How to Download and Install Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds in Your Computer?

This article will help you in learning how to join Windows Insider Program to download and install Windows 11 Insider Preview builds in your Windows 10 device for testing purposes.

Microsoft has announced about Windows 11, the next version of Windows operating system which will replace existing Windows 10 operating system. Windows 11 is scheduled to release to public later this year.

Windows 11 is based on Windows 10 operating system and comes with a brand new or redesigned UI (user interface), visual effects along with several new features and enhancements.

As usual, Microsoft has started releasing testing versions of upcoming Windows 11 operating system which are known as “Insider Preview builds”. Interested people can download and install these testing builds of Windows 11 to test drive new features and UI of Windows 11 in their computer systems.

Windows 11 Insider Preview builds are testing builds and you might face bugs and issues while using these builds in your computer system. These builds are provided by Microsoft so that people can test the new operating system and provide their feedback and suggestions to Microsoft developer team. It helps Microsoft in fixing known issues and making the product perfect and stable.

You might also want to test Windows 11 operating system in your computer. If yes, this tutorial will help you in downloading and installing Windows 11 Insider Preview builds in your device.

NOTE: You’ll require a licensed version of Windows 10 on your device and Microsoft account (Hotmail or Outlook email ID) to be able to test Windows 11 Insider Preview builds in your machine. Also your Windows 10 device must meet minimum system requirements for Windows 11. You can’t install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. There are tricks or registry tweaks to disable hardware check but they’ll not work. Windows 11 setup will detect the incompatible hardware and the setup process will be terminated.

There will be 2 cases if you want to install Windows 11 Insider Preview builds:

CASE 1: You are new to Windows Insider Program and want to join it to install Windows 11 builds.

CASE 2: You are already registered to Windows Insider Program and using an Insider Preview build of Windows 10.

We’ll talk about both cases one by one:

CASE 1: Join Windows Insider Program to Install Windows 11 Builds

If you are using public stable version of Windows 10 in your computer system and now want to install Windows 11 Insider Preview builds to test its features, following steps will help you:

STEP 1:

In your Windows 10 device, press WIN+I keys together to launch Settings app. You can also open Settings app using Start Menu.

Now click on “Update & Security” section present on Settings homepage.

Now click on “Windows Insider Program” tab or section present in the left-side pane on Update & Security page.

PS: Alternatively, You can directly launch this page using “ms-settings:windowsinsider” command in RUN dialog box as mentioned here.

STEP 2:

Since you were not using any Insider Preview build in your Windows 10 device, you’ll need to first join and register with Windows Insider Program.

PS: Some people might see a message to turn on or enable optional diagnostic data setting to be able to manage Windows Insider Program settings. Click on “Go to Diagnostics & Feedback settings to turn on optional diagnostic data” link given on the page. Now select “Full” or “Optional diagnostic data” option and go back to Windows Insider Program page. Now you’ll be able to join or register.

Click on “Get Started” button given on Windows Insider Program settings page and Windows 10 will launch setup wizard to join or register with Windows Insider Program.

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You’ll need to link your Microsoft Account with Windows Insider Program. If you are already signed in using your Hotmail or Outlook email ID, you can select the same email ID by clicking on “Link an Account” button. Otherwise you can create a new email ID or sign in using existing email ID and select the email ID.

Windows will ask you to register with Windows Insider Program, click on “Register” button. Again click on “Sign Up” button to complete joining Insider Program.

You’ll also need to accept terms and privacy statements, select the checkbox and click on “Submit” button.

Select “Dev” channel on “Pick your Insider settings” dialog box to be able to receive latest Windows 11 Insider Preview builds.

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IMPORTANT NOTE: “Dev” channel will only be available to select if your Windows 10 device meets system requirements for Windows 11. If your device is not compatible to run Windows 11, you’ll be forced to choose “Release Preview” channel.

Click on “Confirm” button. Windows will ask to restart the device to setup your machine to receive Insider Preview builds.

STEP 3:

After restart, again open Settings app and go to “Update & Security” page.

Click on “Check for Updates” button and your Windows 10 device will start downloading Windows 11 Insider Preview build.

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After downloading, Windows 10 will launch Windows 11 Update wizard to install Windows 11 Insider Preview build in your system.

It’ll take approx. one hour in upgrading your Windows 10 device to Windows 11 Insider Preview.

Congratulations. You have successfully installed Windows 11 build in your device and now your device is ready to download and install all future Windows 11 Insider Preview builds.

CASE 2: Existing Windows Insiders Want to Install Windows 11 Builds

If you are already registered to Windows Insider Program and using an old Windows 10 Insider Preview build in your computer system, you will be automatically registered to receive Windows 11 builds.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

If your device meets system requirements for Windows 11, you are set to download and install Windows 11 Insider Preview builds.

But if your Windows 10 device doesn’t meet system requirements for Windows 11 and you are using an existing Windows 10 Insider Preview build in your computer, following will happen:

If you were using “Dev” channel to receive Windows 10 Insider Preview build, you’ll receive Windows 11 Insider Preview build without any problem.
If you were using “Beta” channel to receive Windows 10 Insider Preview build, you’ll be moved to “Release Preview” channel and will receive Windows 11 Insider Preview build at a later date. You’ll get an option to rejoin “Dev” or “Beta” channel again to receive Windows 11 builds right now.
If you were using “Release Preview” channel to receive Windows 10 Insider Preview build, you’ll not receive Windows 11 Insider Preview builds.

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This is how you can join Windows Insider Program and Test Windows 11 Insider Preview builds in your computer system.

In future, Microsoft might also allow incompatible Windows 10 devices which don’t meet minimum system requirements for Windows 11, to install Windows 11 Insider Preview builds.

Also Check:

Download Windows 11 Offline ISO Files for Insider Preview Build

Fix “This PC can’t Run Windows 11” Error Message While Installing Windows 11

How to Check Your Computer has TPM 2.0 for Windows 11?

How to Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot to Install Windows 11?

Should You Install Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware Devices?

List of Deprecated and Removed Features in Windows 11

Windows 10 Users will Get Free Upgrade to Windows 11, Here is How to Check?