Lumia Camera app fixed on Windows 10 Mobile for Lumia 1020

The most recent Windows 10 Mobile insider preview build 10549 has been released to the insiders as a single update from Windows Phone 8.1. This build brings back the Lumia Camera app to Lumia 1020 users.

While Windows 10 has been released to public for a few months, Windows 10 Mobile is still in process of development but keen users and enthusiasts have been with the inside development builds to taste the real new platform before other users. If you are one of those, you would know that ever since earlier Windows 10 Mobile builds, Lumia Camera app was working on a few of Lumia devices, leaving the users – probably most desiring ones, with Lumia 1020 out of the circle.

As reported in the previous build 10536 announcement that after upgrading to that specific preview build, the Lumia 1020 will loose on the installed Lumia Camera app and users won’t be able to install it from Store as well as it’s not available for devices running Windows 10 Mobile.

Well loosing that app wouldn’t have been a problem for many but the users with Nokia Lumia 1020, must have felt the loss as the phone takes a 41 MP image and uses oversampling technique to make 5 MP detailed image. The feature of course is present on devices with 20 MP camera but sure the Lumia 1020 makes a good use of it with providing DNG raw image format. This feature only was present with Lumia Camera app, hence it was completely lost on Lumia 1020 after Windows 10 Mobile upgrade – as the native Windows camera app can’t do any better with those 41 megapixels on board.

Just for a note that Windows 10 Mobile is still in process of development and have a little kinks around within the platform. As well Microsoft has clearly mentioned that you shouldn’t be upgrading to preview builds if you use your phone as a primary device. It’s just on your head if you want to try it or not. But if you have already participated to take insider preview and have Lumia 1020, you won’t be able to get the latest build 10549 via OTA. Here’s how you would get it.

Upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview Build 10549

As mentioned, the Lumia Camera app is still not available from Windows Store for Windows 10 Mobile devices, you can’t just install it back on your Lumia 1020 or any other Lumia device. Second, as you have already been on preview build 10536 with the loss of Lumia Camera app, you will have to get back to Windows Phone 8.1 first, install/update the Lumia Camera app on your Lumia 1020, then upgrade to the latest preview build 10549. In simple, following the steps below.

1. Roll back to Windows Phone 8.1 using Windows Device Recovery Tool.
2. Install or update the Lumia Camera app from store.
3. Download and install Windows Insider App and follow the instructions.

After upgrading to the latest build, the Lumia Camera app will remain installed.

Other Fixes with the Build

There is also a list of fixes the build has brought up including Windows Camera app crashes, touch keyboard disappearing, malformed screenshots, issues with the apps installed on SD card, pinch to zoom issue in Maps, call-blocking and a few more.

However there is also a couple of known issues which are still present in the latest build but temporary work-around is also there.