version of the popular original Moto X released in 2013. The second generation model sports a new aluminum frame, front-facing mono speaker, and a set of infrared sensors. The hardware was also upgraded to a 5.2-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display, a 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 2 GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel rear camera with support for 4K video recording, and 16 or 32 GB of internal storage.

The second generation Moto G, on the other hand, is the 2014 version of the original Moto G that features a 5-inch HD LCD IPS display, a 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and either 8 or 16 GB os internal storage, upgradeable to 32 GB with a microSD card. The Moto G is the medium-range flagship phone for Motorola, while the Moto X is the high-range and the Moto E is the low-end.

"We're working hard with our carrier partners to bring this update to more of our devices as soon as we can," a Motorola blog post stated last week when the Moto X and Moto G were first announced to get the Lollipop update.

Motorola has also confirmed that the rest of its lineup will eventually receive the Lollipop update, including the first generation Moto X and Moto G, the budget model Moto E, the Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx, and Droid Mini.