Microsoft is adding a fourth channel to the Windows Insider Program, the Canary Channel. It features Windows changes that require more testing time and are available immediately after the build. Additionally, the company announced that it was “rebooting” its dev channel to focus on new features. blog post today.
With the highest build number in the 25000 series, the Canary Channel is touted as featuring “hot from the press” builds with little to no documentation before being sent to Insiders.
Canary is for advanced technical users. “These builds may contain serious issues that prevent you from using your PC properly or, in rare cases, require you to reinstall Windows,” said Amanda Langowski, head of Windows Insider. As a result, Microsoft will automatically move current Dev Channel Insiders to the Canary Channel today, but the post states, “Insiders who have moved to the Canary Channel will receive notification of this transition via OS and email, You can perform a clean install procedure.” Pick another channel if they want. ”
All this means if you’re not ready to test new changes to the Windows kernel and new APIs, move on now before they automatically switch. Don’t pass Go. You don’t have to collect $200.
Additionally, Microsoft releases blog posts for all flights in the Dev, Beta, and Release Preview channels, but only for some flights in the Canary channel if there are new features. The ability to pop up in a canary may not ship, or may not ship on some versions of Windows.
Microsoft calls the Dev Channel change a “reboot,” but it’s no big deal. This is a tier for Insiders who want to see new features before they are released on Windows (many of these features may not be tied to the planned release). The Dev Channel will receive builds of the 23000 series, and for the first time Microsoft is proposing “Most Insiders” to participate (although the release graphics show that your feedback will be the most influential in the Beta Channel). suggests that).
Langowski’s post suggests that now is a great time to consider which channels you prefer. The post states that users of the Beta he channel who want to use new features faster may wish to upgrade to the Dev channel, but those users will experience more stability issues. may experience.
However, you can’t switch to a channel with a lower build number than your machine’s build number, so you’ll need a clean install of Windows 11 to reach a lower rung. The blog post also mentions a “clean install kit” that can be ordered by those who cannot use Microsoft’s official guides, but no details are provided. This means that existing Dev Channel users who are converted to Canary Channel will need to reinstall Windows to access the new Dev Channel. The Beta channel has 22000 series build numbers, and the Release Preview tier shows numbers for versions of Windows 10 or 11 that have already been released.
The Beta channel doesn’t get new features right away, but it’s more stable with more validation, and the Release Preview channel, where you can check out the next version of Windows before its full release, hasn’t changed.
This isn’t the first time Microsoft has used the Canary label. Microsoft’s Edge Insider program for browsers already has Beta, Dev, and Canary channels, the latter of which updates automatically on an almost nightly schedule.
