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Hello,
I have version 25H2 (OS build 26220.8925), which says it expires on 08/11/2026, and no update appears in Windows Update. What should I do—switch to the experimental channel instead of the beta?
Regards
Hi Peter,
Build 26220 is not Release Preview,
it's the Beta 25H2 Channel.
Your Insider settings page needs to
say Beta. If you have possibly switched
channels you need to be on Beta.
You can try deleting this Registry Key
and then make sure you choose Beta.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(124.80000000000001, 6%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EPK%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
G'day CrazyKats & Thank You for your reply & info!
I'm not sure how my PC got an Insider Beta build applied - I've only ever been set to Release Preview to my knowledge.
However your advice is correct & sound - I didn't need to delete the Registry key, just changing my Insider setting from "Release Preview" to "Beta" and clicking "Check for Updates" started downloading the Windows 11 Feature Update 26220.9022.
The only remaining question I have is: How easy is it to return my PC to the "Release Preview" Insider channel? I'd rather stay on the more stable "Release Preview" than "Beta" if it's relatively simple to return to "Release Preview"..
Thanks again CrazyKats - THREE Thumbs Up!
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(160, 21%, 25%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EB%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hi Monica Porta,
We all have to wait this out, only Canary has been updated , check the link.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(160, 12%, 25%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ESA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
I have the same problem. My copy expires in a few days, while the new update can't be received I tried several times.
I am on 25H2 26220.7934 "Release Preview" channel (installed March-2026, confirmed with WinVer), with expiring certificates on 12-Aug (2 days away) and I have no Windows Updates detected to apply - I'm getting nervous. The Microsoft release announcement on 20-Jul-2026 states a Release Preview build was released on 20-Jul-2026 - build 26200.8968 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2026/07/20/announcing-new-builds-for-20-july-2026/), however that does not appear in Windows Update.
ALSO NOTE: the Jul-26 Release Preview build number for 25H2 is LOWER than the build number issued in March-2026 (i.e. 26200 vs 26220)! Is an incorrect (& lower) build number on Jul-26 release preventing it from being installed by Windows Update?!? I also notice a comment "Update: Corrected build numbers" in the post relating to Release Preview.
Have Microsoft screwed up the build numbers for Release Preview preventing the July-2026 release from being installed? One way or another I'll find out in the next 2 days - Yikes / Oh dear...
Hi Peter,
You could go to the Windows Insider
Program page and turn on the Unroll
Device. Then wait til Fall release of the
major release, builds will switch channels.
Beta is fairly stable at this time.