Microsoft has announced updates regarding the Windows Insider program; it is reducing the channels of this program to two main options and providing Insiders with more direct control over the features they access. The company states that these changes are made in response to feedback from Insider participants, who expressed confusion about how the existing channels work during their initial face-to-face meetings.

Two Main Windows Insider Channels Replace Four Channels

The current Dev, Canary, and Beta channels are being replaced by two main channels: Experimental and Beta.

Experimental channel replaces the former Dev and Canary channels. Microsoft describes this as early access to features that are still in development; with the understanding that what is seen in this channel may change, be delayed, or may never be released.

Beta channel replaces the previous Beta Channel and previews the features that Microsoft plans to send out in the coming weeks. The significant change here is the end of gradual feature rollouts in Beta. Microsoft states that when a feature is announced in a Beta update and a user installs that update, that feature will be available on the user’s device.

Additional Options: Future Platforms and Release Preview

Microsoft is retaining some options for specific groups within the two-channel Windows testing structure.

The Experimental channel offers the Future Platforms option; this is defined as the earliest preview build for Windows and is not tied to any retail version of the operating system. Microsoft explains that this is designed for users who want to be early adopters of platform development. The company also notes that Insiders who want the earliest access to new features need to remain on a retail-compatible build.

The Release Preview channel continues to be available for commercial customers and Insiders who want access to nearly final production builds before general release. To use the Release Preview, users need to enable it through Advanced Options in the Windows Insider Program settings. Microsoft emphasizes that the content of the Release Preview has not changed.

Feature Flags for the Experimental Channel

Microsoft is adding a new Feature flags page in the Windows Insider Program settings for users on the Experimental channel. This feature allows Insiders to manually turn certain announced features on and off; thus, they do not have to wait for gradual rollouts.

Microsoft states that the Feature flags page will initially include visible new features announced in Windows Insider Program blog posts but may not cover bug fixes or system-level changes. The company has not made any announcements regarding the launch date of the Feature flags page.