How to download Windows 10 Mobile on Lumia 520

To download and install Windows 10 Mobile on the Lumia 520, which is an unsupported phone, you need to join the Windows Insider Program. Then, you must download the Windows Insider app from Microsoft’s website and enrol in the Release Preview Ring. Once done, the Lumia 520 will begin seeing the update.

Yesterday, Microsoft officially announced Windows 10 Mobile for selected Lumia devices, leaving around 40% of Lumia models ineligible for the update. If you are wondering how to download Windows 10 Mobile on Lumia 520 or any unsupported Lumia, read below. If your device is on the supported list, please follow this guide instead.

How do you run Windows 10 Mobile on a Lumia 520?

The Windows Insider Program is the best way to get Windows 10 Mobile on Lumia 520 or any Lumia without taking significant risks. Note that Windows 10 Mobile for devices with 512MB RAM or any unsupported Lumia may not perform as smoothly as expected.

This guide will allow you to get Windows 10 Mobile, either the official or latest version, such as Build 10586.164, on your Lumia device:

  1. Sign up for the Windows Insider Program, if you haven’t already.
  2. Download the Windows Insider app from Microsoft’s website, or search for the Windows Insider app in the Store on your phone.
  3. Once the app finishes downloading, open the Windows Insider app on your phone and follow the instructions to install Windows 10 Mobile. On the screen, you will see several options like the Fast ring or Slow ring.
  4. Choose “Release Preview ring” and restart your phone. Selecting other rings may install builds with more bugs.
  5. Go to Phone Settings > Update and start downloading Windows 10 Mobile.

Finally, you’ll be running the new OS on your old Lumia. In our tests, Windows Latest observed that the Lumia 520 struggles to run Windows 10 Mobile. There are rough edges, apps crashing and failing to load.

Lumia 520

In some cases, WindowsLatest.com tests revealed that it’s impossible to have more than five apps open at the same time without other apps failing to resume the content.

The RAM management is a mess, but one can hope situation will eventually get better.

About The Author

Mayank Parmar

Mayank Parmar is an entrepreneur who founded Windows Latest. He is the Editor-in-Chief and has written on various topics in his seven years of career, but he is mostly known for his well-researched work on Microsoft's Windows. His articles and research works have been referred to by CNN, Business Insiders, Forbes, Fortune, CBS Interactive, Microsoft and many others over the years.

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