What you need to know
- Earlier this year, Microsoft reopened the Insider Beta Channel for Windows 10 users to test new features backported from Windows 11.
- Now, just five months on, the company has announced that it is once again shutting down the Beta Channel on Windows 10.
- Microsoft will continue to flight Windows 10 builds to the Release Preview channel, which Beta Channel Insiders can switch to now.
As an analyst with over two decades of experience in the tech industry, I find myself both amused and slightly disappointed by Microsoft’s decision to shut down the Insider Beta Channel for Windows 10 once again. It feels like a rollercoaster ride, doesn’t it? One moment we’re excited about new features, the next we’re left wondering if there will be any.
Previously, Microsoft unexpectedly pledged to continue releasing fresh features and experiences for Windows 10 users, considering there were barely two years left until the OS reached its end-of-life in 2025. Now, with only a few months remaining before Windows 10 becomes obsolete, Microsoft has declared that the Insider Beta Channel they reopened to test these new features will be closed down again.
Earlier this year, Microsoft reopened the Beta Testing for Windows 10, which they had shut down in favor of preview testing for Windows 11 in 2022. Their intention was to test features backported from Windows 11 such as the new Windows Copilot and smaller enhancements. However, only five months later, this Beta Testing channel is being closed again, with Microsoft announcing they will no longer release beta builds for Windows 10.
In a blog post, Microsoft said the following:
From now on, we won’t distribute any more Windows 10 builds to the Beta Channel because we are discontinuing it. Instead, we’ll solely focus on providing updates through the Release Preview Channel from here on out.
Microsoft confirms that they will continue to release updates for Windows 10 in the Release Preview Channel, but it’s uncertain if they plan to introduce new features or if they are gradually phasing out such developments as the end-of-life for Windows 10 approaches. The shutdown of the Beta Channel implies a possible shift towards winding down new feature introductions.
For Windows 10 users, the closure of the Beta Channel isn’t a significant loss. Microsoft has primarily transferred a limited number of features to Windows 10, many of which are intended to boost usage of their services like MSN and Copilot. Among the few changes that Windows 10 has received so far are the lock screen widgets from Windows 11, the new Copilot app, promotions for OneDrive and Microsoft 365 within Settings and Start, as well as a few other minor updates.
As a devoted Windows 10 user, here’s some exciting news: Insiders like us in the Beta Channel can expect to be gently transitioned to the Release Preview Channel over the next few days. Alternatively, you can take charge and manually make the switch via the Settings app right now. Mark your calendars, as Windows 10 is set to reach its end of life on October 14, 2025. Fear not, for Microsoft offers the option to extend support for an extra year at a cost.
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2024-11-14 23:39