Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview Expected Early Next Week: How to get it first

Windows Phone 8.1 software update was announced during the Build 2014 earlier this month, however an exact date of public release was not disclosed officially but a developer preview release was mentioned to be arrived on developer’s Windows Phone 8 devices just in the running month which also later started rumours for developer preview to be rolled out on April 10th which has turned wrong.

Head of Windows Phone program management, Joe Belfiore tweeted and has gave more specific ETA for the developer preview release which should be early next week.

Yowza, you’re going nuts 4 #WP8.1 dev preview. Everyone relax thru weekend, check in early next week. Enjoy Win8.1 update, write apps! :)

— joebelfiore (@joebelfiore) April 10, 2014

So why not get ready for this. You just need to be registered as a developer and enabled your device to receive early software updates. Just read on with a few steps to make your Windows Phone 8 device ready to receive Windows Phone 8.1 just before it’s released for public.

Step 1: Register as a developer

Very first thing to tell that it’s not going to take your money. It’s free. Thanks to Microsoft’s App Studio program.

• Visit the App Studio portal here (http://appstudio.windowsphone.com/).
• Sign in with your Windows Live account (the same account you have setup your Windows Phone with)
• Register as Developer (there is the link https://dev.windowsphone.com/en-us/join).

Step 2: Download “Preview for Developers” app

“Preview for Developers” app is a switch on your Windows Phone device to enable it for receiving early software updates which are intended for developers to preview their apps before releasing it to public.

• Download the “Preview for Developers” app on your Windows Phone device by clicking here.
• Run the app… Follow the instructions… and Sign in with the same account you have registered as a developer with (in step 1 above). The signing in will fail if you have not registered as a developer in step 1, so that’s a required step.
• Once signed in successfully, you will be provided with an interface with some instructions and overview of the app, some terms and conditions you will need to accept and then you can enable “Preview for Developers” option. Well! just enable it, and tap “done”.

Step 3: Check for Software Updates

Once your Windows Phone device has been enabled for Developer’s previews, your device is enabled to receive software updates that are intended for developers to trial and test before the actual consumers/public receive these updates on their devices.

• Just navigate to to your phone settings and check for updates. Go to “Settings > phone update” and tap “check for updates” button.

That’s it, for the purpose you are doing this. As soon as the Windows Phone 8.1 software update is available, it will start downloading and you will know how to proceed.

As Joe has mentioned you can relax throughout the weekend without the wait. The developer preview of Windows Phone 8.1 should start hitting developer’s devices (which are enabled with Preview for Developers) early next week. If you are not a developer has followed above procedure you should also get the update on your device.

PS. The software update is not reversible and you can not restore it to the older version once updated. So be careful as you will be stuck with issues appear in developer preview of Windows Phone 8.1.