
I’ve tested it out myself, and switching to the Beta channel only required a quick reboot - a small price to pay for what will hopefully be smoother sailing until the actual release. Usually switching from Dev to Beta requires a complete OS re-install, but according to the Windows Insider Twitter account, it’ll be possible to do in place for a “short period of time.” It’s probably best to hop on that as soon as you can if you don’t need to stay on the Dev channel.
#Windows 11 download beta update#
If you, like me, are in this situation, you can switch to the Beta channel by going to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program, then clicking on Choose your Insider Settings. The beta release is also good news for those of us who installed the Dev preview to get our hands on Windows 11 as soon as possible, but don’t actually need to be on the bleeding (read: buggy) edge. Switching to the Beta Channel is easy, for now. The company has said that it will be paying close attention to how well 7th Gen Intel and AMD Zen 1 CPUs work during the testing period, so it’s possible those systems could be allowed to run the beta but not the final release.


Figuring out if your hardware will work with the next version of Windows has been notoriously tricky to pin down, but Microsoft’s article about preparing for Insider builds directs people to its system requirements page. Your energy and enthusiasm has helped create a new Windows experience that brings you closer to what you love, empowering productivity and inspiring creativity.

#Windows 11 download beta install#
Of course, to install the beta you’ll need a compatible computer. Since the first Insider Preview build was released in June, we’ve seen unprecedented feedback and engagement. Until today, getting access to Windows 11 meant installing the Dev preview, which Microsoft says is for “highly technical users” as it has “rough edges.” According to Microsoft, the beta release is less volatile, with builds being validated by Microsoft (though it’s still probably something you’ll want to install on a test machine or second partition). Microsoft has released the first beta of Windows 11, available to those enrolled in its Windows Insider Program.
