Microsoft is Simplifying its Windows Insider Program With Just Two Channels

Pavan Davuluri, EVP, Windows + Devices, announced last month that Microsoft would soon launch a “simpler, more transparent Windows Insider Program” with clearer channel definitions and easier access to new features. This will finally happen in the coming weeks, with Microsoft launching a new Experimental Channel to replace the Dev and Canary channels. Insiders on this new Channel will be able to toggle new features on and off, while the Beta Channel will remain, but won’t be subject to gradual feature rollouts anymore.

The Windows Insider team said today that recent discussions with Insiders led them to realize two things: First of all, the channel structure had become too confusing. Moreover, it happened way too often that new features mentioned in a blog post weren’t immediately available for testing. “That experience, where features are announced but only some of you receive them due to how we gradually roll things out, is the single biggest frustration we hear,” the team said.

To address these pain points, there will be a new Experimental Channel to replace the Dev and Canary channels, and Insiders will get the ability to enable or disable specific features via a new Feature flags page on the Windows Insider Program settings page. “We will start by enabling Feature flags for visible new features announced in WIP. This means less visible changes announced in WIP, like bug fixes and system improvements, may not be present in Feature flags,” the Windows Insider team explained.

The Experimental Channel will also include a new ‘Future Platforms’ option that Insiders will be able to enable to test upcoming platform changes. “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 team wrote.

As for the Beta Channel, it will continue to provide access to new features that Microsoft plans to ship to Windows 11 users in the coming weeks. However, Controlled Feature Rollouts (CFRs) are going away. “When we announce a feature in a Beta update and you take that update, you will have that feature,” the team emphasized today.

Lastly, the Release Preview Channel will remain available as an option for Insiders and commercial customers interested in testing the next monthly update for Windows 11. It will be available via the ‘Advanced Options’ menu in the Windows Insider settings page.

In addition to this new channel structure, Microsoft will also make it easier to switch between Insider channels. “We’re 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,” the team explained.

These changes to the Windows Insider program will start to roll out in the coming weeks. Testers on the Beta Channel will remain on that Channel, while Dev Channel testers will automatically move to the new Experimental Channel. As for Canary testers, those testing 28000 series builds will also move to the “Experimental (26H1) Channel”, while those on 29500 series builds will move to the ‘Experimental (Future Platforms)’ Channel.