Microsoft is Simplifying its Windows Insider Program With Just Two Channels

Pavan Davuluri, EVP, Windows + Devices, announced last month that Microsoft would soon launch a “simpler, more transparent Windows Insider Program” with clearer channel definitions and easier access to new features. This will finally happen in the coming weeks, with Microsoft launching a new Experimental Channel to replace the Dev and Canary channels. Insiders on this new Channel will be able to toggle new features on and off, while the Beta Channel will remain, but won’t be subject to gradual feature rollouts anymore.

The Windows Insider team said today that recent discussions with Insiders led them to realize two things: First of all, the channel structure had become too confusing. Moreover, it happened way too often that new features mentioned in a blog post weren’t immediately available for testing. “That experience, where features are announced but only some of you receive them due to how we gradually roll things out, is the single biggest frustration…