Indeed there is a way to downgrade your Windows Phone from 8.1 to Windows Phone 8.0

posted by Maxwell R.

Apr 21, 2014, 2:02 AM

Indeed there is a way to downgrade your Windows Phone from 8.1 to Windows Phone 8.0

Even before Microsoft released the developer preview of Windows Phone 8.1, it was a given that it would be a one-way trip. Obtaining the developer preview is easy even if you are not a developer, and the upgrade itself is pretty much painless, making it easy to choose the red pill.

Enough people chose the red pill that it crashed Microsoft’s App Studio for a few hours when the developer preview for Windows Phone 8.1 dropped last Monday.

However, since the OS is not optimized with carrier and manufacturer settings in mind, it is not perfect. Some people have noted a decrease in battery performance, devices getting warm, we have seen some folks saying that Bluetooth connectivity was a crapshoot, and of course, some general bugs.

For the geeks in the room, they are more than likely willing to put up with these issues while they continue tinkering with Windows Phone 8.1 and learn more about what to expect when it finally has its commercial rollout later this summer. For others some of the changes they are seeing are bringing feelings of buyer’s remorse, and perhaps they wish they took the blue pill instead. Alas, they should have known it would be a one-way trip.

Not so fast! There is indeed a way to bring your device back, and on the face of it, it is not terribly complicated, but all indicators are that it will be somewhat time consuming.

Alin Gheaja uploaded a video in which he claims he has been able to reflash his Lumia 720 several times successfully from Windows Phone 8.1 to Windows Phone 8.0. Perhaps not ironically, it is Nokia’s own desktop software that does the heavy lifting.

The process itself is pretty simple:

Back up your data, because you will lose it
Download and install Nokia Software Updater (see below the source link)
Connect your Windows Phone with the screen unlocked and Nokia Software Updater running
The app will say there is an update available
Follow the prompts to install the “new” firmware

Surprisingly, that is it. Alin’s video is below. Everything is pretty basic, so you should fare okay if you choose to give it a shot. Just remember the caveats and we offer no guarantees. It is safe to assume that this procedure would not work with a Samsung, Huawei or HTC Windows Phone, but chances are if you have a Windows Phone it is a Nokia anyway. Let us know if decide to take your Windows Phone back to 8.0 and why. Also let us know if you were successful in the endeavor.

As for us, we are staying in Wonderland to see how deep the rabbit hole goes.

sources: Alin Gheaja (YouTube) via WMPoweruser

Download Nokia Software Updater (will prompt to download installer)

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70 Comments

70. jwbolin

Posts: 1; Member since: May 19, 2014

Instead of bickering over who made who, can we concentrate on the article at hand? I'm curious how doing this process affects carrier information (if at all). Has anyone tried this yet?

posted on May 19, 2014, 4:53 PM 0

69. steelicon

Posts: 318; Member since: Apr 02, 2011

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/29/symbian_history_part_two_ui_wars/

posted on Apr 22, 2014, 9:17 AM 0

68. steelicon

Posts: 318; Member since: Apr 02, 2011

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/23/symbian_history_part_one_dark_star/

posted on Apr 22, 2014, 9:14 AM 0

44. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

The Android haters again, never gets old, saying that Nokia is the reason WP sold is like saying Samsung and the thousand other OEM's are the only reason Android sold, its common sense that OEM sells software regardless of platform, common sense is a rarity these days. Secondly WP did not kill Nokia WP saved saved, where do these people get these ideas, they obviously don't know a whole lot of what they write about, Nokias lack of insight of how quickly users were adopting to smartphones destroyed Symbian, please read the Burning platform memo educate yourselves. Lastly those hating on WP should realize it influenced everyone else in mobile to go flat, it is a trendsetter.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 10:29 AM 3

48. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

They dont like reading the burning platform memo because it came from Elop an MS spy. When in reality, symbian was a complete mess that even cisco didnt want to play with. Meego was a mess that intel, nokia, amd couldnt sort out. MS and the WP7 platform allowed nokia to focus on hardware, sure so would have droid, but again droid had 3 players, htc, moto, samsung. Plus if droid would have failed them what OEM would have bought them? Maybe google would have, and we would have the same thing that moto had, a stripped company with no patents to hold....but wait google is god we forgot.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 11:24 AM 0

35. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

I wish it was that easy for Android... Been saying this since it launched.... before WP, Win Mo was more open than Android as far as having access to the entire system and things like this. Good to see MS hasnt really changed in this aspect.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 9:42 AM 0

39. AfterShock

Posts: 4147; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

What part is not as easy, sorry I don't get that drift? The good old registry days, they rocked for tweaking, I agree. Then they lost their way, burnt the bridges behind them an forced a GUI the majority of the world dislikes.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 10:04 AM 2

51. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

To downgrade on Android....you have to be rooted. Unless its also OEM specific and on Samsung KIES thing it can be done. I have no experience with that. Rooting is easy...easier if you have one click options. But this Nokia way just seems easier. And I agree...MS, HTC was on the right track with the HD2...wish they would have just responded quicker to the changing mobile phone space..

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 12:19 PM 1

33. eharris560

Posts: 78; Member since: Dec 28, 2012

90+% of the comments are not even about the article.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 9:36 AM 2

30. dubbsix

Posts: 13; Member since: Oct 19, 2012

I agree. Windows 8.1 is actually pretty good and I dont see anyone ever looking back -- unless they have to return the phone to stock for warranty.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 9:20 AM 0

16. amsam7

Posts: 10; Member since: Apr 07, 2014

Meego was the huge wave that nokia bought into the market, Microsoft knew it and what they did they made a contract with stephen elop and made a no way to go and called Symbian "a burning platform" and he simply made it to windows phone. It was all pre-planned by Microsoft. To compete the market with goole and apple they needed a top share and phone maker which was Nokia themself.,they needed a best hardware company which Nokia was and you well know what happened.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 5:38 AM 2

26. NokiaFTW

Posts: 2072; Member since: Oct 24, 2012

Wow! That was a huge load of BS. You might make a good movie director. Go to Hollywood or Bollywood. This is a tech site.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 7:56 AM 1

46. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

Meego was actually a mess, between intel and nokia and even amd, it was just a mess.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 11:21 AM 0

15. rsiders

Posts: 2068; Member since: Nov 17, 2011

Windows Phone 8.1 is amazing and this is a preview after all. Even with the small bugs here and there why would you want to go back? I'm really enjoying all the new features.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 5:18 AM 3

4. kdealltheway

Posts: 94; Member since: Oct 21, 2012

My camera stoped working on 925.1 lumia, so I will return to ver 8 until official update...

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 3:11 AM 1

13. Deaconclgi

Posts: 405; Member since: Nov 03, 2012

Reinstall Nokia Camera from the store. That should fix it.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 4:39 AM 1

19. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

all camera apps? My 925 has no issues. try reinstalling the cam app, and making sure all updates are installed. Also download the diagnostics tool from MS, so you can send the bug in, you know like a dev would do.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 6:46 AM 1

3. mr2009

Posts: 34; Member since: Mar 26, 2013

i think most Lumia user knows what NSU for with or without WP8.1...

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 3:11 AM 1

10. ihavenoname

Posts: 1693; Member since: Aug 18, 2013

What?

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 4:11 AM 1

1. alterecho

Posts: 1106; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

Windows Phone wouldn't have survived without Nokia.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 2:11 AM 21

2. tech2

Posts: 3487; Member since: Oct 26, 2012

And vice versa

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 2:28 AM 9

5. alterecho

Posts: 1106; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

Without Microsoft/Windows Phone holding it back, Nokia would have dominated the market. Try to vice versa above statement, and you will realize.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 3:21 AM 9

7. tech2

Posts: 3487; Member since: Oct 26, 2012

How was MS holding'em back when they were already burning cash, kept losing market share at a steady pace and were struggling to compete with android and ios's offerings ? Yes they could've developed their existing OS but they didn't that's their own fault. They only thing keeping them afloat was their feature phone lineup. Microsoft injected the all necessary cash in to their business which they badly needed. Even now if MS didn't rescue them they would've been wiped a long time ago.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 3:32 AM 5

11. alterecho

Posts: 1106; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

"How was MS holding'em back when they were already burning cash, kept losing market share at a steady pace and were struggling to compete with android and ios's offerings ?” Yes. "Yes they could've developed their existing OS but they didn't that's their own fault.” Really?http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2387559,00.asp "They only thing keeping them afloat was their feature phone lineup.”http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/images/news/smartphone_os_unit_sales_(based_on_gartner_and_idc_figures).png "Microsoft injected the all necessary cash in to their business which they badly needed.” Its Microsoft that needed someone to push the WP. "Even now if MS didn't rescue them they would've been wiped a long time ago.” If Nokia didn’t rescue Windows Phone, WP would have been wiped off, just like Microsoft’s previous attempts, those Kin phones.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 4:16 AM 2

14. tech2

Posts: 3487; Member since: Oct 26, 2012

That PC Mag article just goes to prove my point. They decided to stick to WP and not to develop Meego. "They only thing keeping them afloat was their feature phone lineup.” Nice graph but high unit sales doesn't mean high profits. 'Its Microsoft that needed someone to push the WP' Nokia needed them too because they were making loss.http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-income-for-apple-nokia-motorola-rim-2010-9 'If Nokia didn’t rescue Windows Phone, WP would have been wiped off, just like Microsoft’s previous attempts, those Kin phones.' Lets assume for a sec your 'if' analysis is true. Even then all MS would loose is a mobile OS platform and they would back to drawing board and start again which they can afford to considering how filthy rich they are. Unlike Nokia for whom WP was their last shot. That's why Nokia needed MS more than MS needed Nokia.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 4:41 AM 3

22. alterecho

Posts: 1106; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

"They decided to stick to WP and not to develop Meego.” Its not ‘they’, it was Elop. Because of which many left Nokia on their own. "Nice graph but high unit sales doesn't mean high profits.” Nice attempt, but Nokia were still selling more Symbian device than Android devices being sold. "Nokia needed them too because they were making loss” Nokia needed a good OS, which they should have developed, if it weren’t for Elop strangling MeeGo, slashing off Symbian and preventing the adoption of Android. 'If Nokia didn’t rescue Windows Phone, WP would have been wiped off, just like Microsoft’s previous attempts, those Kin phones.' "Lets assume for a sec your 'if' analysis is true.” You don’t need to ‘assume’ facts. "Even then all MS would loose is a mobile OS platform and they would back to drawing board and start again which they can afford to considering how filthy rich they are.” And i said 'Microsoft would have been wiped off’, where? Are you rephrasing what i said, to make it look like you were right? " Unlike Nokia for whom WP was their last shot.” It was made a last shot because of Elop. "That's why Nokia needed MS” To drive them straight into the ground, so that they can be bought by it? "more than MS needed Nokia.” MS’s Windows Phone division needed Nokia, sorely.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 7:07 AM 2

41. tech2

Posts: 3487; Member since: Oct 26, 2012

'Nice attempt, but Nokia were still selling more Symbian device than Android devices being sold.' -AGAIN, sales mean nothing if you can't generate profit from it. 'Its not ‘they’, it was Elop. Because of which many left Nokia on their own. Nokia needed a good OS, which they should have developed, if it weren’t for Elop strangling MeeGo, slashing off Symbian and preventing the adoption of Android' -Funny how Elop gets blamed for every wrong decision Nokia makes when they're the ones to appoint him as a CEO. So if he made a bad decision Nokia is equally responsible as they appointed him as the CEO. He just didn't appear from thin-air. 'If Nokia didn’t rescue Windows Phone, WP would have been wiped off, just like Microsoft’s previous attempts, those Kin phones.' 'You don’t need to ‘assume’ facts.' -So what you're saying is Nokia rescued WP. If so, why is the rescuer being rescued then ? NOKIA DID NOT RESCUE WP. WP is beyond rescuing IMO. Although Nokia did made them popular. 'And i said 'Microsoft would have been wiped off’, where? Are you rephrasing what i said, to make it look like you were right?' -It was written in context to WP not MS. Re-read the comment. 'It was made a last shot because of Elop.' Strongly disagree for the reasons I wrote in first comment, to which you agreed too. 'MS’s Windows Phone division needed Nokia, sorely.' WP needed them not MS. No matter what, you can't deny the fact that Nokia needed them too and all that necessary cash injection from MS. Anyway, we gotta agree to disagree on this one. Nice talking to ya. Cheers.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 10:11 AM 0

47. alterecho

Posts: 1106; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

"-AGAIN, sales mean nothing if you can't generate profit from it.” It would have if Nokia wasn’t confined to Windows Phone. 'Its not ‘they’, it was Elop. Because of which many left Nokia on their own. Nokia needed a good OS, which they should have developed, if it weren’t for Elop strangling MeeGo, slashing off Symbian and preventing the adoption of Android' "-Funny how Elop gets blamed for every wrong decision Nokia makes when they're the ones to appoint him as a CEO.” Which is why i’m angry at the board too. But they to wouldn’t have known. "He just didn't appear from thin-air.” He appeared from Microsoft. "-So what you're saying is Nokia rescued WP. If so, why is the rescuer being rescued then ?” They weren’t rescued, they have been assimilated to so that Microsoft can be rescued everytime. "NOKIA DID NOT RESCUE WP.” How can ANYONE lie like this. But since you are a WP fanboy, thats expected. "WP is beyond rescuing IMO.” It was before Nokia stepped in. "Although Nokia did made them popular.” It rescued them. "-It was written in context to WP not MS. Re-read the comment." Changing context doesn’t hide the fact that you accused me of claiming that. "Strongly disagree for the reasons I wrote in first comment, to which you agreed too.” Which is? "WP needed them not MS.” Thats what i said. "No matter what, you can't deny the fact that Nokia needed them too and all that necessary cash injection from MS.” Nokia needed cash yes. Needed Microsoft, NO. It needed to adopt a good OS. "Anyway, we gotta agree to disagree on this one.” You gotta agree to the fact that Nokia saved WP.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 11:24 AM 1

56. -box-

Posts: 3991; Member since: Jan 04, 2012

No. For the last time, no. Elop is/was answerable to the board of directors, and did as directed by them. He wasn't some tyrannical dictator who sought to kill Symbian and MeeGo for the sake of WP, he did what he was told to do, and, honestly, it has kept Nokia alive. If the BoD decided Android or MeeGo or being acquired by apple or Samsung or Motorola was the best course of action, they would have pursued that. While Symbian (and to an extent, MeeGo) are natively the most capable mobile OSes yet made in large numbers (and, yes, including android), they aren't the most user-friendly (but better than IOS, IMHO), nor greatly appealing to the mass market, which are some things WP has over them.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 2:36 PM 1

64. alterecho

Posts: 1106; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

"No. For the last time, no. Elop is/was answerable to the board of directors" Thats why i blame them too. But, it was Elop who coaxed them. He WAS the CEO at that time. He was supposed to come up with the course of action.

posted on Apr 21, 2014, 9:05 PM 0

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