How to Install Windows Phone 8.1.1 and Denim on Your Lumia Icon Right Now!

UPDATE: Microsoft now says that this update is rolling out officially. So if you don’t want to wipe out your phone, you may want to simply check for updates throughout the day. –Paul

Lumia Icon owners rejoice: Verizon is poised to officially deliver Windows Phone 8.1.1 and the Lumia Denim firmware updates—which include all of the features from previously passed-over updates like Windows Phone 8.1 and Lumia Cyan—to your handset. But you don’t need to wait: here’s how you can update your Icon right now.

I’ll be quick. I know you’ve been waiting forever for these updates. But just one note up front: This process will erase all of the personal content on your phone. So make sure everything is backed up, both using the built-in cloud backup capabilities on the device and, perhaps, some manual copying to the PC over USB.

OK, two notes. You perform this update at your own risk. I’ll try to help as much as I can, but if this goes south, it’s on you to schlep back to Verizon and hope for the best. If recovering your phone this way makes you nervous, just wait for the official update. It is imminent.

Ready? Let’s go!

First, install and update the Lumia Software Recovery Tool (or use the direct download link here).

Then, run the application. And then connect your Icon to your PC using a USB cable.

Click Install.

Verify you understand what you’re doing. And then click Continue. The software updates will be downloaded to your PC.

Once that’s complete, your phone will be updated. To depress the rising excitement, maybe you should pace around the room a bit or do some air fist pumps. Whatever gets the adrenaline out.

Finally, the update is complete. Your phone will reboot. Success!

On the phone, you will need to step through initial Setup, as if it was a new phone—which it is, now—or as if you had reset it. But when that’s done … voila! You’re all up to date.

Thanks to @SpaceyO2 on Twitter for tipping me off to this release!