Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.290 and 22622.290 to Windows insiders in the beta channel.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.290 and 22622.290

Starting today, we are releasing updates to the Beta Channel that put Windows Insiders into one of two groups similar to what we did  back in 2019:

• A group of Insiders in the Beta Channel will receive Build 22622.xxx updates that will have new features getting rolled out or turned on via  an enablement package like how we release updates for Windows 10 today.
• A group of Insiders in the Beta Channel will receive Build 22621.xxx updates that will have new features turned off by default.

This approach will help us validate our ability to release updates with features turned off by default. It will also allow us to have greater insight into the impact of enabling new features. By comparing feedback and usage data between Insiders in these two groups, we will get to see if a feature is causing issues with reliability, for example. Based on this insight, it will help us make decisions on whether to make new features available for more Insiders by increasing their rollout or, in some cases, disable a feature to address bugs. The goal is to use the comparison data to ensure the best possible experience as we try out new features and experience with Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel.

The majority of Insiders in the Beta Channel will automatically get the update (Build 22622.xxx). It is important to note that not all features will be immediately turned on with this update as we plan to roll them out and monitor feedback and see how they land before pushing them out to more Insiders.

We realize that Insiders in the Beta Channel will want to choose which update they get. Insiders who land in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22622.xxx).

As part of this transition to using the enablement package, some Insiders who had previous features rolled out to them may see them disappear. If this happens to you, please install the enablement package and they should return shortly. We realize this isn’t ideal, and we are learning how to best adjust our rollouts going forward to minimize disruption in previewing experiences.

This approach is being used for the Beta Channel only and is not indicative of any changes or plans for final feature rollouts. The enablement package artificially increments the build number for the update with new features getting rolled out and turned on to make it easier to differentiate from devices with the update with features off by default . As a reminder, features we try out with Windows Insiders will ship when they are ready and not every feature that we try out in the Beta Channel will ship to general customers.

Today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.290 and Build 22622.290 (KB5014959) to the Beta Channel.

• Build 22622.290 = New features rolling out.
• Build 22621.290 = New features off by default.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.290 and 22622.290