What is the Windows Insider Program and should you participate?

Microsoft’s Windows Insider Program is home to thousands of Windows fans, enthusiasts, and professionals interested in testing the future of Windows with new features and platform updates. Here you will find a brief overview of the program and how you can participate.

What is the Windows Insider Program?

The Windows Insider Program is an optional service from Microsoft that allows users to experience new Windows features, fixes, and platform updates before they are made public. These come in the form of “builds” that are sent to different channels depending on the channels you have selected.

The program is aimed at early adopters and the “enthusiastic” audience, or people who enjoy testing software that is still in development and not yet ready for prime time.

Beyond just testing the software, Microsoft encourages Insiders to send feedback about their experiences through a specialized app called the Feedback Hub, which allows you to submit suggestions, bugs and issues, and ideas.

Click here to join the Windows Insider program.

Windows Insider Channels

The current Insider channels from 2024. (Image credit: Windows Central)

If you join the Insider program, you can choose from four different test channels. Each channel offers different preview content and varies in risk regarding feature and platform stability.

You cannot switch to a lower channel after selecting one without reinstalling Windows. So if you choose Dev Channel, you won’t be able to switch to the Beta Channel later, but you will be able to switch to the Canary Channel. Once you switch to the Canary channel, you cannot switch back to the Developer channel.

Canary Channel

The Canary Channel is Microsoft’s most experimental channel for Windows, designed to test underlying platform changes that are already in the early stages of development. This channel is recommended for more advanced users who understand the Windows operating system and can troubleshoot technical issues as they arise.

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Currently testing: Windows 11 25H2
Risk level: High

Developer Channel

The Dev Channel is ideal for Windows fans and enthusiasts who want to access new Windows features as quickly as possible. Microsoft often first launches new features that are in active development through this channel.

On the Dev Channel, Microsoft incubates new feature ideas and experiments. This means that not every new feature you receive will actually ship. While most do, some ideas never make it past the initial testing phase, based on user feedback or Microsoft’s changing strategy.

Currently testing: Windows 11 24H2
Risk level: Medium

Beta channel

If you are new to the program, Microsoft recommends that most users join the beta channel. It’s the channel where Microsoft tests features that are intended to actually ship. These features are typically in a more stable state because they are further down the development pipeline and closer to the final product.

Currently testing: Windows 10 22H2 / Windows 11 23H2
Risk level: Low

Release Preview Channel

The Release Preview channel is for people who want access to the next stable release before everyone else. Once new features are finalized and signed off, Microsoft sends them to the Release Preview Channel for a final round of testing to ensure there are no last-minute bugs or issues before rolling them out to the public.

Currently testing: Windows 10 22H2 / Windows 11 24H2
Risk level: Very low

Feature rollout

Some features may not appear on your PC right away. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)

Unfortunately, gaining access to new features isn’t as easy as simply joining an Insider channel. Microsoft uses A/B testing and slow rollouts for many of the new preview features announced, meaning not everyone will get access to new features right away.

This is by far the worst part of the Windows Insider program, because it means you can’t guarantee you’ll be able to test the new features you’re interested in. When you upgrade to the latest preview builds, it’s a matter of luck whether you get them or not.

Feedback Hub

The Windows Insider app in 2024 (Image credit: Windows Central)

The Windows Insider program gives you access to the Windows Feedback Hub app, which allows you to submit issues or feature suggestions directly to Microsoft. You can view feedback submitted by other Windows Insiders, upvote feedback items, and complete missions when Microsoft has new things users want to try.

The Feedback Hub app also includes achievements that you can earn when you complete tasks and milestones. Microsoft often delivers a new achievement or badge when a new version of Windows is released or when a bug bash is completed.

You don’t have to join the Feedback Hub to join the Insider program and try out new features. But it’s there if you want it.

Things to watch out for

While the Windows Insider program is a great way to get first access to new Windows features, there are some risks and drawbacks involved. First, the Insider program revolves around testing unfinished code, which means that stability can become an issue during some stages of development.

If you stick to the Release Preview or Beta channels you should be free of most stability issues. However, the Dev Channel and especially the Canary Channel are much more susceptible to instability issues, so that must be taken into account. It is recommended that you run the higher risk channels on a spare PC or virtual machine.

Additionally, joining the Insider Program causes your PC to send more telemetry or personal device data to Microsoft for feedback purposes. If you’re not a fan of telemetry, then the Insider program isn’t for you. There’s no way to limit the telemetry sent back to Microsoft when you’re signed up for the Insider program, so even though it’s all anonymous, Microsoft says it’s still sent back and analyzed. So keep that in mind.

Finally, the frequency with which you have to restart to apply new preview updates will increase significantly. Microsoft releases new preview builds on a schedule of about once a week, sometimes more often if it’s a busy week with a lot of things to test.