The official way of downgrading from Android Lollipop (5.0.1) to Android Kitkat (4.4.4)

You can easily install Android Kitkat on your Nexus device if you are fed up of the various bugs you have seen for your Nexus device which runs Android Lollipop.






The steps to downgrade Nexus 5 from Lollipop to Kitkat:
1. Download the official Android Kitkat image from Google Android Developer blog
2. Download the latest Android SDK
3. Backup all your data
4. Start the process

The above steps are for Nexus 5. The same steps are needed to be followed for other devices

1. Download the official Android Kitkat image from Google Android Developer blog

You should download the latest Android 4.4.4 Kitkat  image for your device from Google as per your Nexus device.

Android Factory Images

As seen above, if you are a US user, download the link as highlighted  inside the black box.
if you are a NZ, AUS or Indian user you should download the link in the red box.

After the file is downloaded, unzip the contents as shown below to a folder:

Downgrade Nexus 5 to Android KitKat

2. Download the latest Android SDK

Visit the Android Developer site : http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html

Now download the latest SDK as shwon below:

Android SDK download

Also as a sub-step you need to enable "USB debugging on your Android phone".

How to enable USB debugging?

In the "Developer options" menu select Enable USB debugging checkbox.

Now connect your phone to your Windows 7 laptop and you will notice a small android head on your phone's status bar. keep it connected and make sure your phone is charged to 75 % or above.

3. Backup All your data

Do not proceed if you have not backed up your data properly. This process will erase all your phone data and even your whatsapp messages. You can backup and restore all your messages by following this tutorial: Backup/Restore WhatsaApp messages..

4. Start the process
Open a commandline window: In Windows go to Run and hit 'cmd"
Set path to Android SDK:  You can do this by typing the following command:
set path=%path%;E:\adt-bundle-windows-x86_64-20140702\sdk\platform-tools

The text in bold should be replaced by the location of your SDK downloaded in step2.

Visit the folder downloaded in step 1:  In the same command window, browse to the location of the folder downloaded in step1, by clicking cd <location of folder>in the command prompt

Now enter adb devices in the command prompt. You will see a unique identifier as an output

Now follow the below steps:

Nexus 5  downgrade from Lollipop to Kitkat

Your phone will show the following option when you follow the 6 Step in the image:

Android Lollipop  Nexus 5 , back to Android Kitkat