Microsoft Issues New Windows Insider Program Builds

Microsoft today released pre-release builds of Windows 11 to the Beta, Experimental, and Experimental Beta channels in the Windows Insider Program (WIP).

“We continue to expand the rollout of the new WIP changes to those channels already announced,” Microsoft’s Stephen Lines writes. “We have not yet begun moving Insiders in Canary 29500 Series Channel or Beta Channel to the new WIP experience just yet, although we expect this to happen in the coming weeks.”

New builds include:

• Beta (Including Beta Channel): Build 26220.8370
• Experimental (Including former Dev Channel): Build 26300.8376
• Experimental (26H1) – Including former Canary 28000 series: Build 28020.2075
• Experimental (Future Platforms) – Including Canary 29500 series: Build 29585.1000

There are two notable new features or changes:

Touchpad improvements (in Experimental). Microsoft is adding new gesture options for those with precision touchpads, including scroll and zoom speed, automatic scrolling, accelerated scrolling, and single-finger scrolling.

Free upgrade path to Windows 11 Pro Education for K-12 (in Experimental Beta). Microsoft is allowing Windows Insiders in K-12 education to seamlessly upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro Education at no cost. This way, schools can purchase Windows 11 Home-based PCs and then upgrade them to Pro Education so they can be centrally managed.