This tutorial will show you how to get and install Insider preview builds of Windows 11 on your Windows 11 PC.
Flighting is the process of running Windows Insider Preview Builds on your device. When you run these early versions of Windows and give Microsoft feedback, you can help Microsoft shape the future of Windows. Once you've registered for the Windows Insider Program, you can run Insider Preview builds on as many devices as you want, each in the channel of your choice.
- Beta (25H2 or 26H1)
- Experimental (26H2) for latest features
- Experimental (26H1)
- Experimental (Future Platforms)
- Release Preview (24H2, 25H2, 26H1, 26H2)
The Beta channel is for early adopters and IT professionals who want to see what we plan to ship in the coming weeks and validate the latest Windows updates and features, but still need reliable updates. As part of the Beta channel, you'll receive builds tied to a specific upcoming release, such as one of our H1 or H2 servicing releases. Your feedback is especially important here because it helps engineers ensure key issues are addressed before the next release milestone. Feature rollout in the Beta channel doesn't use Controlled Feature Rollout technology, which means all users get the same features and experiences. You might occasionally see small differences within a feature as Microsoft test variations, but the feature itself will always be on your device. Although the Beta channel represents features closer to general availability and a higher level of polish, this is still prerelease software. Features and experiences included in these builds might never get released, might change over time, be removed, or be replaced and never get released beyond Windows Insiders. As with the Experimental channel, some preview features in active development with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized. Localization improves over time as features are finalized. If you see localization issues, report them through Feedback Hub. Although new features usually land in the Experimental channel before Beta, the two channels represent parallel engineering paths, so there might be cases where features and experiences appear in both channels at the same time. Most users will see these options as 25H2 or 26H1 builds. While users can still move from Beta to Experimental after the changes are implemented on your device, moving beforehand ensures the best continuity of experience for those features.
The Experimental channel is usually where new features and ideas are released first and is ideal for tech enthusiasts. Insiders in the Experimental channel can access the latest Windows 11 preview builds as we incubate ideas and develop features with longer lead times. You should expect some rough edges and variable stability in this channel. Features and experiences included in these builds might never get released as we try out different concepts and gather feedback. Features might change over time, be removed, or be replaced and never get released beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features and experiences could show up in future Windows releases when they're ready. Many features in the Experimental channel are rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) technology, starting with a subset of Insiders and ramping up over time as Microsoft monitors quality feedback before pushing them out to everyone in the channel. If a feature has been announced and you don't see it on your device, go to the Feature flags settings page to see whether you can toggle it on manually. Some preview features in active development with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized. Localization improves over time as features are finalized. If you see localization issues, report them through Feedback Hub. The Experimental channel will also contain a further Future Platforms option which is the earliest preview build for Windows and is not aligned to a retail version of Windows. This is aimed at users who are looking to be at the forefront of platform development. Insiders looking for the earliest access to features should remain on a version aligned to a retail build.
The Release Preview channel will continue to be an advanced option aimed at commercial customers and Insiders who want early access to production builds in the days leading up to broad release. To select Release Preview, you will need to enable it in the ‘Advanced Options’ but the content remains unchanged. These builds are also supported by Microsoft if you're in the Windows Insider Program for Business.
Depending on your channel today, leaving the Windows Insider Program or even moving between channels can sometimes require wiping your device and doing a clean install of Windows. That can be a barrier both for people considering the program and for Insiders who want to leave. To make this a more streamlined and consistent experience, Microsoft is making some behind the scenes changes to enable Insider builds to use an in-place upgrade (IPU) to hop between versions. This will allow in most cases Insiders to move between Experimental, Beta, and Release Preview on the same Windows core version, or leave the program without a clean install. An IPU takes a bit more time than your normal update but migrates your apps, settings, and data in-place. As Experimental Future Platforms is our earliest preview build option and does not align to a retail production build of Windows, moving to a different channel or out of the WIP program will still require a clean install.
References:
Flight Hub - Windows Insider Program
Flight schedules and status for Windows Insider Program
learn.microsoft.com
Join Windows Insider – Get early access to Windows 11 features & updates
Join the Windows Insider Program to preview Windows features, provide feedback, and shape what's coming next to Windows.
www.microsoft.com
Deeper look at running Windows Insider Preview Builds - Windows Insider Program
Understanding flighting, channels, and updates
learn.microsoft.com
Join the Windows Insider Program and manage Insider settings | Microsoft Support
Join the Windows Insider Program
support.microsoft.com
Windows Insiders moving to Experimental and Beta on Windows 11
Windows Insider Program Blog: Hello Windows Insiders, Today is the day we’re beginning to move to the new Experimental and Beta channels as announced earlier this month. As a reminder, most Insiders, those who are in the Dev and Beta channels today will transition to the new channels over time...
www.elevenforum.com
Microsoft improving your Windows Insider experience for Windows 11
Windows Insider Blog: Hello Windows Insiders, Today is the day we’re beginning to move to the new Experimental and Beta channels as announced earlier this month. As a reminder, most Insiders, those who are in the Dev and Beta channels today will transition to the new channels over time as...
www.elevenforum.com
You must be signed in as an administrator to start getting Insider preview builds.
Send optional diagnostic data is required to be turned on to join the Windows Insider Program to get preview builds of Windows 11.
Here's How:
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on Windows Update on the left side, and click/tap on Windows Insider Program on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on Get started. (see screenshot below)
4 Click/tap on the Edit button to link an account. (see screenshot below)
5 Select your Microsoft account registered for the Windows Insider Program, and click/tap on Continue. (see screenshot below)
If your Microsoft account is not listed, then you can click/tap on the Microsoft account option instead under Use a different account to add it.
6 Click/tap on Continue. (see screenshot below)
7 Click/tap on Continue. (see screenshot below)
8 Select a Beta, Experimental, or Release Preview channel and version you want to get Insider preview builds for. (see screenshot below)
Change Windows Insider Program Channel in Windows 11
This tutorial will show you how to change your Windows Insider Program channel to the Beta, Experimental, or Release Preview channel to get Insider preview builds of Windows 11 on your PC. Flighting is the process of running Windows Insider Preview Builds on your device. When you run these...
www.elevenforum.com
9 When ready, click/tap on Restart now to restart the computer to apply. (see screenshot below)
10 When the computer has finished restarting, Check for updates in Settings > Windows Update to download the latest Insider Preview build based on the channel you chose. Your device will update like it normally would with a Windows update.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Related Tutorials
- Check for Windows 11 Updates
- Add or Remove Windows Insider Program Settings page in Windows 11
- Change Windows Insider Program Channel in Windows 11
- Stop Getting Insider Preview Builds on Windows 11 PC
- Check Evaluation Expiration Date of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build
- Reset Windows Insider Program Settings to Default in Windows 11
- Opt In or Out of New Insider Build Push Notifications from ElevenForum.com
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