How to Get the Nexus 4 Android 4.3 Update Right Now

Yesterday, at Google’s Android and Chrome event, the company unveiled a new Android update in the form of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The update will be rolling out Over-the-Air to Nexus devices like the Nexus 4. However, Nexus 4 owners that don’t wish to wait for the slow roll out are able to get the Nexus 4Android 4.3 update right now.

In the weeks leading up to yesterday’s event, Google was heavily rumored to have an Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update up its sleeve for July. The company did not disappoint, making Android 4.3 official alongside the new Nexus 7 yesterday in San Francisco. The update is not a major overhaul of Android Jelly Bean and is, instead, an incremental update building upon Google’s celebrated software.

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The Nexus 4 can be manually updated to Android 4.3 right now.

Android 4.3 comes with a number of features including support for OpenGL 3.0, Bluetooth Low Energy and some more minor changes like dial pad auto complete. Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie this is not, but it’s still an update that Android users want.

The good news is that Android 4.3 started to roll out for Google’s Nexus devices yesterday. Google has stated that the company will start with the Nexus 7, Nexus 10, Nexus 4 and the Galaxy Nexus. The bad news is that Google tends to roll its updates out Over-the-Air in an extremely slow manner. Those who are impatient fortunately have some options to choose from, however.

Nexus 4 owners in particular who want their Android 4.3 update right now, have the option of getting the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean software update on their device right now.

The first way, which is both the easiest and non-guaranteed way of trying to do it is by trying to force the update. The second, is to manually install the Android 4.3 update on the Nexus 4.

The first is a simple trick that works with these types of updates though more and more, it has proven to be useless. The second is to download the software straight from Google and manually install the update.

The first option is the easiest. This method isn’t going to work for every Nexus 4 owner and in fact, will likely not work for most people. Some owners use different variants of these steps to force the update so Nexus 4 users should try different combinations of these steps.

1. Go to Settings -> Apps -> All

2. Find Google Services Framework.

3. Tap on Force Stop.

4. Select Clear Data.

5. Head back to the Nexus 4’s Settings, go to About, and check for a System Update.

Once again, this is unlikely to work for most people but it’s worth a shot if the wait for Android 4.3 is unbearable and the manual installation methods aren’t an option.

Manually installing the software is the only way to truly guarantee an update right now, however, it’s a bit of a tricky process.

The process does not come without risks, risks that we can’t be responsible for. It’s possible that something could happen to the Nexus 4 when installing the update so those who are new to this should reconsider. The OTA update for the Nexus 4 is likely around the corner so it shouldn’t be too much of a wait.

How to Manually Install the Nexus 4 Android 4.3 Update

First, for those who are rooted and on stock software. The first thing to do is get the Android SDK set up and running, something that is absolutely necessary. Second, owners will will also need to be running the current version of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean which is Android 4.2.2. The current version of Android 4.2.2 is build JDQ39.

At this point, owners will want to download the Nexus 4 Android 4.3 update from Google.

After downloading this file, Nexus 4 owners running stock software will want to boot the device into recovery, attach the device to a USB cable plugged into a PC, and choose the “Apply update from adb” option. From there, type in ‘adb sideload [Insert Full File Name Here]‘ and it should work its magic. Again, this is how to install the software without custom recovery or root.

For those that need more clarification, XDA-Developers has a great guide that will talk Nexus 4 owners step-by-step through this process.

The Nexus 4 is just one of many Android 4.3 updates that will roll out in 2013.

Those Nexus 4 owners who are rooted and running stock can flash through custom recovery. To do this, download that same file to the internal storage, reboot into custom recovery, choose “Install zip from SD card” and then select the update file that was downloaded to the storage space. It will flash and Android 4.3 will then be on board.

Again, for those that seek more clairity, head to XDA-Developers as it will go more in-depth.

Google’s Android 4.3 OTA update should be hitting devices over the next week or so so those who don’t feel comfortable with this process can simply wait for the update to roll out Over-the-Air.

To check for the update, head into the device’s Settings, the About section and check for the update.