The bell is tolling for Windows 10, with the much-loved operating system going out of official support in October of next year. But with hundreds of millions of users still on the older version (and many refusing to upgrade), it looks like Microsoft has a few improvements left to make. A new beta version just dropped for Windows Insiders.
It’s the first time Windows 10 has been given a beta build since 2021, as Bleeping Computer notes. While Windows 10 betas have certainly been made for the last three years, they’ve only been tested internally by Microsoft before hitting the general release. A company blog post notes that some of the new (last?) features the OS is getting will require more broad testing.
Microsoft also wants to reassure Windows 10 die-hards that joining the Insider Program and applying the beta will not automatically update the operating system to Windows 11. Just make sure you don’t join the Canary or Dev channel when you do so — that’ll apply the Windows 11 update if your PC meets the somewhat confusing base requirements. PCs that don’t meet the minimums won’t have access to Canary or Dev channels.
The new beta build isn’t heading out to Insiders just yet, it needs a few more weeks in the oven. Microsoft just wants you to be ready for it.
Further reading: Hey, everyone: It’s time to switch to Windows 11
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.