How to install Android 4.4 (KitKat) on Nexus 7 and Nexus 10

By on 18:05

Since Google is distributing the update to Android 4.4 (KitKat) for Nexus Tablet Nexus 7 and 10. However, the availability of this update OTA (Over-The-Air) to your computer may take a while. Desperate to have the latest of Google? We explain how to do a manual upgrade or do a clean install Android 4.4 to Nexus Nexus 7 and 10


Update to Android version 4.4 (KitKat)

The manual update to Android version 4.4 requires a computer where the tool use ADB which is included in the set of applications from the Android SDK. One important note, we only have available the update files from the WiFi version of the Nexus 7 (both the 2012 and the 2013 version). If you are desperate to update your Nexus 7 to Version KitKat, have instructions on how to do it using a clean installation later in this tutorial.

Here are the steps for upgrading your computer to Android 4.4:

Step # 1: If not already done so, download the Android SDK . What we will need to complete the installation of the update.

Step # 2: Next, download the update from Nexus 7 or Nexus 10:


Save this file in the same directory where the Android SDK.

Step # 3: Now connect the device to your computer via the USB cable.

Step # 4: Restart the computer into recovery mode by the following:

  • Turn off the computer. Then press the power button + volume up + volume down at the same time.
  • Then using the volume buttons, navigate to RECOVERY MODE option and press the power button to confirm the selection.
  • Now press the buttons to turn on and turn up the volume.
Step # 5: Choose the option APPLY UPDATE FROM ADB from recovery menu.


Step # 6: Now enter the Command Prompt in Windows or Terminal on Mac OS X / Linux.

Step # 7: Navigate to the folder where the file you downloaded in step # 2.

Step # 8: Enter the following command:

adb sideload <filename>. zip

Note: Replace <filename> by the name assigned to the file you downloaded in step # 2. Example: adb sideload 13088e35942c77e4752aa1fdf51d54472509b941.signed-nakasi-KRT16O-from-JWR66Y.13088e35.zip

When complete, the computer restarts with the new update.

Clean install of Android 4.4 (KitKat)

Here the steps change a little. First you have to remember that ALL the data in the computer will be deleted. Second to this step we have the pictures of the Nexus 7 version both Wi-Fi and 3G version.

Here are the steps for a clean install of Android 4.4:

Step # 1: If not already done so, download the Android SDK . What we will need to complete the installation of the update.

Step # 2: Next, download the firmware image Nexus 7 or Nexus 10:


The file will download in. Tgz. Unzip the file using an extraction tool. We recommend 7-Zip to complete this task (available on Windows, Mac and Linux).

Note: If removing the content that ends in. Tar, re-extract this again until you end up with a folder.

Step # 3: Enter the computer mode "Bootloader" doing these steps:

  • Turn off the computer. Then press the power button + volume up + volume down at the same time.

Step # 4: Now connect the device to your computer via the USB cable.

Then these steps depending on what computer you are using:

Windows: Go to the folder you unzipped in step # 2 and run the following file: flash-all.bat

Mac / Linux: Enter the terminal. Then go to the directory within the folder you unzipped in step # 2 and enter the following command:

. / Flash-all.sh

Note: Important place the dot (.) At baseline.

 Step # 5: Now wait for the installation culminates in the team picture. At the end you will have Android 4.4 installed and ready for use.