Symbol used to identify insiders in the Windows Insider program.
The new logo for Windows Insider represents the three main channels of development.
The Windows Insider Program is a program launched by Microsoft on October 1, 2014. It was initially designed to allow for the public's input during the development of Windows 10, and more recently, Windows 11.[1] Some Windows Insider channels can be unstable, such as the cutting-edge Canary.
Description[]
Through the program, Microsoft pushes out builds of operating systems that have been tested internally beforehand, presenting new features and using the public's daily usage to find and fix any bugs left in the system. Although any user of a genuine license can register for the Windows Insider Program, Microsoft recommends that applicants have hardware that meets minimum requirements, and are familiar with how computers operate. This to avoid any issues with lost data and information that may plague a casual user.[2]
Channels and Technical Information[]
There are three main channels of the Insider program, ordered from earliest builds, such as:
- Canary
- Dev
- Beta
However, there are three additional channels, including:
| Channel and name | Available as: | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Selfhost | Internal | In this channel, these builds are validated for use as Canary builds after internal review, and are typically the most unstable. |
| Canary | External | In this channel, builds that have only passed basic automated tests would be tested and validated. This channel is relatively the most unstable external/main channel. |
| Dev | In this channel, Insiders will have access to builds that have been tested and validated in both Canary and Selfhost channels. Builds of this channel contain better stability, but rough edges or instability may be present. | |
| Microsoft | Internal | In this channel, Insider-validated builds are deployed company-wide for validation and bug fixes before they progress to the Beta channel. These builds are more stable than Selfhost, Canary, and Dev builds. |
| Beta | External | In this channel, Insiders will have access to builds related to a specific upcoming release, and they are reliable, as updates rolled out are validated by Microsoft. |
| Release Preview | In this channel, Insiders will have access to the upcoming release of Windows prior to it being released to the public, with advanced quality updates and certain key features. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The Dev channel gets the most builds rolled out.
- Before the Canary channel was released, the Dev channel got preview releases before all other external channel.
References[]
- ↑ Preparing for Insider Preview Builds of Windows 11 by Amanda Langowski and Brandon LeBlanc, Microsoft. 2021-06-24.
- ↑ Getting started with the Windows Insider Program, Microsoft. Accessed 2021-07-07
External links[]
- Windows Insider Program at Microsoft
- Windows Insider and MS Office Insiders at Twitter
- Windows Insider Program at YouTube