What Is Windows Insider Preview

All supported devices subsequently received Insider preview builds as far as build 15063, the "Creators Update", released on March 20, 2017. This included the official release of build 14393, the "Anniversary Update", on August 2, 2016. However, it was announced in April 2017 that many devices, including all third-generation Lumias, would not receive the RTM version of the Creators Update and further "Redstone" development builds, following feedback from users.

Of the devices that remain supported, nearly all, except the Lumia 640 and its XL variant, had originally come with Windows 10 Mobile instead of Windows Phone 8.1. However, the company did not provide any information at the time on whether new devices would be added to the preview program. Microsoft instead focused on promoting new devices that come with Windows 10 Mobile, including their Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL flagships, and the low-cost Lumia 550 and Lumia 650. Since their release, these new Windows 10 devices became eligible to receive future updates in advance via the Insider program, beginning with build on December 4, 2015. The Windows-based LG Lancet also received this version but has not been upgraded since. This week is al around managing Windows Insider Preview Builds.

Even though it's not a new subject, it's good to at least get a refresher. Especially when mentioning the Windows Insider Preview for Business program, as it's often still unknown. The fun part, however, is that it's actually pretty simple to get started. For organizations, the Windows Insider Preview for Business program enables them not having to register each device or user in the program and to easily set important policies around preview builds.

This update offers a few minor bug fixes and multiple security updates. Microsoft initially launched Windows 10 Technical Preview for certain third-generation phones from their Lumia family and subsequently released it to second-generation devices throughout the testing phase. Some hacked their non-Lumia phones to download the preview builds. To roll back the installed technical preview back to Windows Phone 8.1, Microsoft launched Windows Device Recovery Tool that removes Windows 10 and recovers the latest officially released software and firmware. Unlike updates released on Patch Tuesday, the preview updates only contain bug fixes, performance improvements and do not include any security updates. Windows users can install this update by going into Settings, clicking on Windows Update, and selecting 'Check for Updates.

This release fixes a bug and includes a variety of security updates. The bug fixed could damage the file system of some devices and prevent them from starting up after running chkdsk /f. Windows Insider Program is a software testing program by Microsoft for Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server. The user can opt in the program to test out new features and new versions of the operating system that were previously only accessible to developers. The first build that was released from the Insider Program was 9841. In addition, more builds are also released to other platforms and in different formats.

This build for Insiders who are on version 20H2 fixes a few minor bugs and includes a variety of security updates. Among the items fixed are an issue with creating null ports using the user interface, and another issue with a possible elevation of privilege in win32k. For each build, we've included the date of its release, which Insider channel it was released to, a summary of what's in the build, and a link to Microsoft's announcement about it. After that you'll find summaries of the preview builds that led up to earlier Windows 10 feature updates.

Because PCs with unsupported processors could not receive new features updates, Microsoft agreed to extend support for these PCs with the bug fixes and security updates for the latest compatible version of Windows 10. You may provide code, content, comments, feedback, suggestions, information, or materials via the Program Services ("Submission"). By providing a Submission, you are irrevocably granting Microsoft and its affiliated companies the right to make, use, modify, distribute, and otherwise commercialize the Submission in any way and for any purpose. You also give to third parties, without charge, any patent rights needed for their products, technologies, and services to use or interface with any specific parts of a Microsoft software or service that includes the Submission. You will not provide Submissions that are subject to a license that requires Microsoft to license its software or documentation to third parties because we include your Submission in them. You further grant the right to publish specific identifying information in connection with your Submission.

The rights under this section are granted under all applicable intellectual property rights you own or control and survive termination of this Agreement. No compensation will be paid with respect to the use of your Submissions. Microsoft is under no obligation to post or use any Submission, and Microsoft may remove any Submission at any time.

By providing a Submission you warrant that you own or otherwise control all of the rights to your Submission and that your Submission is not subject to any rights of a third party . The Program Services include experimental and early prerelease software. This means that you may experience occasional crashes and data loss.

To recover, you may have to reinstall your applications, the operating system, or re-flash your device. In some instances, once you install the Program Services software, you may not be able to go back to the prior version of the software. Additionally, the Program Services, if installed on a mobile device, may inadvertently damage your device rendering it inoperable. Using the Program Services on some devices may impact your warranty . Some features of the Program Services may require your device to access the internet or cellular network.

Your access and usage may be subject to the terms of your cellular or internet service provider agreement. Certain features of the Program Services may help you access the internet more efficiently, but the Program Services' usage calculations may be different from your service provider's measurements. You are always responsible for understanding and complying with the terms of your own plans and agreements, and for any issues arising from using or accessing networks, including public/open networks. You may use the Program Services to connect to networks and to share access information about those networks, only if you have permission to do so.

The Windows Insider Program is a way to beta test the upcoming build of Windows 10 Home and Professional. You can choose from three different channels allowing you to get the latest build, a slower build, or release previews. Windows Insiders help Microsoft find bugs before they are released to the public. For example, when you hear about a Feature Update being delayed, odds are Insiders discovered some of the bugs.

This build fixes a wide variety of bugs, including one that failed to apply machine Group Policy objects automatically at startup or in the background to devices on a domain that have certain processors, and another that incorrectly renders some variable fonts. In addition to its steady releases of major and minor updates to the current version of Windows 10, the company frequently rolls out public preview builds to members of its Windows Insider Program, allowing them to test out — and even help shape — upcoming features. Windows Insider ProgramThe Windows Insider Program has three levels to which they release the new features; Fast, Slow and Release Preview levels.

The Fast ring is first to receive unfinished builds/versions of an OS. Their feedback on issues they experience is addressed by Microsoft. Afterward, the now more stable build is released to the Slow ring. The same process is repeated and the build is eventually sent to the Release Preview ring.

Even now, the Dev channel is different from Windows 11 was initially in testing. Originally, Microsoft just released build 22000, and the rest was cumulative updates. Now, we're once again testing full builds of Windows in the Dev channel, so we'll have to wait for a pause before the next Magic Window. This should happen some time before the fall feature update.

Windows 11 Insider Preview Iso Download Size Preview build 10080, released on May 14, 2015, was the first to support a non-Lumia device, the HTC One M8 for Windows. This was followed up by Xiaomi who, in partnership with Microsoft, released a ROM port of Windows 10 to its flagship Mi 4 handset on June 1, 2015. At that time, it was limited to certain registered users in China. Build and its follow-up build also added support for fourth-generation Lumia devices. As a result, all compatible Windows Phone 8 or later Lumia phones now support the preview. 4.1 Microsoft may provide you with software through or as a part of the Program Services (collectively "Software").

Software includes Windows apps which are apps developed by Microsoft that provide functionality such as mail, calendar, contacts, and news that are included with and are a part of Windows. You may install and test any number of copies of the Software on your devices as detailed in section 4 until the Software's expiration date. Termination of use or access to the Program Services, or the termination of this Agreement, terminates your right to possess or use any such Software. Upon termination, follow the termination instructions in section 10. Microsoft's Windows Insider Program lets you test new updates and features before they're available to the general public. It's essentially enrolling your device in Microsoft's beta testing program.

As an Insider, you'll get updated builds for Windows products before they officially roll out. Windows Insider is an open software testing program by Microsoft that allows users who own a valid license of Windows 10 or Windows Server to register for pre-release builds of the operating system previously only accessible to software developers. Right now, Windows 11 build 22000.xxx is what's shipping in Release Preview, and that's no surprise. If you're still on Windows 10 and can't upgrade, there are version 21H2 builds in there too. For Windows 11 users, you won't see a new feature update in the Release Preview ring until a few weeks before it ships, and that's still summer 2022at the earliest, as it's more likely in the fall.

The Release Preview Channel typically doesn't see action until shortly before a new feature update is rolled out; it's meant for final testing of an upcoming release and is best for those who want the most stable builds. This is the only Insider channel that is receiving Windows 10 builds. If you were in the Dev or Beta Channel but your PC doesn't meet Windows 11 requirements, you have been moved to the Release Preview Channel. On July 17, 2017, reports began to come that Windows 10 Creators Update refused to install on PCs and tablets sporting Intel Atom "Clover Trail" processors. At first, it appeared as though this might have been a temporary block as Microsoft and hardware partners work to fix the issues preventing the operating system to run well. With the release of Windows 10, the Windows Insider app was merged with the Settings app.

This made the ability to install Windows Insider preview builds an optional feature which could be accessed directly from within Windows 10. Windows Insider is an open software testing program by Microsoft that allows users who own a valid license of Windows 11, Windows 10, or Windows Server to register for pre-release builds of the operating system previously only accessible to software developers. Because these devices do not meet the new hardware requirements, there may be issues and bugs that impact the experience of Windows 11 on these PCs that may not get fixed. Microsoft does not grant you any licenses or rights to the third party software. Although Microsoft rarely releases builds with major bugs, sometimes they may release a buggy build. This can make your computer unstable and force you into reinstalling Windows.

But keep in mind the whole point of this beta program is to release an unfinished program for testing. The target market for this program is users who like beta testing new software and early adopters. Besides, there is a specialized app that users can use to submit feedback on their experiences about the beta software. The feedback options are to write notes to the development team as well as submitting ratings of the experience. Users can visit Once registered, start Flighting to see what's next for Windows. Lastly, share your insights in the Feedback hub on the features, changes or issues you experienced.

The Beta Channel is for anyone who wants to test upcoming features or validate applications and deployments. The builds in this channel are somewhat stable, but you may still run into issues. Also, features that appear in this channel are expected to ship in the final release of Windows 11. For details see the release notes for November 2020 Security Updates. This update fixes a wide variety of bugs, including one that caused video playback to flicker when rendering on certain low-latency capable monitors, and another that prevented certain Win32 apps from opening as a different user when you use the runas command.

Since launching Windows 10 six years ago, a lot of hardware innovation has happened in the PC space. For Windows to move forward and take better advantage of the latest innovations, we need to update the baseline system requirements for modern PCs. As a result, Windows 11 has updated hardware requirements which will be reflected in the Windows Insider Program. This blog post will outline what this means for Insiders new to flighting as well as Insiders who have already been flighting Insider Preview builds. The Program Services update automatically, for example, through Windows Update, which cannot be turned off.

By using the Program Services, you agree to receive automatic updates without any additional notice, and permit Microsoft to download and install them for you. You agree to obtain these updates only from Microsoft or Microsoft authorized sources . The Program Services may have reduced or different security, privacy, accessibility, availability, and reliability standards relative to commercially provided services and software. We may change or discontinue the Program Services at any time without notice. Microsoft shows they are listening to customers by encouraging users to provide them with feedback on everything. Accordingly, this will include information like your ideas, bugs you experienced or suggestions you may have.

Also, don't be surprised to find an idea you suggested having been implemented into the next Windows version. So, Microsoft ensures those participating are aware that sometimes a released build can cause trouble to the user's computer. Also, it can result in the user needing to reinstall windows afresh. Here are a few pros and cons of joining the Windows Insider program. Although you can't roll back to the current release of Windows 11 , you can use an option to opt-out of the program, which will continue to download Insider builds.

However, once the final version is released, the device will gracefully be removed from the program. On Windows 11, using the Settings app, you can join your device into any of the three testing channels to get early access to new features and enhancements. The Insider Program is a community of Microsoft enthusiasts, programmers, and IT admins who want the latest version of Windows with the newest updates and features. Joining the program is free, and the number of new builds you get is based on your chosen channel. The Release Preview channel was born after Windows 10 was released.

While it wasn't the only purpose, a big thing at the time was Windows Phone and being upgraded to Windows 10 Mobile. Back then, Microsoft was releasing new flagship phones with Windows 10 Mobile in November 2015, but the OTA update for existing devices didn't start rolling out until March 2016. The Beta channel is still for cumulative updates to Windows 11 build 22000, also known as version 21H2. Unlike the Dev channel, the Beta channel is tied to a specific feature update.

While the Dev channel is supposed to be in a perpetual state of prerelease, at some point, those builds split off into a release branch, and that's what ends up in the Beta channel. If you're in the Dev channel, you can test out Windows 11 prerelease builds right now. These aren't tied to a specific update; they're meant to test out new features that may or may not arrive in production, and in no particular timeframe.

This Experience Pack build contains barely any new features because Microsoft is still testing out the process of delivering new features outside of major Windows 10 feature updates. Microsoft expects to expand the scope and the frequency of releases in the future. Eventually, Windows Feature Experience Pack updates will be folded into the existing servicing process for Windows 10 and delivered through Windows Update.

This build includes a variety of security updates for Windows App Platform and Frameworks, the Windows Kernel, Windows Media, the Microsoft Scripting Engine, and the Windows Silicon Platform. Microsoft is releasing only very minor changes to its Windows Feature Experience Packs for now, because it's testing the process of distributing them. Eventually the packs will be delivered via Windows update the way all other updates are delivered.