How to get off Canary updates and get on Dev Channel in Windows Insider Program?

How do you get off the "Canary" builds updates and get on "Dev Channel" on Windows Insider Program? When I go to the Windows Insider tab in Windows Update, there are choices as to which type of updates you would like to receive. I am currently on the "Canary Channel" build selection, which is highlighted in the list. But this list also has "Dev Channel (Recommended)", "Beta Channel", and "Release Preview" which are all grayed out. I'd like to switch to the "Dev Channel (Recommended)" choice but I cannot since that bullet is grayed out. So how do I change it?

bob

No way other than a clean install AFAIK

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Changing Windows Insider channels​

These new channel options might make you want to change which Windows Insider builds you get.


If you’re in the Beta or Release Preview Channel, you can switch your device into Dev or Canary Channel by changing your Insider settings in Windows Settings.


If you’ve been in the old Dev Channel and prefer the idea of more stable builds while still seeing Microsoft’s new ideas for Windows fairly quickly, you can’t opt out of being moved to the Canary Channel. Instead, you have to perform a clean installation of Windows (Insiders who have problems using the Windows 11 media creation tool to do this will be able to order a clean installation kit from Microsoft) and then pick your Windows Insider channel again.


That’s because you can go from a lower build number of Windows to a higher build number, but you can’t go back from a higher build number to a lower one.


Similarly, once you’re in the Dev Channel, it’s harder to switch to anything except the Canary Channel, which will always have higher build numbers. Microsoft said there may be times when the Beta or Release Preview Channel will have builds with the same number as what’s in the Dev Channel, at which point you can change channels. Use the list of build numbers on the Windows Insider Flight Hub to keep an eye out.


Because the Beta Channel isn’t tied to specific Windows releases, you get an advanced look at features that might come in six months or 16 months. But that also means there isn’t an easy way to opt out of staying on Windows Insider builds the way you can with the Release Preview Channel every time a new Windows version ships. You can only choose Stop Getting Preview Builds under Settings | Windows Update | Windows Insider Program when the build you’re running is available as a stable, shipping version of Windows.


Microsoft now provides occasional off-ramps for the Beta Channel: If you want to unenroll your device, you need to do that very quickly because the current window only runs until March 8, 2023 (the day after Patch Tuesday delivers new features that have been in the Beta Channel). If you miss this window, there will be another off-ramp probably in the fall when the next annual release of Windows happens.


If a future off-ramp lines up with the right build numbers, you might be able to go from the Dev Channel to the Beta Channel and then turn off Windows Insider builds. But if you want to move from the new Canary Channel to any other Windows Insider channel or current release Windows, you will have to uninstall Windows, so make sure you’ll be comfortable doing that before you sign up.

Source : Microsoft's Windows Insider program changes include new Canary Channel

Just leave the insider program and then re-join again with different option -- choose DEV or whatever instead of the "Birdie" channel.

If "Down-sizing" or changing your installed W11 version to a "lower level build" you'll have to re-install from scratch again.

That's why where possible people should test these builds in VM's before they install on physical machines. If they don't like the build or it doesn't work just delete the VM -- no harm is done to the base OS.

Cheers
jimbo

Thank you for all your insightful comments. I like the idea of just leaving the Insider Program and rejoin it when the build number allows me to. I understand you can't install a lower build number over a higher build number which the Canary build will almost always have. I'll just have to wait until the time that they are equal and rejoin as a "Dev Channel (Recommended)" insider.

bob

PS My Windows 11 is a Virtual Machine running under VMware. But I'll reinstall it only if I have to. I don't like having to redo all my customizations.

bob3d said:

Thank you for all your insightful comments. I like the idea of just leaving the Insider Program and rejoin it when the build number allows me to. I understand you can't install a lower build number over a higher build number which the Canary build will almost always have. I'll just have to wait until the time that they are equal and rejoin as a "Dev Channel (Recommended)" insider.

bob

PS My Windows 11 is a Virtual Machine running under VMware. But I'll reinstall it only if I have to. I don't like having to redo all my customizations.

Click to expand...

That is never going to happen. Canary will always be ahead of Dev. Dev will always be ahead of Beta.

You can never go backwards.

Leaving Insider and waiting is pointless.

You can clone Host OS if release version and upgrade to Release Preview, Beta, Dev or Canary.

If you are running Canary as your only installation, then you failed to listen to MS who make it clear you should never run Insider Versions as your main version.

All experienced Insiders run them as dual boot or as virtual machines.

I rarely backup my dual boot versions as I can easily clone my Host OS and reupgrade.

cereberus said:

...

All experienced Insiders run them as dual boot or as virtual machines.

...

Click to expand...

I thought I made it perfectly clear that I am running Windows 11 as a virtual machine.

bob3d said:

I thought I made it perfectly clear that I am running Windows 11 as a virtual machine.

Click to expand...

I missed that in a later post.

Out of interest, why are you using VMWare as you have Pro?

I personally find running Insiders in Hyper-V is so much more efficient.

I tested the main vm tools and Hyper-V totally outclassed the others.


see post #1 and #14 for comparison of Hyper-V to VMWare.

Of course, everybody's mileage differs,

cereberus said:

I missed that in a later post.

Out of interest, why are you using VMWare as you have Pro?

I personally find running Insiders in Hyper-V is so much more efficient.

I tested the main vm tools and Hyper-V totally outclassed the others.

Virtualbox 7 so slooowwwwww.

Just done a comparison of Hyper-V with Virtualbox 7 (VB7 was in installation with no Hyper-V enabled), and also KVM from Linux Host CPU - similar, worse for KVM 2D - VB awful but KVM slightly better Memory - similar in all 3 Diskmark - VB awful, KVM much better but still 50% of Hyper-V In my...

www.elevenforum.com

see post #1 and #14 for comparison of Hyper-V to VMWare.

Of course, everybody's mileage differs,

Click to expand...

I never compared the two different virtual software programs. I am downloading the Hyper-V ISO right now as I compose this post. When I get the complete ISO, I guess I'll figure out what to do with it at that time. VMware was an executable file and was simple enough to install because ot that.

Not sure how you "execute" an ISO file, but I'll find out soon enough.

bob

I guess I downloaded the wrong Hyper-V iso becuase I got this:

Actually, I did not need to download anything. I just needed to enable it in the Control Panel which I did. It required a reboot which I also did. Now it is supposedly available to me if I can find it.. I'm not sure where to look for it, but I'm sure I'll locate it.

Found it and attempted to get it to load my Windows 11 ISO. It did not work. Obviously I need some advice here.

bob3d said:

Now it is supposedly available to me if I can find it.. I'm not sure where to look for it, but I'm sure I'll locate it.

Click to expand...

Control Panel > Windows Tools

Thank you for your reply. Now the problem is:


I'm going to stick with VMware for the time being. AT least under it I can run Windows 11 without jumping through hoops.

bob

bob3d said:

Thank you for your reply. Now the problem is:
View attachment 57055

I'm going to stick with VMware for the time being. AT least under it I can run Windows 11 without jumping through hoops.

bob

Click to expand...

That problem is easy to fix. Make sure TPM emulation and secure boot is turned in in settings and you have at least 2 cpu processors set.

cereberus said:

That problem is easy to fix. Make sure TPM emulation and secure boot is turned in in settings and you have at least 2 cpu processors set.

Click to expand...

Turned on TPM emulation and Secure Boot and had 2 processors running. Now I get this:



I give up.

cereberus said:

All experienced Insiders run them as dual boot or as virtual machines.

Click to expand...

Where did you get that idea? I for one have been running the Insider builds as my main OS from the very beginning. Macrium is there for me if needed. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Winuser said:

Where did you get that idea? I for one have been running the Insider builds as my main OS from the very beginning. Macrium is there for me if needed. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Click to expand...

Brave man.

bob3d said:

Brave man.

Click to expand...

Not really. More of a man with a backup and restore plan.

Winuser said:

Where did you get that idea? I for one have been running the Insider builds as my main OS from the very beginning. Macrium is there for me if needed. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Click to expand...

I will rephrase

All experienced Insiders who follow MS advice...

MS specifically recommend you do not use Insiders as your main OS.

If you choose to do so, it is at your own risk.Ok making Macrium Reflect significantly reduces risk.

bob3d said:

Turned on TPM emulation and Secure Boot and had 2 processors running. Now I get this:

View attachment 57059

I give up.

Click to expand...

Problem with gen 2 hyper-v pcs is even once you have set boot order, the first time you run it, you do not get enough time to press a key to use the "cd".

What you do, when at that screen, is press reset from the menu bar, and then you get enough time to press the "cd" key.

You need to put iso first in boot order of course as well.