How to update Windows 8 on your phone. Windows Phone Update - Device Recovery Tool

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Although Windows has long abandoned the development of a mobile version of the OS, many phones continue to use it. And strangely enough, but a huge part of them still is located Windows Phone 8.1. Today I will share with you a working method on how to update your phone to Windows Phone 10 officially and receive updates over the air even in 2017 (since support for 10 remains to this day).

The method I found is very simple: does not require installation of special software and dancing with a tambourine, everything is done in three stage:

Registration on insider.windows.com
Selecting update intensity

The only one minus— it is not suitable for all old smartphones. The photo below shows the (official) list of phones that can receive Windows 10 Mobile over the air.

Despite the fact that this site has not been updated for a very long time, the list is really current and each of the smartphones can use Windows Phone 10 and even today receive minor updates. Therefore, if you find your device in this list, then follow our instructions further.

Sign up for the Windows Insider program

To gain access to the firmware, you need to become a member of the program Windows Insider. It was created for testers and programmers, and when registering you will have to choose one of the options: developer, tester or Windows fan. The honesty of the choice is not particularly important here, since the firmware is the same for everyone.

To become a Windows Insider you need need to:

Choose Windows 10 Insider Preview
Download Windows Insider application (in the Russian market it is called “Participant of the preliminary testing program”)

Screenshots

Firmware installation features

Important!

To install the Windows Phone 10 update, you need to have 1.22 GB free space on the device, and the phone must be connected to socket and charged to 80% .

Once you have installed the official Windows Insider app, you need to go into it through your account. If all previous steps have been completed, then you get access to update your smartphone to Windows Phone 10. The application will ask you how you want to receive updates:

Fast (latest versions immediately after beta release)
Slow (but more stable OS versions)

In fact, today, no difference where to check the box: the first or second option, since the system will no longer radically change and be updated. But I still recommend that you choose " Slowly“, since what the company considers stable is guaranteed to behave decently on your phone.

The Windows 10 Mobile platform is an operating system designed for smartphones and tablets with screen sizes up to 9 inches. With its advent, mobile devices received almost the same capabilities that are available for personal computers with the same OS version. At the same time, many users of the previous platform have a question about how to update Windows Mobile and increase the functionality of their devices. And owners of smartphones with an already installed platform periodically receive from Microsoft the opportunity to install a new build of the same Windows 10.

Latest and anniversary updates for Windows 10 Mobile

The latest Windows 10 Mobile update package available for download on the manufacturer's official website appeared online on August 16, 2016. It was called Anniversary and provided users with many benefits in the form of increased functionality for applications such as Microsoft Edge, Cortana and Action Center. At the same time, owners of supported devices did not need to take virtually any action to receive the package. It was enough to manually check for an update for the phone and install it. This package is not available for some devices because only supported smartphones and tablets can upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary and later in 2016.

Cumulative updates continue to be released by the software manufacturer. And the latest version at the moment is version 14393.448 dated November 9, 2016. Its installation allows you to fix errors from previous updates and increase security, but does not provide noticeable improvements in functionality. Therefore, if you have not yet installed it on your smartphone Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update, you no longer have to think about how to update the system - Microsoft is releasing a new build in April.

April build of Windows 10 Mobile

According to information on the official Microsoft website, from April 25, 2017, users of smartphones with previous builds of Windows 10 Mobile will have the opportunity to how to update to Windows 10 Mobile to the next version– Creators Update. It is numbered 1704 and should provide users with a greater degree of security compared to builds 1511 and 1607. Among the features of the updated platform:

support for virtual reality technology and 3D content;
quick response to a device security threat;
increasing the stability of wireless network access;
transition to HTML5 technology instead of outdated Flash.

For users participating in the Windows Insider testing program, the ability to download build 1704 became available on April 5. Moreover, both for late access and for early access. In addition, you can download Creators Update RTM builds from Microsoft servers as an ISO file and install it using a PC.

Windows 10 Update for Windows Phone

For the owner of a device with the Windows Phone operating system installed, it is also possible to update the platform to a more modern version. Although, before you try to update your phone to Windows 10 Mobile, you should find it in the list of supported devices. The names of smartphones can be found on the official website of the software manufacturer.
Installing a new operating system on models supported by Microsoft is carried out in several stages:

Find and download the special Update Assistant application in the Store;
Open the program and click “Next”;
Wait until the assistant finds an update available for installation;
Check the box next to the item that allows updates to the Windows 10 platform and click “Next” again;
Do not take any other action until the update is complete.

Before, how to update Windows 10 Mobile via computer, you should first make a backup copy of all the information on your smartphone and download the WP Recovery Tool application from the Microsoft website. In this case, connecting to a computer a phone that is not in the list of supported models will display a corresponding message on the screen. If the device is supported, the smartphone is detected and after clicking on the tile with its name, the firmware update begins from the official servers. And, if previously the method of updating Windows 10 Mobile via a PC made it possible to install the system even on unsupported models, as of July 23, 2016, the opportunity was closed by the developer.

Possible problems with updating Window 10 Mobile

When installing the operating system, certain problems may arise:

If the movement of the gears that indicate loading continues for more than 2 hours, a failure occurred in the process of transmitting information. To solve the problem, the smartphone reboots, and then the installation continues;

The smartphone battery can die right during the download. This situation can be avoided by ensuring the battery is fully charged before installing the system;
The device memory may not be enough. In this case, it is possible to use a microSD card as a storage device on which the system will be installed.

A failed installation in some cases requires not only a reboot, but also removal of the battery. After returning the battery to its place, sometimes you can simply continue flashing. But, if the previous operating system was already partially damaged, you will first have to restore its functionality using the Windows Device Recovery Tool.

Is it worth upgrading from Windows Phone to Windows 10 Mobile?

If a Windows Phone user has a question about Windows 10 Mobile, is it worth upgrading? software, the arguments for a positive answer include:
increasing the number of quick settings;
built-in support for OTG and USB Type-C connectors;
Cortana voice assistant update;
built-in Skype application for voice and video communication;
a new package for working with office documents.

After the owner of a smartphone compatible with the new operating system succeeded update Windows Mobile Windows Phone, he will have an almost full-fledged computer at his disposal. And he will be able not only to control the gadget with one hand, but also to scale the interface, continuously play the music he is listening to, and use the new Windows Store - the same as for the PC.

Installing a new OS version on your own mobile smartphone before the current release is the best solution. By installing new versions of the OS, cell phones become more optimized and function better in user interaction. Almost every Windows operating system user has wondered how to update their gadget to Windows 10.

Before installing on Windows phone Windows 10 version, you need to make sure there is 1.5 GB of free space in the internal memory space. If there is not enough free space, then it is worth deleting some software applications and files. If there is still not enough free memory, then you should reset your gadget to factory settings.

In order to find out how much free space is left on the internal memory of your smartphone, you need to go to Settings Memory control. The user will be shown the amount of free memory and a list of various data that takes up space on the smartphone.

Before installing Windows 10 Mobile on your smartphone, be sure to:
Make a backup copy of all data from your phone: photos, videos, contacts, various other records.
Fully charge your smartphone.
Allow 2 hours of free time.

It is also logical that an earlier version of Windows OS should be installed on the phone.

In order to find out the current version of the operating system, you need to go to Settings mobile smartphone and select a section Device information, in which you should select a subsection Intelligence.

In order to check the possibility of installing a new version of the cell phone OS before Windows 10, you need to go to Settings smartphone and go to the section, then you need to select a subsection Phone update. When switching, the user will see a list of available versions for his mobile device.

Today, methods for installing new versions on mobile smartphones differ into 2 categories:

Installing a new OS on a smartphone via a personal computer.
Direct installation of a new OS on a smartphone via Wi-Fi or GPRS network.

Before you upgrade your mobile smartphone to Windows 10 Mobile, you should make sure that your cellular device is compatible with this OS. If your model isn't on the list, it might soon be as Microsoft tries to make Windows 10 available on every smartphone.

Here is the current list of supported models as of March 2017:

So, we move directly to the answer to the question of how to upgrade your phone to Windows 10.

Installing a new OS on a smartphone using a personal computer

First you need to install the program on your personal computer. When opening the program, you must connect your cell phone to the computer using a USB cable.

Immediately after this, the program will show all cell phones connected to the computer. When selecting a smartphone, the user will see a list of all available settings. It is also possible to update your smartphone if the new version of the OS malfunctions or stops working.

But not all users have access to a personal computer. Many people would like to update their mobile device via a Wi-Fi or GPRS Internet connection. The second method tells you how to update your smartphone to Windows 10 without using a personal computer.

Installing a new OS on a smartphone mobile device using access to a Wi-Fi network

This requires a Wi-Fi or GPRS network.

Update Assistant

In the shop Windows Store there is a special utility that helps users install new versions of the OS on their mobile devices, it’s called - Upgrade Advisor or Update Assistant(download the application). The software application shows the compatibility of the mobile device with a given operating system, and also provides assistance in freeing up free space on the smartphone. If there is not enough space to download a new operating system, the software application will offer to delete various files to free up free space on the device.

When launching the software application, the user will be prompted to install a new version of the OS. You must accept the request, and then the phone will restart.

It is worth following the detailed instructions displayed on the mobile phone screen. Don't worry, your phone may reboot several times while updating the operating system. Installing a new version of the operating system takes less than 30 minutes, but large updates on some phones may take up to two hours. During installation, the phone will not be available for use. After installation on a smartphone, the user will immediately be taken to the device’s desktop and will be able to fully use the phone for their own purposes.

The Windows 10 Mobile installer download process can be monitored in the menu Settings→ Phone update:

There it is also possible to install a new version of the OS at a designated time. To do this you need to go to this section, and to Preferred installation time Set the specific time settings for when Windows 10 Mobile installation should begin. This feature is not available on some phones.

Windows Insider

There is also a unique way to update the operating system on all devices Lumia. To use it you will need to uninstall Preview for Developers, since without this, installation of the new version may be unsuccessful. So, to use this method you need:

Install the utility on your mobile device Windows Insider and register in it. This program allows you to get an evaluation version of Windows before the official release.
Launch the program and select Get preview builds, select the suggested action and accept the agreement request.
Next select the item Insider Fast. Next, we confirm the installation. After this, the phone will reboot.
You need to go to Settings → Phone update mobile device, wait for the updates to download and launch installation.

Before using any methods, you need to make sure your device is charged. This is necessary to ensure that the installation process is completed successfully without being interrupted due to lack of battery power. The battery must be more than half charged.

After updating Windows, you should make sure that all applications are up to date. Some phone features may not be activated because some applications may need to be updated.

Some passwords may also be reset and you will have to enter them again.

In the settings there is an option to automatically download the update when a Wi-Fi point is available, but if this is not the case, you can always update manually. In order to enable automatic updating of software applications, you need to go to Settings Windows store menu and select section Application updates, in which there will be an item for updating software applications if you have access to a Wi-Fi point. You need to check this box, and then the smartphone itself will immediately update software applications.

To do this, go to the Windows Store Menu and select the downloads and updates section. After starting the process of checking for updates on this device, and at the end of the process, you must select updating all applications.

You should not contact cell phone stores to update your phone's software. You can always learn to do it yourself. Each person should be able to handle their devices independently, make updates, and install software applications. Why pay money for something you can learn to do yourself.

Video on the topic

On which the list of changes and innovations in the updates of the release version of Windows 10 is published, the same fate befell the Microsoft platform for smartphones - Windows 10 Mobile.

There are currently no entries on the Windows 10 Mobile update page (not even for build 10586.107, which was released last night). This is probably due to the fact that the official release of Windows 10 Mobile has not yet taken place, and Microsoft does not want to “clutter” its website with information about experimental updates, which are released relatively often and contain mainly bug fixes in the code.

Windows 10 Mobile update history page -

Microsoft is still keeping the release date of Windows 10 Mobile secret, but the site's editors expect that information about this will immediately appear on the page with the update history of this platform.

In any case, the release of Windows 10 Mobile is inevitable and is probably already close. This is indirectly evidenced by the fact that in the Windows Insider program there is a new, already third round of updates, which is called Release Preview (“preliminary version of the release”) as part of the testing stage of the Current Branch (“current branch”). Judging by the name, this circle will release assemblies thoroughly tested by Microsoft engineers and enthusiastic insiders, which are candidates for release in the stable update branch. Currently, not a single build has been released in this branch, which is quite logical - after all, there has not been an official release of Windows 10 Mobile yet.

Just in case, the site reminds that previously any build of Windows 10 Mobile went through three stages of testing. The first was carried out by Microsoft specialists who caught and fixed the most obvious bugs, the second by participants in the Windows Insider program who wanted to get access to all the innovations faster than others and, as a rule, found bugs that were missed through the first stage. The third stage of testing is the safest; it included assemblies with a minimum number of bugs. Now a fourth stage has been added. It will probably have approximately zero bugs.

Why does Microsoft need a Release Preview round of updates? Firstly, to ensure that mass updates to Windows 10 Mobile are as trouble-free as possible, and secondly, this circle will in the future allow for public testing of the current update branch. Using Windows 10 as an example, we see that currently all participants in the Windows Insider program have begun to receive updates as part of the Redstone branch (this is the second major update to Windows 10), and the Treshold branch (build number 10586.xxx) is left without testers from among ordinary users . Microsoft has probably taken this flaw into account, and in the case of Windows 10 Mobile there will actually be two types of public testing: both relatively crude builds will be released as part of the Redstone branch, and slightly improved Treshold builds, which, as it turned out in the example of Windows 10, will also require a mass public test.

Windows 10 Mobile users will be able to choose whether they want to participate in testing test builds, and if so, which ones they will receive: those that will form the basis of the next major update, or those that add new features to the release version of the operating system. Of course, users will be able to stop participating in the Windows Insider program at any time, roll back to stable cut builds, and also move from one round of updates to another (currently these are Fast, Slow and Release Preview).

The appearance of Windows 10 Mobile in 2015 allowed smartphones running Microsoft software to gain new capabilities. Now their functionality is comparable to computers on the same platform. And the new operating system is also different in the frequency of new versions - not every few years, but 1-2 times a year. Moreover, even after updating Windows 10 Mobile, the name of the platform remains the same. Only the version number changes and, sometimes, the build, of which there are now three - 1507, 1511 and 1607. And in April 2017, Windows 10 Mobile 1704 is expected to be released. The name of each build consists of two digits - the year and month of its release.

Where can I find information about Windows 10 Mobile updates?

To determine which version of the update is currently current, you can use information from the official Microsoft page. Starting in 2017, here is a history of the latest changes to the operating system, including platforms for PCs and mobile gadgets. In this list you can find serious additions, released in entire packages 1-2 times a year, and the latest cumulative update, which appears much more often for Windows 10 Mobile, designed to fix minor vulnerabilities and errors.

The decision to create such a page was made by company representatives after receiving a number of reviews from users of the mobile and standard versions of the operating system. At first, the data was available only in English, but now information about platform updates can also be read in Russian. As a result, it has become easier for users to control the occurrence of changes by promptly updating the software of their tablets and smartphones.

Official updates for Windows Mobile builds 1511 and 1607

The manufacturer's page contains information about the latest Windows 10 Mobile update, what's new in it, and what new features have been introduced by the developer. Thus, the newest version of the Anniversary Update, released in July 2016 (build 1607) offers:

improved playback of music files;
solving the problem with the screen not turning on after checking fingerprints;
ability to work with multiple certificates through one interface;
full communication of the smart card module with contactless devices for reading them;
enabling web page shortcuts using the IE browser when working in Enhanced Protected Mode.

For this, the latest build of Windows 10 Mobile, the latest update number is 14393.693. ID – KB3213986, release date – January 10, 2017. At the same time, you can also find updates for older builds on the page. For example, for Windows 10 version 1511, to which the latest upgrade with number 10586.545 (identifier KB3176493) was released on August 9, 2016. The first build of Windows 10 for mobile devices, 1507 (July 2015), has not been supported by the manufacturer since 2017. And packages for fixing errors and vulnerabilities are not released for it.

Despite the almost monthly appearance of new versions of Windows 10 Mobile, reviews left for the latest updates show that not all of them are successful. Thus, users report that after installing patch 14393.693, some applications did not start. To solve the problem, I had to use the Recovery Tool utility. The developer reports that in the new build 1704 all these errors will be corrected.

Windows 10 Mobile updates by evaluation program

In addition to official updates available for download from Microsoft, the company releases versions only for participants in the testing program. These users have different access levels:

“early” – the group that receives packages with the newest features and, generally, with a large number of bugs;
“late” – to receive already fixed updates;
“pre-release” – for testing packages before the official release.

Currently, the latest Windows Phone 10 Mobile update for testing programs, released on March 3, 2017, is number 15047. For the PC version of the operating system, patch number 15051 has already appeared. At the same time, downloading updates for “late” testing (Slow Ring) is available and for ordinary users on the developer’s website.

You can find out which patch package is installed on your smartphone using the settings menu. To do this, go to the About section. The number of the installed update (OS Build) will be indicated here. And using the Phone Update section, you can find out which package is available for installation and download it to your smartphone.