There are several Windows Insider channels, each with varying degrees of risk. As of the time of writing, there are four Windows Insider Programs you can choose from: Release Preview (very stable), Beta (relatively stable), Dev (rough and potentially unstable), and Canary (very unstable).
But before that, there are a few things to consider before joining the Windows Insider Program. Depending on the person, you may need to decide if it is right for you.
Users eligible for the Windows Insider Program
I want to test new features as quickly as possible
Joining the Windows Insider program means that new features will show up on your PC months earlier than other users. This is a huge plus for Windows enthusiasts who want to try out new features.
It’s also fun to see that features on your PC may change or be removed by the time other people get their updates, so you’ll feel like a true insider.
The Windows Insider program is also useful for IT staff and application developers who need to know how the next version of Windows will work so they can tweak their company’s software. They can run Insider builds to test future changes without waiting for the final release.
The Insider Program is also useful for many types of online content creators. If you’re creating YouTube videos, posting on social media, or writing online articles about upcoming features, you’ll want to run an Insider version of your Windows PC.
Microsoft posts changes on the Windows Insider blog, but it’s not always complete, and many users find themselves discovering new, unfinished features that haven’t been announced yet.
If you need specific new features or fixes
Certain issues or bugs have been fixed, but it is still in the testing phase, so you may experience problems on your PC. If you don’t want to wait months for the patch to be released, you can join the Insider Program and get the patch right away.
Or, let’s say you have a Copilot+ PC with Snapdragon X hardware and you’re interested in a recall feature that Microsoft announced but delayed just before the Copilot+ PC release.
Microsoft has announced that a preview version of Recall will be added to the Windows Insider program in October 2024. If you want to get this feature on your Copilot+ PC as soon as possible, you should join the Insider program.
If you like the development guide
According to Microsoft, the Insider program is an app that not only lets you test out new features, but also collects feedback. You can provide feedback about Windows to Microsoft using the Feedback Hub app (found in the Start menu or launched with the Windows key + F shortcut).
As a tester, your feedback is most needed when an update is in beta. If you enjoy providing feedback and want to help develop Windows, consider taking advantage of the Insider Program builds.
While the Microsoft-created “Ninja Cat” meme is no longer around, Microsoft still promotes the Insider program as a fun community experience. The Feedback Hub also features a quest and achievement system that encourages Insiders to test out different features and provide feedback.
However, it’s unclear how much feedback Microsoft actually considers, and it can vary depending on the feature. If Microsoft’s higher-ups want to see new ads integrated somewhere in Windows, don’t expect the Feedback Hub to stop them.
If you don’t mind reinstalling Windows
There is no quick and easy way to leave the Windows Insider Program if you want to go back to a stable version of Windows, and you may have to reinstall the entire Windows operating system.
Fortunately, Microsoft provides a guide to leaving the Windows Insider program. If you’re using a Release Preview or Beta build, you can wait until the official version is released before leaving the Insider program. However, if you’re using a Developer or Canary build, you may need to reinstall Windows.
I have a spare PC that I’m not using.
The Windows Insider program is best used on non-business-critical computers. As Microsoft warns, crashes and instability can occur, especially on the Cutting Edge channel.
If one day you turn on your computer and the blue screen is so bad that you have to roll back to a previous build, is that a big deal? If you don’t mind reinstalling, then you’re probably good for the Insider program. Ideally, you’ll want to have a spare PC with a full Windows installation that isn’t part of the Insider program.
Users who are not eligible for the Windows Insider Program
If you don’t like frequent updates and reboots
The Windows Insider program is designed to give you access to the latest features before anyone else. Naturally, many Windows PC users want a stable system that doesn’t require frequent reboots for updates, rather than new features.
In fact, for many users, the stable version of Windows 11 already provides too many updates. If you feel that way, it is better to avoid the Windows Insider program and use the stable release.
If you don’t want to encounter bugs
The Dev and Canary Insider channels are the most unstable, but even the Beta and Release Preview channels can harbor bugs. After all, if a build is known to be completely stable, it has probably already completed Insider testing and been released to the general public.
By choosing an Insider Program build, you agree to the possibility of bugs, including blue screens and other system instability. Sometimes, if you encounter a problem, you may need to roll back to a previous build of Windows PC to resolve the issue.
If you don’t want to deal with these headaches, it’s best not to join the Insider Program on your PC.
Windows 10 users
Microsoft recently relaunched the Windows Insider program for Windows 10 PCs, which means you can now get early access to new features on Windows 10.
But honestly, Windows 10 is no longer a priority for Microsoft because they want everyone to move to Windows 11. For now, there won’t be many new features added to Windows 10.
So, it’s not really worth running the Windows 10 Insider program builds. It’s much more interesting to run the Windows 11 Insider program builds, which are currently Microsoft’s most popular.
If you don’t like betting on feedback
One of the reasons Microsoft created the Windows Insider program is so that free beta testers can provide feedback and bug reports on any issues they find.
If you’re not particularly interested in providing feedback or sharing issues with Windows, you may want to avoid the Windows Insider program (though feedback isn’t required in many channels, it’s still an important part of it).
If you need the ultimate stability on your PC
If I had to name a few users who absolutely should not join the Windows Insider Program, it would be people who rely on one computer for all their daily tasks and who need reliability and stability.
The Windows Insider Program is best experienced on a secondary PC that you can use for testing. No one wants their PC to stop working while they’re at work.
Of course, you can install an Insider Build of Windows on a virtual machine, but be aware that some features may not work the same on a virtual machine as they do on a ‘real’ computer.
editor@itworld.co.kr
Source: www.itworld.co.kr
