Microsoft has officially released Windows Phone 8.1 developer preview starting today and it will be available to registered developers in a (probable) staged roll out depending on the region.
If you want to get your hands onto the developer preview of Windows Phone 8.1 and want to be the first one to get the finished version of Windows Phone 8.1 when it does get released, here are the steps you need to follow.
Register as a developer
You need to first register as a developer with the Microsoft developer program. This process is free and you will not be required to pay a single cent / penny for it. Also you need not be a developer to actually register as a developer with Microsoft.
The trick is to register using the free App Studio that Microsoft released recently. Use the same email address as you have used on your Windows Phone handset and register as a developer.
Download Preview for Developers app
Preview for Developers app is basically an app that configures your phone to receive developer previews of software updates that are yet to be released by Microsoft.
Download the app from this location and install it on your Windows Phone handset.
Once installed, run the app and agree to the Terms and Conditions, sign-in using the Microsoft account using which you registered as a developer. Then agree to enable Preview for Developers and click done to complete the process.
Check for phone updates
Navigate to Settings -> Phone Update and tap on check for updates. This will connect through to Microsoft servers and check for Windows Phone 8.1 developer preview.
Your Windows Phone handset should find the developer preview update and begin downloading it.
Things to keep in mind
- You will receive Windows Phone 8.1 developer preview as soon as it is made available by Microsoft in your region
- We recommend you be on a Wi-Fi connection to download the Windows Phone 8.1 developer preview
- You won’t be able to roll back to Windows Phone 8
- You will only be receiving Microsoft updates and none of the carrier updates will be available
- You will receive finished Windows Phone 8.1 once it is released by Microsoft
When I do this it eventually leads to a subscription/ enroll area where, i can pay 19.00 and register as an individual or register as acompany for more.
Worked for me, I have cheap lumia 521, what device are you using?
The 822 i just got the 155 update, so it must have worked?
This will result in manufacture warranty void
Ravi, can you explain your statement “You will only be receiving Microsoft updates and none of the carrier updated will be available”. Is it for this time only or for forever in the future. I understand the later updates by OEM and Carriers should still be available to download for the users registered as Developers.
Hi Majid,
This is for the time being only. As soon as carriers will start officially rolling out their own updates post testing, your handset should alert you about the updates.
Beyond that you should also get alerts from Microsoft about the updates that they may have added post the developer preview release for the final release.
Hope this helps.
Windows Phone 8.1 has not been released yet. Wait for just few more days. Your phone might have updated to Windows Phone 8.0 GDR3.
Thank you for this article Ravi, very helpful!
I have a Lumia 822 which I upgraded to 8.1 If I buy another Lumia, can I upgrade it as well to 8.1, our it’s it a one time use? Thanks!
Actually, yeah. My 521 said it had to update to a newer 8.0 right before it could do 8.1. I did this 15 days ago so it was already released unlike what majid said. I’m guessing by now you’ve figured this out but just felt like putting this out there.