Microsoft has closed the Windows 10 beta channel again

Microsoft has closed the Windows 10 beta channel and moved all registered Insider users to the Release Preview channel. This comes months after the software giant reopened the Windows 10 beta channel in June, releasing the first beta version of the operating system in three years.

Image source: Bleeping Computer

«In order to add new features and additional improvements to Windows 10 as needed, we need a place to actively develop and test features with the help of Windows Insiders. “So, today we’re opening a beta channel to Windows Insiders who are currently using Windows 10. This will allow us to try out new features in Windows 10 version 22H2 with Insiders before releasing them to all Windows 10 users.” , which accompanied the beta version of Windows 10 released in June.

Just five months later, Microsoft has again closed the Windows 10 beta testing channel without explaining the reasons for this decision or providing any information about its future plans. The software giant only announced the transfer of all participants in the Windows 10 beta channel to the Release Preview channel, and also recommended preparing for the end of support for Windows 10 and the transition to Windows 11. “This will be the last time we release a build of Windows 10 for the beta channel,” as we close the beta channel for Windows 10,” a team spokesperson told Windows Insider earlier this week.

Data from Statcounter Global Stats indicates that more than 60% of Windows PCs worldwide are still running Windows 10 and only 35% are using Windows 11, three years after its launch in October 2021. Windows 10 22H2, the latest stable version of Windows 10, will continue to receive monthly security updates until October 14, 2025, after which the support period for the software platform will end. Consumers will be able to receive security updates for Windows 10 for another year after the end of the support period, but will have to pay an additional $30.