In this blog post, I’ll show you how to join Windows Server Insider Program. Insider program lets you try pre-release vNext builds of Windows Server so you can test new features and apps before they’re generally available. If you’re interested, I’ve also written a guide that shows how to join the Windows 11 Insider Program.
For demonstration purposes, I’m using Windows Server 2025. After you link your Insider account to the server, you’ll be prompted to choose an update channel. Two channels are available. Pick the one that matches your risk tolerance and goals.
- Canary: Earliest preview version, least stable, aimed at highly technical users. Select this to test new roles, drivers, and OS changes early in a lab environment.
- Release preview: Near-final builds and servicing updates that are close to general availability. Select if you want minimum risk, and you want to validate the build before the final release.
Contents
Step 1: Register for the Windows Insider Program
The first step is to register for Windows insider program. You can use either an Entra ID work account or a personal account to register.
- Go to the Windows Insider site and click on Register button. If you are already registered with Windows insider, then skip this step.
Step 2: Link Insider Account and Select Update Channel
- Go back to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program and click on Get started button. Then click on Link an account button.
- Select the type of insider account to sign in, Work or school account or Microsoft account. Click Continue.
- Select the update channel. I’ll go with Release Preview, which is the recommended option for organizations that want to try out new features with minimal risk. If you’re working in a lab environment, you can choose the Canary Channel to explore the latest builds.
- Click Continue on Step 3 agreements click Restart now.
Step 3: Verify If your Server is on Windows Insider Build
Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program. On the right-hand side, you will see that your system is enrolled in the Windows Insider Program and connected to the update channel you selected.
In my case, I joined the Release preview Channel, so the screenshot below shows Release Preview as selected. You will also find Windows insider account linked on this server. You can switch the channel from release preview to Canary channel if required. For more information, refer to the link: Switching between channels.
Step 4: Check for Windows Updates
- Go to Settings app > Windows Update > Enable the toggle switch Get the latest updates as soon as they’are available and click on Check for updates. If there are any updates, it will be offered to you for download and install.
Providing Feedback to Microsoft
When you are exploring new features with Canary or Release preview build, you may come across different issues and bugs. You can collect all the information and share your suggestions, feedback directly via the Settings App on Windows Server. Let’s check the steps:
- Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program. On the right-hand side, click on Give Feedback, which opens Feedback hub app. You may have to sign in once using a Windows Insider account to provide the feedback.
- Once you’re signed in, go to the home page and choose either Report a problem or Suggest a feature, then provide the required details.
Conclusion
Joining the Windows Server Insider Program is the best way to explore upcoming features, validate your workloads early. Keep your servers updated, watch the release notes, and share feedback through Feedback Hub or the Insiders community. If you want to Join Windows insider program for Windows 11, refer to the link: How To Join Windows Insider Program On Windows 11 PC.
