This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off stop getting 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)
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.
Windows Insiders help shape the future of Windows, and your participation is important to Microsoft. But if you're sure you'd like to stop getting emails and Windows Insider Preview Builds from us, you can unregister and leave the program. If you'd just like to stop getting Insider Preview builds, you can also unenroll your device, but stay registered to keep getting email updates from Microsoft.
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.
You must be signed in as an administrator to stop getting Insider preview builds.
Contents
- Option One: Turn On or Off Stop Getting "Beta" or "Release Preview" Insider Preview Builds in Settings
- Option Two: Turn On or Off Stop Getting "Beta" or "Release Preview" Insider Preview Builds using REG file
Turn On or Off Stop Getting "Beta" or "Release Preview" Insider Preview Builds in Settings
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 Turn On (stop) or Off (default) Unenroll device for what you want. (see screenshots below)
In the old UI, you will need to click/tap on Stop getting preview builds to expand it open first.
4 You can now close Settings if you like.
Turn On or Off Stop Getting "Beta" or "Release Preview" Insider Preview Builds using REG file
1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.
2 Turn On Stop Getting "Beta" or "Release Preview" Insider Preview Builds
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_ON_Unenroll_this_device_when_the_next_version_of_Windows_releases.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\UI\Selection]
"OptOutState"=dword:000000013 Turn Off Stop Getting "Beta" or "Release Preview" Insider Preview Builds
This is the default setting
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_OFF_Unenroll_this_device_when_the_next_version_of_Windows_releases.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\UI\Selection]
"OptOutState"=dword:000000004 Save the REG file to your desktop.
5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Related Tutorials
- Add or Remove Windows Insider Program Settings page in Windows 11
- Start Getting Insider Preview Builds on Windows 11 PC
- Change Windows Insider Program Channel in Windows 11
- Reset Windows Insider Program Settings to Default in Windows 11
- Check Evaluation Expiration Date of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build
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