The Windows Insider Program gives users, known as Windows Insiders, early access to Windows releases before they are made available to everybody else.
While the idea of using the new features before anyone else is tempting, there are plenty of things to consider before you opt to be a Windows Insider.
In this article, we discuss what is the Windows 11 Insider Program, the different Windows Insider Channels, and things to consider before joining the program.
What Is the Windows Insider Program?
The Windows Insider Program is a Microsoft initiative for individuals and organizations. It allows early beta testers, known as Windows Insiders, to try the latest Windows builds with new features and improvements.
This allows the company to release new features, test them for stability, and check their viability in real-world scenarios by releasing the early builds to a limited user group.
The Windows Engineering team then uses the feedback to improve and fix any issues before they are rolled out as part of the final release. That said, not all the features seen in early versions of Windows make it to the public release.
What Are the Insider Channels (Rings)?
The Windows Insider Program offers multiple Insider Channels, also known as Rings. It includes the Canary Channel, Dev Channel, Beta Channel, and Release Preview Channel. While the Beta Channel is recommended for commercial users due to its reliability, more technical users and enthusiasts can opt for the Canary and Dev channels, respectively.
Let’s discuss these Windows Insider Channels briefly:
Things to Consider Before Joining the Windows Insider Program
While the idea of staying ahead of the curve and receiving the latest update before anybody else sounds intriguing, here are some potential downsides to consider:
How to Join the Windows Insider Program
Joining the Insider Program is a two-step process. First, you need to register using your Microsoft Account on the Windows Insider page online. Then complete the process from the Settings app. Here’s how to do it:
You can manually check for updates from the Windows Update tab. Go toSettings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
You can check your current preview build version in theAbout PCsection. To check your Insider preview build version and number:
How to Switch Between Channels
You can switch between different Insider channels from the Settings apps. However, there’s a caveat. While the Beta Channel and Release Preview Channel users can easily switch between channels, downgrading to an Insider Beta or Release Preview version from an Insider Dev Channel is an unlikely situation.
That said, occasionally, you may be able to switch from the Dev Channel, provided that your current build number is equal to or lower than the build number in the channel you want to move to. If not, you’ll need to do a clean installation of Windows and set up your device again for the Insider Program with your preferred channel.
To switch between the Insider channels:
How to Provide Feedback for the Insider Builds
After you have had the chance to explore the Insider Preview Builds, you’re able to submit your feedback to Microsoft. You can report issues, give your opinion on newer updates, and request for new features.
you may submit feedback using the Feedback Hub app. Here’s how to do it:
How to Leave the Insider Program
Windows offers two ways to leave the Insider Program. Beta and Preview Release can opt not to receive further preview builds when the next public version of Windows releases.
To stop getting preview builds and leave the Insider program:
Once enabled, you’ll need to wait till the next major public Windows build is released, and your device will be unenrolled from the Windows Insider Program. In the meantime, you’ll continue to receive preview builds to keep it up-to-date with security patches.
Unfortunately, if you opt for the Insider Canary Channel or Dev Channel,clean installing Windows 11is necessary to exit Windows Insider Program or change the Insider channel. Make sure to consider these downsides of the Insider Program before installing preview builds on your personal or work computer as a daily driver.
Windows Insider Program Is Great For Enthusiast, But Not For Everyone!
The idea behind the Windows Insider Program is to engage with a diverse community of Windows enthusiasts and users who are willing to test the early version of the operating system, preferably as a daily driver, and provide feedback.
However, be wary of installing any of the Insider channels builds on your work machine. Even less buggy builds like the Beta Channel and Release Preview may sometimes break your computer and require you to perform an in-place upgrade or clean install to fix the problem.
If you don’t have the luxury of multiple computers, a virtual machine is an ideal place to test the latest Windows 11 builds in isolation without affecting the host system.
