Windows 11 will let you test experimental features that may never be released

(Prototype credit: Shutterstock)

The Windows Insider program has long been a place for engineering science enthusiasts to become an early look at features coming to the operating system, but it'due south about to go a bit more experimental with Windows eleven in 2022.

Windows Insider programme pb Amanda Langowski announced that the Microsoft is "evolving the way we develop and release to Insiders with more emphasis on trying out different concepts with our features and services."

To that cease, the Dev Channel is to be refocused as a "place to incubate new ideas" more often than not with a long lead-in time. "In some cases, these concepts volition never ship, but by experimenting more, nosotros tin can better refine experiences, and deliver solutions in Windows that truly empower our customers to achieve more than," Langowski explained.

"It is important to remember that the builds we release to the Dev Channel should non exist seen every bit matched to any specific release of Windows and the features included may change over time, be removed, or replaced in Insider builds or may never exist released beyond Windows Insiders to general customers," she emphasized.

Elsewhere, the Beta Channel volition exist reserved for "previewing experiences that are closer to what nosotros will ship to our full general customers." That ways that sometimes features will confusingly appear in the Beta Channel first, even though they're well-nigh ready for show time.

The Release Preview Aqueduct, meanwhile, will still exist intended to highlight features that are due an imminent release.

"Now's a proficient time to start thinking almost what Aqueduct is all-time for you," Langowski continued. "We will soon be giving Insiders a window in which they will be able to switch from the Dev Channel to the Beta Channel. Stay tuned for details in the coming weeks."

While almost Windows 11 users will be content to bask the stable public releases rolled out to users later beta testers have squashed the majority of bugs, this will certainly appeal to those who want to accept a say in the future of Windows. And that number is growing, according to Langowski, who said that more people are running Windows 11 preview builds than e'er did for Windows x.

"We are energized past all the feedback we're seeing from Insiders and excited to use those insights to make Windows 11 even better for our customers," she explained.

The operating system is due a sizable improvement this month, with Android app support also as updates to the taskbar, Notepad and Media Player all pencilled in for February.

Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, roofing phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional mag too. When not weighing upwardly the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games excess. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.