Can you update OS/firmware without active carrier subscription?

[kloar]

I have an old Lumia 920 that was on AT&T. I have since purchased a Lumia Icon and migrated my number/account to Verizon, thus cancelling my AT&T account. I keep the old 920 as a spare for some games, etc. I'm able to update apps over wifi, but not sure about OS & firmware updates. I try the "check for updates" method in the settings, but it just continuously looks for updates. Is this even possible to do?

 

[Cortimi]

I think you need to just have a "hot" carrier branded SIM. So for ATT, just go to WalMart and grab a $10 GoPhone BYOP SIM activation kit, create an account, let it assign a phone number and all that stuff. Get it right to the point where you would just need to add airtime to actually use it. Then check for updates.

 

[kloar]

Do you think I could just borrow someone's active AT&T sim card for 30-60 mins to upgrade it? I think I know some people on the network that would be willing to allow me to do so while on WiFi.

 

[philhachey]

Have you tried nokias software recovery tool? It will wipe your phone but it should recognize and upgrade it to cyan.

 

[theefman]

You don't need a SIM or any cellular connection, connect to WiFi and it'll grab any available updates.

Sent from my Surface Pro 3 using Tapatalk

 

[Jim Bob4]

Updated my old 521 without a SIM.

 

[xrs22]

I had a similar question for my Lumia 900, since I'm on Verizon now. I have to replace the digitizer but wondered if I can still update it without a carrier.

 

[NutmegState]

Can confirm, just tried it on a spare 920 which has a broken screen. Connect to Wifi and the update comes right through

 

[kloar]

Can confirm, just tried it on a spare 920 which has a broken screen. Connect to Wifi and the update comes right through

Interesting. Mine does not. Perhaps its another issue causing it not to update. I'm going to try the Nokia Software Recovery Tool to see if that works.

Yep, that worked.