No need to pay $50 per year for these incredible wallpapers

No need to pay $50 per year for these incredible wallpapers

What you need to know

  • Microsoft shared two new wallpapers to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Windows Insider Program.
  • Microsoft launched the Windows Insider Program in 2014 to receive feedback from the community and provide early access to certain features.
  • The Windows Insider Program helped shape Windows 10, Windows 11, and several features found in apps on those operating systems.

As someone who has been part of the Windows Insider Program since its inception and witnessed the evolution of Windows 10 and Windows 11, I can attest to the program’s significant impact on the ecosystem. The early access to features and the ability to provide direct feedback has not only made us users feel more connected to Microsoft but also contributed to shaping the operating system we use today.


Microsoft marked the 10th anniversary of its Windows Insider Program by expressing gratitude to its community members who have helped shape the characteristics and features of Windows 10 and Windows 11 through testing and offering feedback. This active group, now numbering in the millions, plays a vital role in Microsoft’s development process. To celebrate this milestone, Microsoft released two fresh wallpapers as a token of appreciation.

Ever since the inception of the Windows Insider Program, it has grown into a vast community providing valuable input on not just Windows, but also Microsoft applications and services. Some of us here at Windows Central have been part of this program since 2014, earning badges as proof of our involvement.

Celebrating a decade with the Windows Insider Program, it’s hard not to reminisce about the era prior when Microsoft didn’t distribute official builds of Windows for testing purposes. Back then, leaks provided an exciting element, but now I appreciate that countless individuals get to try out new features ahead of time.

On Microsoft’s site, you’ll find the option to download the high-definition versions of the latest wallpapers. The blog post includes direct links for easy access.

In the same blog post, Microsoft touched upon its vision for the evolution of Windows and the Windows Insider Program as well.

In celebration of this notable milestone, Microsoft’s Amanda Langowski expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming opportunities and advancements. She reiterated their dedication to maintaining open dialogue, taking into account your suggestions, and constantly exploring new frontiers in the realm of Windows technology.

The importance of Windows Insiders

No need to pay $50 per year for these incredible wallpapers

This year, we witnessed the aftermath when Microsoft skipped using the Windows Insider Program for testing Windows Recall. Unfortunately, this decision resulted in a catastrophe because crucial issues were overlooked due to the absence of Insiders during testing. Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden hypothesized that perhaps Microsoft intended to keep Recall confidential, but without Insider feedback, numerous flaws went unnoticed.

According to Bowden, there isn’t a singular aspect that could have profited more from public scrutiny than the Windows Recall feature. It’s a type of functionality that should ideally be developed transparently, allowing users to grow confident in its use.

If these security issues had been publicly tested earlier, they would have been identified much sooner, perhaps even resolved before the widespread launch, thereby preventing unnecessary panic.

Other elements were also influential, but the absence of Insider participation, significant security concerns, and various problems associated with Recall led Microsoft to postpone the rollout of this feature. Now, the technology titan intends to introduce Recall via the Windows Insider Program to collect user feedback.

To use Windows Recall, you’ll need a Copilot+ computer equipped with an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) capable of 40 or more TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second), as well as a Trusted Platform Module (TPM). This month, computers with Arm-based chips will be eligible to begin testing Windows Recall. Users with AMD-based Copilot+ PCs will have to wait until November.

Free wallpapers

As a tech enthusiast, I’m always on the lookout for ways to customize my devices, and one area where Microsoft really shines is with their collection of free wallpapers! While it might be too late for a joke about avoiding annual subscription fees for images, the truth is that Microsoft has consistently provided a wide range of stunning wallpapers for both PCs and mobile devices.

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2024-10-14 19:42