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Microsoft has finally allowed Windows 11 testers to access beta features without having to download a third-party app like ViVeTool. The changes are part of the build-out Windows Insider Program (WIP) Less confusingstreamlining the Dev and Canary testing loops into a new beta channel along with updating the existing beta channel.
Microsoft has been using a technology called Controlled Features Rollout (CFR) for years now, to gradually roll out new features to all Windows 11 users. Although this is an industry standard, it can often be frustrating trying to access beta Windows 11 features and realizing that Microsoft is A/B testing the cool thing that was just announced and you’re not on the list. Alec Ott, Microsoft’s key product manager, admits that unpredictability often means “you don’t get the new features that motivated many of you to join the Insider program to begin with.”
Normally you have to download ViVeTool and find the ID of the feature you need to enable to access newly announced features, but that will no longer be the case. Windows Insiders in the new beta channel will now be able to enable or disable certain features through the New Feature Flags page in the Settings app. The updated Beta channel will also not have a gradual rollout of features.
“We will start by enabling feature tags for new visible features announced in WIP,” says Ott. “This means that less obvious changes announced in the WIP, such as bug fixes and system improvements, may not be present in feature tags.” Microsoft wants feedback on rolling out this new feature flags setting, and Windows fans will likely still find secret, unannounced changes in Windows 11 that will still require using ViVeTool — but at least you won’t miss out on A/B testing once features become official.
Streamlined channels for testing Windows 11 is also another much-needed change. I follow Windows tests weekly, but it’s often confusing to see what new features are appearing across the Beta, Dev, and Canary channels.
“For most Insiders, choosing the Beta or Beta channel will be all you need to get set up, but for those who want to go a step further, we’re adding an advanced option to choose the base version of Windows compatible with your hardware,” Oot explains. “The beta channel will also have an additional option for future platforms, which is our first preview build for Windows and is not compatible with the retail version of Windows.”
The new Future Platforms option is designed for Windows enthusiasts and developers who want access to the latest versions of Windows 11. It looks like the Beta Channel will be the best option for those who want to test new features as they come out, while the Beta Channel will be a more stable version of what will then be moved to Release Preview before rolling out to all Windows 11 users.
Finally, Microsoft is also making it easier to jump between different testing channels or stop participating in Windows Insider builds altogether without having to reinstall Windows 11. “We’re making some changes behind the scenes to enable Insider builds to use in-place upgrade (IPU) to move between builds,” says Oot. “This will in most cases allow Insiders to move back and forth between beta and prerelease and preview the release on the same base version of Windows, or leave the software without a clean install.”