The wait is finally over, Microsoft pushed the big red button and has begun pushing out Windows 10 mobile for existing devices. If your device is set to receive the new OS, you can check for the update now by searching for the update in Windows update inside the Settings menu.
This is a big update for anyone who is currently running Windows Phone 8 and brings the older devices new features like a refreshed Start screen, improved Cortana integration, updated Live tiles, improved app support, enhancements to Action Center and the list goes on and on. Most importantly, this update brings the Windows 10 core to your device which makes your phone run more efficiently, capable of receiving updates faster, and it should sync better with its desktop counterpart.
To check if the upgrade is available for your phone, go to the Store, install the Upgrade Advisor app, run the app to see if the update is available, and then select Enable Windows 10 upgrade or see if your device is included in this list: Lumia 1520, 930, 640, 640XL, 730, 735, 830, 532, 535, 540, 635 1GB, 636 1GB, 638 1GB, 430, 435, BLU Win HD w510u, BLU Win HD LTE x150q, MCJ Madosma Q501. The company says that not every exsiting Windows Phone 8 device will get the upgrade as “many older devices are not able to successfully upgrade without an impact on the customer experience”.
If you upgrade and do not like the OS or are getting poor performance, it is possible to downgrade back ti Windows Phone 8 using the Windows Device Recovery Tool.
This release has been rumored for months, it was initially expected to arrive in December but the company has held back from releasing the update for unknown reasons. Whatever the delay, Microsoft has overcome the issue and is now ready to release the bits.
You can learn more about the update, here.