A little more life from a Nexus 7

[Barbara Fu]

I understand the Nexus 7 first gen is no longer supported. Pity.

Right now mine is really slow, but I'm loathe to factory reset it because I've no idea what system if any will come online when I'm done. I'm perfectly okay with unlocking? rooting? it but I'd need someone to walk me through that.

I use it primarily as a reader, so the only apps I actually need to work on there are:
Kindle
Newsstand
NYTimes app
maybe LA times app

and I like to play Neko Atsume and use Eye Care Plus. I truly don't need productivity stuff like Google Sheets on that device, and wish I could delete them to make more room on it.

What can I do? I live in Southern California if there's a live technician you can point me to.

 

[Member2047631]

I have a Nexus 7 2012 too! The funny thing is, I actually did factory reset mine today. It did definitely help with the lag, although it still does lag some. If you don't care about losing your data, or you have it backed up, then it's probably a good idea to do it. 😉

 

[Member2047631]

But mines battery is horrible. Takes at least 5 hours to charge, sometimes up to a day. I don't have much use for it now though. I still like it, I've had lots of good times with it. I miss that...

 

[Barbara Fu]

Curiously I've had no battery troubles with mine at all, just lags. The lags get worse after I've used a cafe wifi--yes, I know. Any short way to fix up the goodies that Starbucks has left on my device? That might get the lag down to something bearable. Used to be leaving it powered down for a day would bring it back.

 

[Member2047631]

Factory reset would delete anything on the device, it does help with the lag, but it's not gone. I'd recommend factory resetting. Mine does have WiFi issues too. Our WiFi isn't bad, because the tablet I usually use has fine WiFi, same network. Factory reset can't help with the bad WiFi, although I don't know if that's what you're talking about...

 

[Member2047631]

And what do you mean 'goodies'? Did you give your Nexus to Starbucks?

 

[mikedt]

Curiously I've had no battery troubles with mine at all, just lags. The lags get worse after I've used a cafe wifi--yes, I know. Any short way to fix up the goodies that Starbucks has left on my device? That might get the lag down to something bearable. Used to be leaving it powered down for a day would bring it back.

You installed their apps or there's residue from their "coffee" or something?

 

[Barbara Fu]

You installed their apps or there's residue from their "coffee" or something?

I'm thinking cookies, unwanted trackers, things like that. The tablet always runs more slowly at Starbucks (with a commercial login and a checkbox for Terms and Conditions) and for a time afterwards. At an uncomplicated wifi connection like home or smaller cafes, there is no such effect.

 

[mikedt]

I'm thinking cookies, unwanted trackers, things like that. The tablet always runs more slowly at Starbucks (with a commercial login and a checkbox for Terms and Conditions) and for a time afterwards. At an uncomplicated wifi connection like home or smaller cafes, there is no such effect.

I would think that clearing the browser cache after the session should remove any tracking cookies and other crap that Starbucks foists on your tablet. Also when I'm in those sorts of places, after the sign in agreeing to T&C etc, I always run my VPN, so Starbucks or whatever just can't see and track anything I'm doing.

 

[Barbara Fu]

I would think that clearing the browser cache after the session should remove any tracking cookies and other crap that Starbucks foists on your tablet. Also when I'm in those sorts of places, after the sign in agreeing to T&C etc, I always run my VPN, so Starbucks or whatever just can't see and track anything I'm doing.

Thanks! That has helped some.

 

[deltafred]

Mine was very slow until yesterday, I went into Settings/Security/Device Administrator and found that "Find My Phone" was set as an administrator. I removed it as an administrator and mine is back up to speed. It is now catching up on 2 yeas worth of updates but at least I can use it again.

 

[lvt]

The Nexus 7 has a magnetic sensor at the bottom left area. You can use a small magnet to wake it up or close it, just hovering the magnet over the corner instead of pressing the power button.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

2012. How about a new battery?

 

[lvt]

2012. How about a new battery?

Mine has a new battery installed.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

As long as it's flat, it's cool.