Nexus 6 phones running Android 7.1.1 will be downgraded to Android 7.0

Some Nexus 6 owners have been downgraded from Android 7.1.1 to Android 7.0 from Google. According to Google, the ‘update’ is necessary to enable ota updates in the future for the device from 2014.

Anyone who has now placed Android 7.1.1 on the Nexus 6 via sideloading will receive a notification that there is an update to Android 7.0, many users report on Reddit. A Google employee says in the thread that the downgrade is necessary to receive ota updates on the device. “Anyone who wants to continue sideloading or flashing builds in the future can stay on Android 7.1.1.”

If Nexus 6 owners have problems after the “update” to 7.0, they should reset their device to factory settings, according to the Google employee. Then it should function properly again.

The ota updates to come will mainly be security updates. Google had indicated that support for new Android versions for the Nexus 6 would end at the end of last year. The search giant gives its devices security updates for three years and that support ends next fall.

There have been a lot of issues recently with updates to the Motorola-built Nexus device from 2014. The Android 7.0 build came out much later, and 7.1.1 didn’t get much better.