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Good evening, as per the title, I am unable to switch to the Beta channel of the Insider Preview. I read that this version allows for switching. Let me explain the issue: I am working on a company machine, and I had no idea they had the Insider program active. After the latest update, the MIDI functionality became completely unstable, and the system keeps restarting on its own. I managed to limit the damage, but before formatting the system, I read that I can switch to a Beta version and then exit the program with an official version. Is that correct? That's why I re-registered for the program, but I can't change the options. Thank you very much.
Hello Roberto,
Appears MS has shut down that option to go to Beta. As Beta and Dev are still on the same build, please Try deleting the entire WindowsSelfHost Key. It will be rebuilt after a reboot:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost
After rebooting, you will be out of Insider and you can join the Beta channel and be current with your build.
Regards,
Thank you so much for your response, Johnny55, you literally saved my life. Sorry to take up a bit more of your time, but now I’ll be able to leave and move on to the official version once it’s released? Just getting out of the DEV channel is already a real miracle. Thanks again!
Hello Roberto,
If you want to go to Release, simply dl the ISO image of Release from here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11
As all these builds are based on 26100.1 other than Canary, simply mount the ISO image within Windows and run setup.exe. When done, you should be on current Public Release version 26200.7462.
You will retain all data and settings.
Wanderfull Johnny55, this Is a dream come true 😅 Thank you again for your time and have a nice day.
You are very welcome Roberto. Happy to get you fixed up. Have a great weekend.
Thank you @Johnny55 this seems to have allowed me to go back to Beta from Dev which is supposed to be supported with this build, according to this blog https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2025/12/05/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-26220-7344-dev-beta-channels/
That Blog is outdated. MS only leaves a short window to be able to move down. That expired couple weeks ago.
Hi Roberto,
It seems this option to switch Channels
has been shut off. I also don't have the
option to switch.
Thank you for the reply. So i've to format again 😞
Thank you so much for the reply. So i've to format again 😞
No, it says explicitly here https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2025/12/05/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-26220-7344-dev-beta-channels/
that you CAN switch from dev to beta with this build. It's not letting me either. However using @Johnny55 hack above it seems to have worked
That blog is outdated as MS closed the window to do so. Glad the fix worked for you. You got it done in time.
Hi Bert,
The option to switch has been closed.
Canary just went to build 28020 today.
So Dev and/or Beta may be changing also.
It should be possible at the moment as it says here https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2025/12/05/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-26220-7344-dev-beta-channels/
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Hey guys,
In my case, I seem to have the option to switch up but not down. From my current Beta channel version 262220.7344, the option to switch to Release Preview is grayed out, but the options to switch to Dev and Canary channels seem to be active.
I assume that this is at it always has been, for the Beta channel. Only in certain builds would Microsoft permit switching down to Release Preview. Or has something changed to make switching downward from Beta never an option anymore?
(I couldn't tell in Roberto's post, from what channel he wanted to make the switch to Beta. So I couldn't tell if this is a new problem or not. Given that 26220.7344 is a Dev and Beta channel build, I would have thought that switching from Dev to Beta would be allowed, Maybe it was never possible to switch downward from the Dev channel?)
Hello Bert,
You are correct, you can go up to Dev and Canary from Beta. Follow the same instructions I posted above to get out of Insider, then do the Repair install that is mentioned in the comments to go back to Release or RP.
As mentioned by CrazyKats, you had better move fast before any changes might happen to Beta and be stuck. We are all in the dark on when the changes will happen.
Thanks, Johnny55. I'm okay staying put in Beta. I just wanted to understand exactly what Roberto was trying to do, and whether this no-switching policy was in fact some new Microsoft brainchild. I honestly cannot understand why switching up, at least, should be any problem at all, for Microsoft. Even if it means installing a whole new version of Windows, but from the Insider portal.