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We periodically release Windows Phone
software updates to add new features you've
asked for and to maximize your phone's
performance. When a software update is
available for you to download, we'll notify
you on your phone. To learn what's included in each update and
determine which version of Windows Phone
you have now, see Phone updates FAQ. NotesIf your phone uses Windows Phone 7
software, it can't be updated to Windows
Phone 8. See Which version of Windows Phone do I have? if you're not sure what's on your phone. If you use a Mac, you'll need to use the
Windows Phone app for Mac (formerly the
Windows Phone Connector for Mac). To learn
more, see Sync and get updates with my Mac . Windows 8 Pro supports the Zune software,
but Windows RT does not. How to prepare for an update 1. Install the Zune software on your PC. You'll need this software to download the phone
update. 2. If your battery level is low, give your phone
a quick charge before starting the update. For
more info, see My battery is too low to update my phone. 3. Make some room on your phone for the
update. If necessary, remove a few
unwanted apps or other large items. To see how much free space you have on
your phone, on Start, flick left to the App list, tap Settings > About, and look at the number to the right of Available storage. For more info, see Make room on my phone to update it. 4. Free up space on your computer. We'll need some room to download the
software update, to save a backup of your
existing phone software and settings, and
possibly to sync media files from your phone
to your computer. For more info, see Make room on my computer for phone updates . 5. Make sure your computer has a reliable
Internet connection. In some cases, you might need to switch
from a wireless (Wi-Fi) connection to a wired
(Ethernet) connection. Or you might need to
adjust your computer's firewall or proxy
settings. For more info, see the Network connection problems in Windows tutorial. 6. Verify that your phone is set to the correct
date and time. That'll help us determine
which updates you need. For more info, see Correct my date and time to update my
phone. How to install an update 1. When an update is available, we'll notify you
on your phone. After you see the notification,
pick a convenient time to install the update on
your phone. The process can take up to an
hour. If you miss the notification or don't have time
to install the update, we'll remind you again
in a few days. 2. Connect your phone to your primary
computer—the first one you connected your
phone to—using the USB cable that came with
your phone. If you're using a different computer than you
normally use, please see some important
information in the Notes below. 3. If the Zune software doesn't start
automatically when you connect your phone,
start it manually. 4. We might ask you to update the Zune
software. If we do, just follow the on-screen
instructions. Then restart the sync software. 5. In the Zune software, click Update Now. Make sure you keep your phone connected to
your computer until you see a notification
that the update is complete. NotesWhen you connect your phone to a PC for the
first time, the Zune software will
automatically create a primary sync
relationship between your phone and that
computer. Other computers you connect to
after that will have a guest sync relationship with your phone. Your primary computer
remembers your linked phone and all of its
settings and history, so it's the only computer that will create a backup of your
phone during the update process. That's why
we recommend that you only use your
primary computer to update your phone
software. If you need to use a different
computer, see Syncing your phone to another computer. To check if an update is available for your
phone, on Start, flick left to the App list, tap Settings , and then tap Phone update. By default, your phone uses your cellular
data connection to check for updates and
notifies you when an update is found. To
change the type of connection for future
updates, do this: on Start, flick left to the App list, tap Settings , and then tap Phone update. Although we notify you "over the air" (via
your phone's data connection) when an
update is available to download, we don't
deliver the actual software update over the
air. You must connect your phone to your
computer to download and install available updates. When you install an update, all of your
settings, apps, and media files are
preserved.
