Microsoft has released the first official beta of Windows 11. Here’s how to get it, either via Windows Update or a downloadable ISO file.<\/b>
\nMicrosoft has released the first official builds of Windows 11. Here\u2019s how to get Windows 11 and try it out for yourself. You\u2019ll need two things: first, a PC that meets the minimum hardware specifications of Windows 11. Second, you may need to join the Windows Insider program so that your PC can receive the first beta or Windows Insider builds of Windows 11. As of August 19, though, there\u2019s a second way to receive a Windows 11 beta build: by downloading an. ISO file. (Remember, the Windows 11 beta is beta software. We\u2019d advise that you do not run it on a primary\/work PC without understanding that a bug could, in the worst case, render it inoperable.) We would also very much encourage you to read our earlier story on the Windows 11 minimum hardware specifications, download Microsoft\u2019s app, and check to see if your PC is eligible to upgrade to Windows 11. If it\u2019s not, there\u2019s one loophole that may see you through to Windows 11, which we\u2019ll explain as part of our next section. For more on Windows 11, make sure to bookmark PCWorld\u2019s Windows 11 FAQ as well as our Windows 11 superguide, too. Microsoft\u2019s Windows Insider program is the beta program for its operating system. As an Insider, you have the opportunity to try out new code before everyone else does. As our Windows Insider introduction details, there are three channels of code: the Dev Channel, the Beta Channel, and the Release Preview Channel. The Dev Channel is the most \u201caggressive\u201d channel: You\u2019ll see the earliest, least-tested code first. If you choose the Dev Channel, you\u2019ll download the first Windows 11 build, provided your PC\u2019s hardware qualifies. If you want to be the very first to try out the first official builds of Windows 11, you\u2019ll need to be part of the Windows Insider Dev Channel or the Beta Channel\u2014Microsoft has added Windows 11 to the Beta Channel as of July 29. Windows 11 builds will also be accessible, eventually, from the most conservative Release Preview Channel, which publishes largely finished code. You\u2019ll just have to wait longer. Our how-to story describes how to join the Windows Insider program, but it\u2019s simple: You can join by accessing the Settings menu within your PC, and proceeding from there. Make sure you select the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider program to receive Windows 11 builds. \u201cInsiders with PCs already in the Dev Channel have been installing and giving feedback on builds with Windows 11 features since last year,\u201d Amanda Langowski and Brandon LeBlanc, the heads of the Windows Insider program, wrote on June 24. \u201cOur way of saying thanks is to go ahead and give them the opportunity to see everything come together.\u201d If you see that a file marked \u201cWindows 11 Insider Preview 10.0.22000.51 (co_release)\u201d has begun downloading, good news! (If you\u2019re reading this after our original story published, you may see builds like \u201cWindows 11 Insider Preview 22000.100 (co_release)\u201d appear instead.) The first build of Windows 11 is heading to your PC. After it downloads and installs, reboot your PC when prompted to begin the Windows 11 installation process. On August 19, Microsoft added support for downloading an. ISO file of the Windows 11 beta, too. An. ISO file is essentially a virtual CD upon which the Windows 11 beta is stored and can be installed. The Windows 11 ISO download options appear the at the bottom of the Windows 11 ISO download page. Installing the ISO file couldn\u2019t be simpler. Simply double-click the ISO fie to open it, and Windows will \u201cmount\u201d the file so you can access the files. Simply double-click the Setup.exe file to start the installation process. Here, you\u2019ll have a choice to \u201cKeep Windows settings, personal files, and apps,\u201d or you can keep \u201cnothing\u201d to create a clean installation. Once you’ve made that selection, the Windows 11 installation process will begin. Remember, once the Windows 11 beta is installed, you’ll likely need to reset your PC to go back to Windows 10. It’s probably easier to consider this process a one-way street to Windows 11. For more, see our Windows 11 superguide for more tips and news.<\/p>\n