Android 4.4.2 battery drain fix for Sony Xperia Z and co.

If you have a Sony Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR or Tablet Z, you might have noticed that the battery in your Android device has gone from bad to worse after the update to Android 4.4.2. This is a problem that many users are now reporting across the web and Sony made a public announcement denouncing the perpetrator which is none other than Google Play Services.

© AndroidPIT

What’s the problem?

For weeks now, news of Android 4.4 KitKat updates have flooded the net. After the long wait, it looks like some Xperia devices that received the update are now faced with annoying battery drainage problems. The affected devices are the Xperia Z, ZL, ZR and Tablet Z, which will discharge for no apparent reason. But the reason for this, as speculated by Sony, is the latest version of Google Play Services (4.4.52).

Though users have waited for the KitKate update for quite some time, the update seems to be causing problems with the battery. The fix discribed here could help this issue. © Sony

How to resolve the battery issue?

Sony has recommended that users, while waiting for a patched version of Google Play Services to arrive, uninstall the latest updates for this app. The method is simple: simply open the settings of your devices, and then scroll down until you see Applications (Apps or Application Manager). Swipe left to the column of apps under ‘All’. Then choose Google Play Services and select ‘Uninstall updates’.

Tap on uninstall updates to get rid of the battery drain problems. © AndroidPIT

If you see that this button is greyed out, go back to the Settings, but select the subcategory Security. Once here, choose Device Administrators and deactive Android Device Manager. Make sure that you re-enable this though, because if your phone ever gets lost or stolen this is how you are going to be able to track it and then kill it remotely.

If the uninstall button has been greyed out, you need to uncheck the Android Device Manager box. But make sure you tick it again. © AndroidPIT