Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2 (GDR2): Changelog & all that you need to know

Lumia 540 GDR2

The second Windows Phone 8.1 update, Windows Phone 8.1 GDR2 aka Windows Phone 8.1 update 2 has been finally revealed coming out with recently announced Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL, as expected by us.

If you remember, GDR2 was supposed to be out in October but it was later scraped it seems and some of its tipped changes like “Mobile Data Toggle” and Cortana for more arrived with GDR1 version 8.10.14219.314. From the changelog, Windows Phone 8.1 GDR2 looks like the transitory update from Windows Phone 8.1 to Windows 10 for Phones. You can have a look at all the changes that this update brings below. The update can hit normal devices in May-June while developer preview devices may get it in coming weeks.

Windows Phone 8.1 update 2 (GDR2) changelog

Hands-on Demo video (Lumia 540):

Watch Windows Phone 8.1 update 2 (GDR2) in hands-on action on a Lumia 540. We have demoed all the changes that GDR2 brings.

From OEM documentation:

Video Over LTE support

Route an SMS message to a partner application

More Phone languages,

Bangla (Bangladesh)

Khmer

Kiswahili

Lao

From screenshots:

The arrow at the bottom of tiles is without circle and All Apps is written before it.

GDR2.1Settings were redesigned (as we had reported). Settings are categorized under broader headings like we have seen on Windows 10 for Phones.

GDR2.3Search option at the bottom of the screen to enable direct searching for settings.

GDR2.2Settings can be pinned to the start screen:

wp_ss_20150603_0006Privacy settings & App permissions: App permissions can be individually managed.

GDR2.5You can change the name of the phone on the phone itself.   GDR2.4 Double tap on navigation bar to lock

Lumia 540 GDR2

Reset Protection:

As per the official documentation, the reset protection feature is only available for new Lumia phones running build 8.10.15127.138. But this feature is not available in all the regions and I can’t see it on my Lumia 640 XL or Lumia 540 (India). Here is how to use reset protection and switch on or off.

Anti-theftSupport for MKV video playback.

Bluetooth Keyboard support finally added.

mk_UFK_blk_largeThe Windows Phone 8.1 GDR2 version starts from 8.10.15XXX and is now rolling out to Lumia 735 and Lumia 830.

More coverage:

[GDR2]  [Windows Phone 8.1 GDR2]