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I noticed that after I've updated Windows to Build 22581.ini_release .220318- 1623, a watermark appeared on the desktop (Windows 11 Home Single Language. Evaluation copy. Build 22581.ini_release.220318- 1623). My question is can I remove this watermark or will it get removed in the next update. I know for a fact that Windows is activated and I've never gotten this before from the other updates.
Note: I'm on the Windows Insider Program (Beta)
Thank you.
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Hi Ayanda,
I am Sumit here to assist you with this question.
Insider Builds always have a watermark. This is by design and does not affect activation in any way.
The watermark was always there in Windows 10 Beta Builds. It was not there in Windows 11 Builds because it was essentially the same as stable channel 22000.
Rest assured no action is required from your end.
From the Windows Engineering Team:
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>"This is simply NOT true! I have never had this in 2+ years,"
About last two+ years Released version and Beta channel has been sharing same code base (build 1904x) and there hasn't been that watermark, but now Beta channel is once again jump ahead for new series of Beta builds that watermark has come back.
As told in blog:
*We’ve received a lot of feedback from Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel about the desktop watermark.****It is normal to see this watermark on your desktop after updating to the latest pre-release builds.***It does not change the licensing of your device.
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22593 | Windows Insider Blog
If you don't want it you have to do clean install of released version 21H2, build 22000.xxx
This is simply NOT true! I have never had this in 2+ years, but suddenly it appeared after updating!
You are mixing 2 different things.
An Insider Build watermark does not affect activation at all. The watermark for activation notification is different one, and Insider one is different(pre-release)".
If you go to Settings > System > Activation, you would find your Windows copy activated with a digital license.
Over the time close to general release, watermark would be gone automatically.
Here is an evidence from 2019 that watermarks existed well before Windows 11:
Although the tool mentioned in the answer does not work anymore.
