If you’re interested in testing Windows 11, you’ll be able to do so starting next week via the Dev channel in the Windows Insider Program. Here’s how to get started.

“We plan to release the first Insider Preview build for Windows 11 next week,” Microsoft’s Amanda Langowski writes. “However ahead of that release, we wanted to let Insiders know of a few changes we are making to how they will receive Windows 11 Insider Preview builds going forward.”

Those changes aren’t all that unexpected. The big one is that the Windows Insider Program will follow the same system requirements as will Windows 11 generally, you’ll need a PC with a dual-core 1 GHz or faster 64-bit processor, 4+ GB of RAM, 64+ GB of storage, and a TPM 2.0 module. That said, if your PC is already in the Windows Insider Program Dev channel and it doesn’t meet those requirements, Microsoft will allow you to install Windows 11 Insider Preview builds, at least until Windows 11 ships; at that time, those PCs will be opted out of testing and will have to be manually switched back to Windows 10.

To get started, you simply need to join the Dev channel of the Windows Insider Program. If you’ve already done so, you’re all set, assuming your PC is eligible. There’s nothing else to do.

If you’re not enrolled yet, open Settings and navigate to Update & Security > Windows Insider Program to opt-in and then reboot the PC. And then wait for next week. Windows 11 is on the way.

Note that the first builds will not have some features, including Android app support and Chat with Teams. And Windows 11 is expected to hit the Beta channel in July.

Tagged with Windows Insider Program