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How to downgrade your Nokia Lumia from Windows Phone 8.1 Preview (and get the official update)

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By Michael Heller

Published: Jul 24, 2014, 10:11 PM

How to downgrade your Nokia Lumia from Windows Phone 8.1 Preview (and get the official update)

AT&T began rolling out the Windows Phone 8.1 update (aka Cyan) for the Nokia Lumia 1520 today. Unfortunately, if you are one of the many who jumped on the wagon early with the Windows Phone 8.1 Preview, you may not see the official update coming to your device. The trouble is that Microsoft halted updates to the WP8.1 Preview, because of a bug that affected a small subset of users. This means, you'll have to downgrade your device before you can get the official update, and we're here to tell you how.

The two prerequisites are: you need a PC running Windows 7 or higher, and (of course) a Nokia Lumia running the Windows Phone 8.1 Preview. To start, always be sure to make a backup of your data by going to Settings ==> Backup ==> App + settings ==> Back up now. Once that bit of housekeeping is done, you'll need to download the appropriate Nokia Recovery Software Tool (links below). From there, it is pretty easy. Just, install the program, open it up, connect your phone to your PC via USB, do another backup (just in case), select the Windows Phone 8.0 software, and follow the instructions. The program will download the software and flash it to your phone (erasing everything in the process, so be sure to make those backups).

Once your phone is back on Windows Phone 8.0, it will just be a matter of checking for the official Cyan update as it becomes available for your Nokia. Seeing as how the Lumia 1520 update just started rolling out, it may not be available right away. Lastly, Microsoft could reverse its stance on providing updates directly from the preview software, so you can wait and see how it goes. But, there's no guarantee if or when that might happen.

Download: Nokia Recovery Software Tool (US & UK)

source: WPCentral

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Michael Heller is known for his clear and informative articles on mobile technology. He explores important topics such as the rollouts of 5G networks and the advancements in mobile payments, offering readers insights into the evolving tech landscape.