Is there a way to change from the Dev channel to the Beta Channel in the Windows Insider Preview Settings?

Question

Is there a way to change from the Dev channel to the Beta Channel in the Windows Insider Preview Settings?

João Marcelo Uchôa de Alencar 16

I just installed Windows on a development box for testing purposes and decided to give a try to Windows Insider Previews, just to be ahead of the curve and keep my applications ready for future releases. At first I chose the Dev Channel, but it is too unstable and I am considering changing for the Beta channel. Is this possible?

aqk 6 Reputation points

2021-04-09T04:34:58.163+00:00

It is now 2021. April.

I just DLed Win-10 release 210402 n my desktop. My less-used upstairs desktop still has 210325 on it.
Don't ask why, I have TWO win desktops running the DEV channel! It's a long and sad story...
BUT !
I just tried downgrading from Dev to Beta,... and it seemed to work!
Just choose Beta instead of Dev in the Insider Preview, and it may work!
From what I have read, your Dev system will be "frozen" until the Beta catches up with it!
I certainly hope so! Right now I have no complaints about my Dev's opeatrions.

I'll see after a while. I just hope that I will not get any more weekly (every 5 days?) DEV upgrades at ~4Gig a pop.
Has MS finally seen the way and now lets folks opt out of these incessant DEV upgrades?
Let me know!
Nasib Dar 1 Reputation point

2021-08-07T19:13:41.04+00:00

Learn How to Switch to Windows 11 Beta from Dev Channel
https://youtu.be/orYZdrKrz6A

6 answers

Your answer

aqk 6 Reputation points

2021-04-09T04:34:58.163+00:00

It is now 2021. April.

I just DLed Win-10 release 210402 n my desktop. My less-used upstairs desktop still has 210325 on it.
Don't ask why, I have TWO win desktops running the DEV channel! It's a long and sad story...
BUT !
I just tried downgrading from Dev to Beta,... and it seemed to work!
Just choose Beta instead of Dev in the Insider Preview, and it may work!
From what I have read, your Dev system will be "frozen" until the Beta catches up with it!
I certainly hope so! Right now I have no complaints about my Dev's opeatrions.

I'll see after a while. I just hope that I will not get any more weekly (every 5 days?) DEV upgrades at ~4Gig a pop.
Has MS finally seen the way and now lets folks opt out of these incessant DEV upgrades?
Let me know!
Nasib Dar 1 Reputation point

2021-08-07T19:13:41.04+00:00

Learn How to Switch to Windows 11 Beta from Dev Channel
https://youtu.be/orYZdrKrz6A

Answer 1

Don Cuthbert 411

You cannot switch from a higher-numbered build of Windows 10 to a lower numbered build without a clean install. Since the Dev Channel are all higher-numbered builds that the Beta Channel, a clean-install is the only way to immediately leave the Dev Channel.

You can switch which Channel you are in, but since you already have a higher-numbered build, you will not see any new Windows builds offered. Your Dev Channel build is quite likely to expire before the Beta Channel ever gets to a higher-numbered build.

If you feel that the current Dev Channel build is stable enough for your needs, you could switch Channels just to prevent constant Windows build updates for a while.

SSJCesar 11 Reputation points

2020-07-31T21:12:21.87+00:00

So once the Dev Channel expires tonight will I be able to download the Beta Channel?
Kid - The Helper 1 Reputation point

2020-12-12T14:34:30.573+00:00

Geez, you'd wait a long time, actually what I'm saying is nonsense, because it would never happen ... I tried, but even if it happened, it would be useless to you, because you would probably had a infected or hacked computer because you wouldn't have security patches and updates for so long. Simply put, it's like having Windows 7, which is no longer supported, and still waiting and thinking that it will be (out of nowhere) supported again. So... Either just live with it or do a clean install. There is no other possibility.

Answer 2

aqk 6

GOOD! I was led to believe otherwise.
I'm quite happy with my CURRENT Dev system, and DO NOT wish to install any further 4GB upgrades every few days!
I shall happily wait until those BETA folks catch up with me! ... 2024?

Sebby 1 Reputation point

2021-06-04T20:53:09.437+00:00

Laugh out loud
zhan k 1 Reputation point

2021-06-19T18:36:55.69+00:00

Any chance that 2 month did it? I went and did the same thing.

Answer 3

David Lowndes 4,726

Sure, from Settings, Windows Insider Programme, click the big grey area under "Choose your insider settings".

Elmar Jansen 16 Reputation points

2020-11-11T05:34:36.723+00:00

Just in case someone else comes here to look for the answer: this is not true. You can indeed "switch" channel in settings, but it will never download it, as Windows does not have a straightforward path to "downgrade" your version to an earlier build (which the beta would be).

The only way to go "back" from Dev to Beta is using a clean install. See https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-insider/flighting#switching-between-channels for more info.
aqk 6 Reputation points

2021-04-09T04:47:15.547+00:00

Who cares about DLing Beta?
I just wish to STOP the incessant DEV DLs!!!

Answer 4

Teemo Tang 11,466

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A Platform.
Fast ring = Dev Channel
Slow ring = Beta Channel
Release Preview ring = Release Preview Channel
Insiders can always adjust these settings by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program if they want to change channels and try out new experiences.
Detailed information here
https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2020/06/15/introducing-windows-insider-channels/

Elmar Jansen 16 Reputation points

2020-11-11T05:38:23.703+00:00

This is not correct: you cannot switch from Dev to Beta without a clean install. From the docs page:

"If you've installed an Insider Preview build in the Beta Channel or Release Preview Channel, switching between channels is easy. But if you've installed a build in the Dev Channel, because it's not tied to a specific release, you'll have to do a clean install of Windows and reset your Windows Insider settings on that device to switch."
Vicente Girona 6 Reputation points

2021-06-24T17:21:15.113+00:00

A bit late but that's false, you can just revert to the last compilation from Settings / Recovery, i just did it right now and I'm in public build instead of Dev channel.

Answer 5

Johan 6

I tried to move from DEV to BETA but I never got any BETA updates delivered.
After a while update center complained that my DEV branch was too old and I had to switch back to DEV to get a new update.
So no in my experience it wasn't possible to go from DEV to BETA...

issac prasad 11 Reputation points

2020-12-01T21:10:14.51+00:00

Technically you are trapped when you are at DEV. You need to do a clean install to switch from DEV to BETA or Release preview

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Is there a way to change from the Dev channel to the Beta Channel in the Windows Insider Preview Settings?

6 answers

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