[Fix] New Insider Preview Builds of Windows 10 Not Showing on Windows Update

Many people are testing free Insider Preview builds of Windows 10 in their computers to help Microsoft in improving Windows 10 operating system. The Insider Preview build can be downloaded and installed from following link:

New Build of Windows 10 Insider Preview for PC Available for Download

These preview builds are regularly upgraded to new builds via Windows Update but several users who are using Windows 10 Insider Preview build have reported problems while downloading the new builds. They can’t see new preview builds in Windows Update. Windows Update shows that your device is up to date and no new updates are available even if they are using an older build of Windows 10.

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If you are also facing this problem and Windows 10 new builds are not appearing on Windows Update in your computer, following steps will help you in fixing the issue and downloading the RTM build without any problem:

METHOD 1: Connect Your MSA (Microsoft Account) in Windows 10

We told you earlier that Microsoft has made connecting your MSA mandatory to receive future builds of Windows 10. If you do not connect MSA in Windows 10, you’ll not receive future Preview builds of Windows 10.

Read more: Windows Insiders to Get Windows 10 for Free

So chances are you have not connected your registered Microsoft Account in Windows 10 yet, that’s why you are not receiving Windows 10 build 10240.

You can connect MSA using following steps:

1. Open Settings app from Start Menu. Alternatively, you can press WIN+I keys together to open Settings directly.

2. Now click on “Update and security” item present in Settings app.

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3. Once you open Windows Update section, click on Advanced options link.

PS: Alternatively, You can also directly launch the advanced options page of Windows Update settings using “ms-settings:windowsupdate-options” command in RUN dialog box as mentioned here.

4. Scroll down a little and if you see “Get Started” or “Fix Me” or similar button in Get Insider Builds section, click on it.

Connect_MSA_Windows_10.png

5. It’ll ask you to sign in using your Microsoft Account which you used to register into Windows Insider program. Provide your Microsoft Account email ID and password and it’ll connect your MSA account in Windows 10.

6. Now again check for updates and new preview builds should appear now without any problem.

Windows_10_RTM_Build_10240_Download.png

Related: Understanding Windows 10 Insider Preview Branches, Rings and Release Channels

METHOD 2: Fix Windows 10 Flight Settings in Registry Editor

If newer Insider Preview builds still don’t appear on Windows Update, chances are that Windows 10 flight settings present in Registry are corrupted. You can fix the settings using following steps:

1. Type regedit in RUN or Start search box and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\Applicability

3. In right-side pane, make sure the values of BranchName and UserPreferredBranchName strings are as following:

rs1_release
(if you are using recently released build 10586 but facing problems in downloading newer Insider Preview build)

th2_release
(if you are using RTM build 10240 but facing problems in downloading new Insider Preview builds)

TH1
(if you are using an older preview build and want to download Windows 10 RTM build 10240)

Fix_Windows_10_Flight_Branch_Settings_Registry.png

4. Also make sure values of EnablePreviewBuilds and ThresholdOptedin DWORDs are set to 1. If their values are different, double-click on them and change their values to 1

5. After changing values, restart your computer and then again check for updates in Windows Update. Now Windows 10 new preview build should appear for download.

METHOD 3: Another Registry Editor Method to Fix the Problem

If the problem still persists, try following steps:

1. Type regedit in RUN or Start search box and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfhost\Applicability

3. In right-side pane, delete following DWORDs:

  • ErrorState
  • LastHR
  • PilotInfoRing

Fix_Windows_10_New_Builds_Not_Downloading.png

4. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer and then again check for updates in Windows Update. Now Windows 10 new preview build should appear for download.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

If you previously had a new Windows 10 preview build installed in your computer and then you reverted back to an older build, you’ll lose access to the new build and it’ll no longer be offered as an upgrade option. If you want to install that build again, deleting that build number from the list at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\Applicability\RecoveredFrom key in Registry Editor will restore the ability to upgrade. Thanks to our reader “thedicemaster” for this info…

Also Check:

How to Leave Windows Insider Program in Windows 10?

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 10

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. I tried the regedit solution and got it fixed. One thing though. Everything I did was kind of the opposite of what was mentioned here. Also needed to reboot after having made changes to and fiddle around a bit. I didn’t solve it by the way mentioned here, but it did help me along the way. I’m the type of guy who goes left when everybody goes right, but always end up in the same place as everybody else 😉 So follow the above instructions but mess about with the values. Do remember what the original value was, should you run into trouble. I pasted the original value on the clipboard.

  2. in windows update settings —> advanced every single option is greyed out,and the brunch option says “The selected branch is not set to get insider builds

  3. Thanks for the help. I was unable to get from Build 11102 to Build 14257. After adding the missing ThresholdOptedin=1 DWORD, I restarted the Windows Update service rather than rebooting, and updates began downloading again.

  4. Hi

    I have 2 machines that have stopped updating @ 10586.
    I have tried everything I can find. Still nothing.
    Does anyone have an other ideas?

    Thanks

  5. I was unable to get from Build 14251 to Build 14257.
    I found on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\Applicability two keys about stop time and start time for updates (sorry, I forgot exact names). Removing these keys the down load of Build 14257 started immediatly.

  6. I navigated to the above-cited “selfhost applicability” key, and I changed the value for the “ErrorState” value, from a 6, to a 0…

    Now, Insider is fully functional once again

  7. Same problem. Stuck at build 10586.
    Done and redone all the steps.
    Registry settings are all ok.
    Removed the keys for “SuspensionStartTime” and “SuspensionEndTime”. Nothing can make it download the new builds…

  8. I FINALLY realized why I’m not getting the Insider builds. The way Microsoft handles this is such a pathetic joke that has cost me days of research and debugging, and I wish they would generally shape up on their error handling and -messaging, so they wouldn’t leave people guessing in some false attempt to protect users from having details.

    Anyway. I have signed up for Insider builds and gone through all the steps above in an attempt to get anything.. But no luck, no updates would ever appear for me, even though the UI tells me I’m all set up to receive builds.

    I then suddenly remembered that my Surface device was originally bought in Denmark. Everything is English on my machine, and under language preferences, Language packs include English as “Windows Display Language”. I cannot find ANYWHERE in Settings or System Properties that would indicate anything other than I have an English Windows installed.

    Then I came across a site that encouraged me to run “[CultureInfo]::InstalledUICulture” in PowerShell. And guess what that revealed.. ?

    LCID Name DisplayName
    —- —- ———–
    1030 da-DK Danish (Denmark)

    I can only assume that this is the actual reason why no updates are listed or downloaded, and why I am also unable to upgrade using the ISO.

    It’s totally fair that Insider builds are restricted to a small number of languages. It is totally unacceptable that the signup/update procedure doesn’t take this in to account at all! Sigh.

    /Thomas

  9. @Thomas with danish InstalledUICulture;
    I have the same problem, and the same value, but tried to change it in regedit.
    It seems to have changed succesfully, and the command “[CultureInfo]::InstalledUICulture” now also says
    LCID Name DisplayName
    —- —- ———–
    1033 en-US English (United States)

    instead of da-DK.

    But nope, no difference in the missing update problem.

  10. This is an alternate fix told by MS on Answers forum:
    Navigate to:
    HKEY_Current_User > Software > Microsoft > WindowsSelfHost > Applicability and
    Delete the following registry entries: “Error State”, “PilotInfoRing”, and “LastHR”
    Builds would start appearing after sometime.

  11. bro i’m using Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14332 can’t update to the latest already try given option but i cant,give me the fix VG reply me asap….

  12. Hi, Cant update to 14342. I am on the slow ring, MS account linked, checked the ‘Applicability’ key and shows the following…

    Branchname….rs1_release
    EnablePreviewBuilds…. 1
    FlightingOwnerSID…..xxxxxxxxxxx(long S-1-5 etc)
    Ring…WIS
    RingBackup…WIF
    RingId….9
    ThresholdOptedIn….1
    UserPreferredBranchName….rs1_release

    Please help, this is so frustrating. Can’t MS provide some kind of error reporting when this situation occurs. MS relies on this feedback yet dont provide foolproof update methods, it’s embarassing.

    Thanks

  13. Thanks, the HKEY_Current_User > Software > Microsoft > WindowsSelfHost > Applicability deletion of entries: “Error State”, “PilotInfoRing”, and “LastHR” were what my 10586 build needed to move forward with the slow ring to 14342.

    The second most frustrating thing is that there’s no central page that just lists something like builds available by region, edition, release type, and frequency, with a link to each build’s main release notes to denote fixes, new features, and known issues. Reading a blog with a bunch of stuff mixed in about philanthropy, hardware, movie and music content, mobile release and desktop releases is not particularly organized. blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/

  14. Don’t have those keys at all…

    I support people locally here that use the Insider builds and I can’t get my machine to update to the latest! I dont want to re-install, too much work, not enough time to resetup all my software.

    Ah well – wait for the anniversary build and hope that gets forced.

    Thanks

  15. THANKS MAN YOU ARE THE BEST

    {(FIX FOR ME)}

    METHOD 2: Fix Windows 10 Flight Settings in Registry Editor

    After the implementation of the required reboot reform has been to the fullest

  16. Thanks thedicemaster. I actually was trying to figure out all day how to restore the latest update after reverting. Your suggestion worked perfectly!

  17. Hey. A while ago, I had this problem, and messing around with the registries worked. Now, on build 14366 and with 14371 released, I am unable to get builds and unable to fix it. I tried using the 2nd method listed on this site, and I noticed that ThresholdOptedin and UserPreferredBranchName weren’t there. Also, EnableP…Builds was set to 2, and BranchName was set to external. After adding the two missing keys and fixing all the other keys set to something other than they should be, upon restarting the keys reverted back to before and I am not getting the latest builds. Here’s what the whole Applicability set is at:

    BranchName: external
    EnableP….Builds: 2
    FlightingOw…: 04…
    FlightingOw…SID: S-1-5
    IsBuildFlight…: 1
    IsConfigExp…: 1
    IsConfigSett…: 1
    IsRetailOS: 0
    Ring: WIF
    RingBackup: WIF
    RingId: 0x0…a (10)
    TestFlags: 0
    ThresholdOptedin (added): 1
    UserPref…: rs1_release
    UseSettings…: 1

    I have also applied the method 3 fix with no avail.

    Thanks in advance!

    -Camden

  18. After a try method 2 and i change the value to BranchName and UserPreferredBranchName, after i restart the value are stil not change and the branchname value is external. I have build 14361.

  19. the value of EnablePreviewBuilds is 2 even if i change in 1 after restart it’s rechange in 2

  20. @Alin_CM – I have the same problem. I’ve upgraded my machine (mobo + proc + memory) and after that I’m not able to get the insider preview updates. I’ve installed 14366 from ISO – but still no change in getting later updates.

  21. This needs updating for latest versions (14971) as the registry information is not correct. When advising a change to the registry it is important that accurate values are used as it is an area that cannot be altered by guesswork, too dangerous.

  22. My PC SHOWS that a new version (15019) is available, but the download bar never moves forward……..

    Any suggestions??

  23. If Hyper-V is turned on in “Turn Windows features on or off”, turn it off and try again.

  24. This worked for me…
    I had insider preview setup correctly, signed in, etc, but I was stuck on build 17134 (released version). I didn’t see the preview builds available at all in windows update.

    In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\Applicability, I changed Branchname from external to rs1_release, then created UserPreferredBranchName and set it to rs1_release. Then the windows insider tab changed to give my options for kind of content and pace of content (which were missing before). I set those to active development and fast pace, and checked for updates. It then started downloading the latest preview release.

  25. This discussion seems to be pretty old, but I am experiencing the same issue now. Whenever I check for Updates, my Insider Preview device tells me I am up to date, but I am on build 18990 and 18999 is out…. And even 18990 I installed by downloading the ISO and doing in-place upgrade.
    Any idea?

  26. Don’t know how old these comments are, but had the same issues. Tried the above to no avail. I finally got it working again by setting the following to value 2 (it was 0 in my registry)
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
    ManagePreviewBuilds=2.
    I once switched the flighting on and it got stuck there even though I switched it off again. Adjusting this registry made it possible to update again (to 20H2 build 19042.339).

    date of my post 1st July 2020.

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