Microsoft's holiday break is over, which means the company is back to releasing Windows 11 preview builds on a weekly basis. Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels have a new update to download today, which introduces accessibility improvements, fixes for File Explorer, and more. With it, Microsoft issued an important reminder, particularly to insiders with PCs enrolled in the Dev Channel.
As of right now, Dev and Beta Channels share identical updates, with Microsoft releasing one build for both channels simultaneously. This allows Windows Insiders to switch between channels without reinstalling Windows. Soon, however, this opportunity will go away. Microsoft is getting ready to promote the Dev Channel to a higher-number build and leave the Beta Channel a bit behind. As such, users who do not want to risk encountering more bugs should consider switching to the Beta Channel right now.
Switching channels without reinstalling Windows is only possible when Microsoft offers identical builds for both channels. Once Dev is higher than Beta, downgrading is only possible by reinstalling Windows 11 from scratch.
If you want to leave Dev and switch to Beta, go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider program. After that, your PC will stop receiving Dev updates and stay in the Beta channel with more stable updates ahead of their public rollout.
While the Dev and Beta Channels are Microsoft's playground for new Windows 11 features, Canary users can try the upcoming Windows 11 version 26H1, which is expected in the first half of this year. At CES 2026, manufacturers confirmed that the first PCs with Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 will ship in the first quarter of 2026. Other PCs will get this year's big Windows 11 update in the second half of the year in the form of Windows 11 version 26H2.
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