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Windows Insider

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Windows Insider
The new Windows Insider logo represents the three main channels of development.
DeveloperMicrosoft
Launch dateSeptember 30, 2014; 10 years ago (2014-09-30)
Operating system(s)Windows 10, Windows 11
StatusActive
Members10 million
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

Windows Insider is an open software testing program by Microsoft that allows users globally who own a valid license of Windows 11, Windows 10,[1][2] or Windows Server[3][4] to register for pre-release builds of the operating system previously only accessible to software developers.[5]

Microsoft launched Windows Insider for developers, enterprise testers and the "technically able" to test new developer features on pre-release software and builds to gather low level diagnostics feedback in order to identify, investigate, mitigate and improve Windows 10, with the help, support and guidance of the Insider program Participants, in direct communication with Microsoft Engineers via a proprietary communication and diagnostic channel.

It was announced on September 30, 2014, along with Windows 10.[6] By September 2015, over 7 million people took part in the Windows Insider program.[7] On February 12, 2015, Microsoft started to test out previews of Windows 10 Mobile.[8] Microsoft announced that the Windows Insider program would continue beyond the official release of Windows 10 for future updates.

Gabriel Aul and Dona Sarkar[9] were both previously the head of the Windows Insider Program. The present head of the Windows Insider program is Amanda Langowski.[10] Similar to the Windows Insider program, the Microsoft Office, Microsoft Edge, Skype, Bing, Xbox and Visual Studio Code teams have set up their own Insider programs.

History

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See also: Windows 10 version history and Windows 11 version history

Microsoft originally launched Windows Insider for enterprise testers and the "technically able" to test out new developer features and to gather feedback to improve the features built into Windows 10.[11] By the time of the official launch of Windows 10 for PCs, a total of 5 million volunteers were registered on both Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile. They were also among the first people to receive the official update to Windows 10.[12]

With the release of Windows 10, the Windows Insider app was merged with the Settings app. This made the ability to install Windows Insider preview builds an optional feature which could be accessed directly from within Windows 10.[13][14]

In May 2017, Microsoft announced that the program would extend to Windows Server 2016. The first Insider build for this operating system was released on 13 July 2017.[3][4]

On June 24, 2021, Microsoft announced that the program would extend to Windows 11, with the Dev and Beta channels transitioning to the new operating system.[15] The first Insider build for Windows 11 was released on June 28, 2021 for the Dev Channel.[16]

Channels

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Windows Insider Preview updates are delivered to testers in different channels (previously "rings") or logical categories:[17][18] Windows Insiders in Dev Channel (previously Fast ring) receive updates prior to Windows Insiders in Beta Channel (previously Slow ring) but might experience more bugs and other issues.[19][20] Release Preview Channel (previously Release Preview ring) was introduced in February 2016.[21]

On November 5, 2019, Microsoft abandoned the Skip Ahead ring from the Windows Insider Program, stating "Our goal is to provide everyone in the Fast ring the freshest builds at the same time".[22]

On June 15, 2020, Microsoft introduced "channels" model to its Windows Insider Program, succeeding its "rings" model.[18]

On March 6, 2023, Microsoft announced that the Canary Channel is now available to the public, allowing users to try out "hot off the presses" builds that include experimental and cutting-edge features.[23][24]

Channel Available Description
Selfhost Internal In this channel, builds that Insiders in Canary Channel will receive would be validated. These builds are less stable than Canary Channel.
Canary External In this channel, builds that have only passed basic automated tests would be tested and validated. These builds are in early development cycles with the newest code and released daily, but relatively unstable and buggy.
Dev In this channel, Insiders will have access to builds that are being tested and validated in Canary and Selfhost Channels. These builds are more stable than Canary and Selfhost Channels, but still with rough edges and some instability.
Microsoft Internal In this channel, Insider-validated builds are rolled out company-wide for validation and bug fixes before it makes into Beta Channel. These builds are more stable than Canary, Dev and Selfhost Channels.
Beta External In this channel, Insiders will have access to builds that are tied to a specific upcoming release, and will be reliable with updates validated by Microsoft.
Release Preview In this channel, Insiders will have access to the upcoming release of Windows prior to it being released to the world, with advanced quality updates and certain key features.

Supported devices

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Supported processors

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On July 17, 2017, reports began to come that Windows 10 Creators Update refused to install on PCs and tablets sporting Intel Atom "Clover Trail" processors.[25][26] At first, it appeared as though this might have been a temporary block as Microsoft and hardware partners work to fix the issues preventing the operating system to run well.[27] However, Microsoft later confirmed that devices running the "Clover Trail" Intel Atom processors would not be receiving the Creators Update, as the processors are no longer supported by Intel and does not have the appropriate firmware to properly run versions of Windows 10 newer than the Anniversary Update.[28][29]

The following processors are no longer supported and will remain on Windows 10 Anniversary Update:[30]

  • Atom Z2760
  • Atom Z2520
  • Atom Z2560
  • Atom Z2580

Because PCs with unsupported processors could not receive new features updates, Microsoft agreed to extend support for these PCs with the bug fixes and security updates for the latest compatible version of Windows 10.[31][30]

Versions of Windows 10 that were released before a microprocessor was released is also not supported and installations for those operating systems may be actively blocked. For example, Windows 10 RTM LTSB will not install on Kaby Lake processors.[32]

Due to security concerns such as the zero day exploit, Windows 11 now requires an 8th generation or later Intel CPU or a 2nd generation AMD Ryzen or later CPU, with a Trusted Platform Module 2.0 security chip and Secure Boot enabled. Testing had been conducted on 7th generation Intel and 1st generation Ryzen CPUs, but support was ended before the final version was released.[33] Older CPUs and systems without TPM or Secure Boot may be able to run Windows 11, but will require changes to be made to the system registry to be able to upgrade to the operating system.[34] Microsoft has raised the possibility of not providing updates to unsupported devices on Windows 11.[35]

Supported smartphones

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Microsoft initially launched Windows 10 Technical Preview for certain third-generation (x30 series) phones from their Lumia family and subsequently released it to second-generation (x20 series) devices throughout the testing phase. Some hacked their non-Lumia phones (which were not supported at the time) to download the preview builds. Microsoft responded by blocking all unsupported models.[36] To roll back the installed technical preview back to Windows Phone 8.1, Microsoft launched Windows Device Recovery Tool that removes Windows 10 and recovers the latest officially released software and firmware.[37]

Preview build 10080, released on May 14, 2015, was the first to support a non-Lumia device, the HTC One M8 for Windows. This was followed up by Xiaomi who, in partnership with Microsoft, released a ROM port of Windows 10 to its flagship Mi 4 handset on June 1, 2015. At that time, it was limited to certain registered users in China.[38][39] Build 10080 and its follow-up build 10166 also added support for fourth-generation Lumia (x40 series) devices. As a result, all compatible Windows Phone 8 or later Lumia phones now support the preview.

In August 2015, Microsoft stated that while all Windows Phone devices, including those from Microsoft's new hardware partners announced the previous year, would receive the final version of Windows 10 Mobile, not all would receive preview builds through the Insider program. However, the company did not provide any information at the time on whether new devices would be added to the preview program. Microsoft instead focused on promoting new devices that come with Windows 10 Mobile, including their Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL flagships, and the low-cost Lumia 550 and Lumia 650. Since their release, these new Windows 10 devices became eligible to receive future updates in advance via the Insider program, beginning with build 10586 on December 4, 2015.

On February 19, 2016, Microsoft released the first Windows 10 Mobile "Redstone" preview, build 14267. Starting with this build, future preview versions became exclusively available for devices that were already running a non-Insider preview of the OS, except for the Mi4 ROM version.[40] This was followed by build 14291, released for existing Windows 10 devices on March 17, 2016 in conjunction with the official RTM release of Windows 10 Mobile to third and fourth-generation Lumias. The following week, it became available to the newly upgraded older Lumias in addition to several other devices already on Windows 10 Mobile at the time.[41]

All supported devices subsequently received Insider preview builds as far as build 15063, the "Creators Update", released on March 20, 2017. This included the official release of build 14393, the "Anniversary Update", on August 2, 2016.[42] However, it was announced in April 2017 that many devices, including all third-generation Lumias, would not receive the RTM version of the Creators Update and further "Redstone" development builds, following feedback from users.[43] Of the devices that remain supported, nearly all, except the Lumia 640 and its XL variant, had originally come with Windows 10 Mobile instead of Windows Phone 8.1.

Supported smartphones
Manufacturer Device Threshold
(RTM)
[44][45][46][47][48][49] 		Redstone 1
(Anniversary Update)
[50] 		Redstone 2
(Creators Update)
First release[51] Second release[52][53]
Windows 10 Mobile devices
Acer Liquid Jade Primo No 14393 Yes No
Alcatel Fierce XL No Yes Yes Preview only
Idol 4s No Yes Yes Preview only
HP Elite x3 No 14291 Yes Preview only
MCJ Madosma Q501 No 14291 Yes No
Madosma Q601 No No 15063 Preview only
Microsoft Mobile Lumia 550 10586 14291 Yes Planned, but canceled
Lumia 650 10586 Yes Yes Preview only
Lumia 950 10586 Yes Yes Preview only
Lumia 950 XL 10586 Yes Yes Preview only
SoftBank 503LV No No 15063 Preview only
Trinity NuAns Neo No No 15063 Preview only
Vaio VPB051 No No 15063 No
Phone Biz No No 15063 Preview only
Windows Phone 8.1 devices
BLU Win HD W510U No 14291 Yes No
Win HD LTE X150Q No 14267 Yes No
HTC One M8 10080 No No No
LG Lancet 10586 No No No
Nokia/Microsoft Mobile Lumia 430-series
Includes 430 and 435 		10051 14291 Yes No
Lumia 520-series
Includes 520, 521, 525 and 526 		10051 No No No
Lumia 530 10051 No No No
Lumia 532 10051 14291 Yes No
Lumia 535 10051 14291 Yes No
Lumia 540 10080 14291 Yes No
Lumia 620 10051 No No No
Lumia 625 10051 No No No
Lumia 630-series
Includes 630, 635, 636 and 638 		Yes 14291
Except 512 MB 		Yes
Except 512 MB 		No
Lumia 640 10586 14291 Yes Preview only
Lumia 640 XL 10080 14291 Yes Preview only
Lumia 720 10051 No No No
Lumia 730 9941 14291 Yes No
Lumia 735 10051 14291 Yes No
Lumia 810 10051 No No No
Lumia 820 10051 No No No
Lumia 822 10051 No No No
Lumia 830 Yes 14291 Yes No
Lumia 920 10051 No No No
Lumia 925 10051 No No No
Lumia 928 10051 No No No
Lumia Icon 10051 14332 Yes No
Lumia 930 10080 14291 Yes No
Lumia 1020 10051 No No No
Lumia 1320 10051 No No No
Lumia 1520 10051 14291 Yes No
ROMs for MIUI devices
Xiaomi Mi4 10080 Yes Yes No

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Download Windows 10 Insider Preview ISO". microsoft.com. Microsoft. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Activation in Windows 10". Support. Microsoft. 1 September 2016.
  3. ^ a b Sarkar, Dona (13 July 2017). "Announcing Windows Server Insider Preview Build 16237". Windows Experience Blog. Microsoft.
  4. ^ a b Foley, Mary Jo (13 July 2017). "Microsoft releases first Windows Server 2016 Insider preview test build". ZDNet. CBS Interactive.
  5. ^ Warren, Tom (30 September 2014). "Windows 10 is the official name for Microsoft's next version of Windows". The Verge. Vox Media.
  6. ^ Myerson, Terry (September 30, 2014). "Announcing Windows 10". Blogging Windows. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  7. ^ "Windows Insiders program reaches 7 million members". WinBeta. WinBeta. 4 September 2015.
  8. ^ Aul, Gabe (12 February 2015). "Announcing the first build of Windows 10 Technical Preview for Phones". Windows Experience Blog. Microsoft.
  9. ^ Preece, Caroline (2 June 2016). "Microsoft makes Dona Sarkar head of Windows 10 Insider Program". IT Pro. Dennis Publishing.
  10. ^ "Announcing the new lead for the Windows Insider Program". Windows Experience Blog. 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  11. ^ Bright, Peter (1 October 2014). "Microsoft launches Windows Insider Program to get Windows betas". Ars Technica. Condé Nast.
  12. ^ Callaham, John (2 July 2015). "Windows Insider Program's 5 million members will get Windows 10 first on July 29". Windows Central.
  13. ^ Smith, Russell (6 July 2015). "How to Install the Insider Hub App in Windows 10". Petri IT Knowledgebase.
  14. ^ Hassan, Mehedi (14 April 2016). "Windows 10 Mobile Redstone will get native Windows Insider program integration soon". MSPowerUser.
  15. ^ "Preparing for Insider Preview Builds of Windows 11". Windows Blogs. June 24, 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  16. ^ "Announcing the first Insider Preview for Windows 11". Windows Blogs. June 28, 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  17. ^ Aul, Gabe (21 October 2014). "We're rolling out our first new build to the Windows Insider Program". Windows Blog.
  18. ^ a b Langowski, Amanda (June 15, 2020). "Introducing Windows Insider Channels". Windows Experience Blog. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  19. ^ Hassan, Mehedi (19 February 2015). "[WP10] Microsoft releases Slow Ring for Windows 10 for Phones Technical Preview". Windows Mobile PowerUser.
  20. ^ Hassan, Mehedi (19 February 2015). "Video Recorder on Windows 10 for Phones Preview introduces couple of new features". Windows Mobile PowerUser.
  21. ^ Hay, Richard (10 February 2016). "Microsoft Adds a Release Preview Ring to Windows Insider Program". Paul Thurrot's SuperSite for Windows. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  22. ^ "Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 19018". 5 November 2019.
  23. ^ "What's coming for the Windows Insider Program in 2023". Windows Insider Blog. March 6, 2023. Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  24. ^ Warren, Tom (March 6, 2023). "Microsoft will now preview the future of Windows with new Canary channel". The Verge. Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  25. ^ "Windows 10 Creators Update might leave Intel's Atom 'Clover Trail' CPUs behind". Windows Central. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  26. ^ "Microsoft may strand some Windows 10 users on unsupported Anniversary Update - MSPoweruser". MSPoweruser. 2017-07-17. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  27. ^ "Intel Clover Trail processors are not currently supported in Windows 10 Creators Update". us.answers.acer.com. Archived from the original on 2019-07-18. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  28. ^ Bott, Ed. "Microsoft cuts off Windows 10 support early for some PCs". ZDNet. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  29. ^ "It's Official: Intel Atom Clover Trail PCs Can't Upgrade to Windows 10 Creators Update". www.groovypost.com. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  30. ^ a b "What to do about the 'Windows 10 is no longer supported on this PC' error". PCWorld. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  31. ^ Bott, Ed. "Microsoft agrees to extend support deadline for Clover Trail PCs". ZDNet. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  32. ^ US, Dell. "Windows 10 Kaby Lake Imaging | Dell Canada". www.dell.com. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  33. ^ "Update on Windows 11 minimum system requirements". blogs.windows.com. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  34. ^ "Ways to install Windows 11". support.microsoft.com. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  35. ^ Bott, Ed (September 28, 2022). "Is Microsoft really going to cut off security updates for your 'unsupported' Windows 11 PC?". Zdnet. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  36. ^ Hay, Richard (20 February 2015). "Microsoft updates Windows Insider App on Windows Phone to stop unauthorized installs of technical preview". Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  37. ^ Rivera, Jaime (10 February 2015). "Yes, Windows 10 Preview will include a phone recovery tool". PocketNow. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  38. ^ Russell, Jon (March 17, 2015). "Microsoft Is Developing Software That Converts Android Phones To Windows 10". TechCrunch. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  39. ^ Bright, Peter (March 18, 2015). "Xiaomi and Microsoft to offer Windows 10 conversion for Android phones". Ars Technica. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  40. ^ Hassan, Mehedi (February 19, 2016). "PSA: Windows 10 Mobile Build 14267 is only available to Lumia 950 XL, 950, 650, 550 and Xiaomi Mi4". MSPoweruser. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  41. ^ Popa, Bogdan (March 24, 2016). "Windows 10 Mobile Redstone Build 14291 Released to Older Windows Phones". Softpedia. SoftNews NET SRL. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  42. ^ Paul, Ian (June 30, 2016). "Windows 10's big Anniversary Update will hit phones the same time as PCs". PCWorld. IDG. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  43. ^ Sarkar, Dona (April 14, 2017). "Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 16176 for PC + Build 15204 for Mobile". Windows Experience Blog. Microsoft. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  44. ^ Aul, Gabe. "Announcing the first build of Windows 10 Technical Preview for Phones". Windows Blog. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  45. ^ Aul, Gabe (27 March 2015). "A quick update on Windows 10 builds for phones for Windows Insiders". Windows Blogs.
  46. ^ Martin, Julia (28 March 2015). "Microsoft touts Windows 10 Technical Preview coming to more Lumia devices". Inferse.
  47. ^ "New Windows 10 Mobile preview build likely coming later today". Neowin.net. 14 May 2015.
  48. ^ "Microsoft to roll out Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview build 10136; build 10145 in testing". Neowin.net. 15 June 2015.
  49. ^ "Announcing Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview Build 10586.29". Windows Blog. 4 December 2015.
  50. ^ "Announcing Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview Build 14267". Windows Blog. 19 February 2016.
  51. ^ "Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 15063 for PC and Mobile". Windows Blog. 20 March 2017.
  52. ^ "Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 16176 for PC + Build 15204 for Mobile". Windows Blog. 14 April 2017.
  53. ^ Rubino, Daniel; Bowden, Zac (14 April 2017). "Windows 10 Mobile is NOT dead — but its future is far from guaranteed". Windows Central.
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