UPDATED 1/12/23: As part of the Windows 11 development process, the Windows Insider Program allows developers, businesses, and enthusiasts to access early builds of the OS to test new features and changes and validate software and drivers before they become available. In this guide, you can track the history of every Windows 11 Insider Preview build for computers, including information about their release date, changelog summary, build number, and more.
The Microsoft Windows Insider Program has three readiness levels: Dev, Beta, and Release Preview Channels. The Dev Channel is for highly technical users since previews are rough and contain a lot of bugs. Typically, these builds are unstable, you will encounter errors and problems, and you may have to use workarounds to resolve problems.
The Beta Channel is for anyone who wants to test upcoming features or validate applications and deployments. The builds in this channel are somewhat stable, but you may still run into issues. Also, features in this channel are expected to ship in the final release of Windows 11.
Finally, the Release Preview Channel offers the final build of the next version of Windows 11 before it is available to everyone, with advanced quality updates and certain key features.
At the time of this writing, only qualifying devices in the “Dev Channel” will receive previews of Windows 11. The “Beta Channel” currently doesn’t offer previews of the new OS. Also, if your device is not compatible with Windows 11, it will be moved to the “Release Preview Channel” automatically. Currently, the Release Preview Channel is only offering previews for Windows 10 21H2 at this time.
If you have a computer enrolled in any of these channels, you can use this guide to track the history of every released Windows 11 Insider Preview build. (See also the hands-on videos reviews of every preview of Windows 11.)
- Windows 11 Dev Insider Preview build history
- Windows 11 22H2 Insider Preview build history
- Windows 11 21H2 Insider Preview build history
- Join Windows Insider Program
- Switch Windows Insider Program channel
- Stop Windows Insider Preview builds
Windows 11 Dev Insider Preview build history
Starting on May 11, 2022, Microsoft has separated the active development branch, which means that builds in the Dev Channel are no longer tied to any specific version of Windows 11. However, the features and changes are most like to ship with the next feature update, which is expected to arrive in the fall of 2023. Some other features may even arrive regularly in cumulative updates.
The latest version available for testers is Windows 11 build 25276.
Windows 11 22H2 Insider Preview build history
Windows 11 22H2 is the first feature update of the operating system.
Version 22H2 is considered a major refresh focused on making the experience more consistent by updating and adding new visual elements that match the design language introduced with the first release of Windows 11. In addition, this release includes several new features. The latest version available for testers is Windows 11 build 22623.1095.
Here are all the new features and enhancements Microsoft has been working on for version 22H2.
Windows 11 21H2 Insider Preview build history
Windows 11 is a new operating system based on Windows 10, expected to arrive in the fall of 2021. Some of the features and changes planned for this new version are already available through the Dev Channel.
Below you will find the history of the Windows Insider Preview builds released in the Dev Channel. The table also includes the history of the builds that the company released before the new OS was announced since those changes are also expected to ship in the final version of Windows 11. The latest version available for testers is Windows 11 build 22000.346.
Join Windows Insider Program
On Windows 11, using the Settings app, you can join your device into any of the three testing channels to get early access to new features and enhancements.
To join the Windows Insider Program, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Windows Insider Program.
- Click the Get started button.
- Click the Link an account button.
- Sign in with your Microsoft account.
- Click the Continue button.
- Under the “Pick your Insider settings” section, select the previews you want to test, including:
- Dev Channel — Includes new features as soon as they’re ready, but builds are not stable.
- Beta Channel — Includes new features and enhancements expected for the next version of Windows 11. The previews are more stable, but you may still run into issues.
- Release Preview Channel — Includes the final version of Windows 11, minus some quality updates.
- Click the Confirm button.
- Click the Confirm button to agree to the terms and conditions.
- Click the Restart button.
- Open Settings after the reboot.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Windows Update.
- Click the Check for updates button.
- Click the Restart button.
Once you complete the steps, the latest preview build of Windows 11 available in your selected channel will download and install on your computer.
Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Insider Program.
Click the Get started button.
Click the Link an account button.
Sign in with your Microsoft account.
Click the Continue button.
Under the “Pick your Insider settings” section, select the previews you want to test, including:
- Dev Channel — Includes new features as soon as they’re ready, but builds are not stable.
- Beta Channel — Includes new features and enhancements expected for the next version of Windows 11. The previews are more stable, but you may still run into issues.
- Release Preview Channel — Includes the final version of Windows 11, minus some quality updates.
Click the Confirm button.
Click the Confirm button to agree to the terms and conditions.
Click the Restart button.
Open Settings after the reboot.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Check for updates button.
Change Windows Insider Program channel
You can always switch between channels to test different builds, but you can’t roll back to the current version of Windows 11 without reinstallation.
To change Insider channels, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Windows Update.
- Click on Windows Insider Program.
- Click the Choose your Insider settings option.
- Select a different Insider channel of Windows 11 – for example, Dev Channel, Beta Channel, or Release Preview Channel.
- Restart your device.
- Open Settings after the reboot.
- Click on Windows Update.
- Click the Check for updates button.
- Click the Restart button.
- After completing the steps, the new build from the selected active channel will download and install on the device.
- Stop Windows Insider Program builds
Although you can’t roll back to the current release of Windows 11 (unless you perform a clean installation), you can use an option to opt out of the program, which will continue to download Insider builds. However, once the final version is released, the device will gracefully be removed from the program.
Click the Choose your Insider settings option.
Select a different Insider channel of Windows 11 – for example, Dev Channel, Beta Channel, or Release Preview Channel.
Restart your device.
After completing the steps, the new build from the selected active channel will download and install on the device.
Stop Windows Insider Program builds
Stop Windows Insider Preview builds
To stop getting Insider builds of Windows 11, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Windows Update.
- Click on Windows Insider Program.
- Click the Stop getting preview builds option.
- Turn off the toggle switch for the setting.
- Quick note: At the time of this writing, Microsoft is not currently offering a way to opt out of the program gracefully. If you want to roll back to a previous version, you must perform a clean install of Windows 10.
Once you complete the steps, the device will no longer receive Insider builds once the final version is installed.
Click the Stop getting preview builds option.
Turn off the toggle switch for the setting.
