How to Choose the Right Windows 10 Beta Channel
I never liked the idea of ”rings” for beta releases, especially for Windows 10. I always thought it was easier for ordinary people to understand the concept of beta when it was split into “channels”, just like in your favorite web browser. not a “fast” and “slow” ring.
And that’s exactly what Microsoft is doing right now. You will only find rings in first person shooters – Halo joke , I have no regrets. Otherwise, the Windows 10 Insider Preview program goes from rings to channels and you have three to choose from if or when you decide to help Microsoft beta test new versions of the operating system.
For those who don’t know, Microsoft previously offered three different “rings” that you could subscribe to through Settings> Update & Security> Windows Insider Program . While most people who didn’t want the buggy OS to get stuck with the Preview option, you could also choose the more convenient ring “Slow” or “like Veruca Salt, I want every feature right now” otherwise known like a “Fast” ring.
In an effort to simplify what these different types of release builds mean, Microsoft is moving towards offering three separate “channels” that you can subscribe to later this month. Spoiler alert: They are not much different from the rings you used. So much so, in fact, that Microsoft will automatically transfer you from the ring to the appropriate channel that matches the desired experience.
The three channels – Dev , Beta and Release Preview – look like this:
So, if you are on the “Fast” ring, you will remain on the new Dev channel. If you are on the Slow Ring, you will be living on the beta channel. Your “Release Preview” experience, if that’s what you chose before, should stay the same from call to channel.
However, this time around, the key difference is that Dev Channel users will experience builds that “don’t match the specific release of Windows 10,” writes Microsoft General Manager Amanda Langowski.
“New features and OS improvements in this channel will appear in future releases of Windows 10 when they are ready, and may be delivered as full OS build updates or service releases. Feedback from insiders will help our engineers make major fixes and changes to the latest code. ”
In contrast, beta channel testers will experiment with versions of Windows 10 tied to a specific upcoming release. This and the new “channels” are designed to provide the desired quality of work – no bugs and freshness, reliability or complete stability.
“As we continue to evolve the way Windows 10 is released, and the variety of Insiders we serve is greater than ever, it’s imperative that Insiders have a flight experience tailored to their needs. We believe the best way to achieve this is to shift the focus from frequency to quality. Insiders can choose a channel that represents their desired device experience based on the quality that suits them best. We intend to ensure that insiders continue to receive frequent updates no matter which channel they choose, ”writes Langowski.
Embarrassed? Must not be. When in doubt, stick to the Beta Channel for the best combination of fresh features and reasonable stability. And, as always, make sure you back up your important files before signing up for any beta, so you don’t run into a catastrophic Windows 10 issue (It could happen!)