While it's been a little while since Microsoft announced Windows 11 (and there have been several development releases already), it's only been a few days since the first beta was released.
At first glance, the availability of a beta version should mean a more stable version of the operating system, but that doesn't mean there aren't any issues. Of course, when software is in beta, that means bugs and glitches are to be expected. Here it is the switch from the Dev channel to the beta channel that is causing some concern for some people. And the problem? The system requirements for Windows 11, of course.
Take a look at the Windows Insider Twitter account and you'll see complaints from many people who are having trouble switching from the Dev channel to the Beta channel. One of the issues that people face is the system requirements for Windows 11.
There have already been many complaints about the hardware requirements Microsoft put in place for Windows 11, in large part because they wiped out many perfectly capable systems.
With the Dev version of Windows 11, Microsoft has relaxed the system requirements and allowed users to install the operating system on hardware that will not be compatible with the final version. With the release of the first beta, the requirements are now enforced, much to the user's dismay.
Microsoft explained to a user on Twitter to a user, “Yes. Your hardware does not meet the minimum hardware requirements, but an exception for Dev Channel has been granted ”.
This shouldn't come as much of a surprise, not least because Microsoft had made this clear previously. But for people who enthusiastically install the Dev version of Windows 11 only to find that the beta (and therefore a preview of the RTM) doesn't work, this is a huge disappointment. For the record, Microsoft has indicated that it will not be possible to bypass the system requirements for Windows 11.
The news came in a recent Ask Me Anything (AMA) session posted for the Microsoft Tech community. During the session, Microsoft Program Manager Aria Carley shares the news while talking about the Windows 11 deployment. She answers a question about devices that are not "fully compatible with Windows 11". The user asks him:
"If you consider that a device is not fully compatible with Windows 11, will it be offered the upgrade via Windows Update? "
Carley replies:
“So we are talking about this new material floor of which devices are eligible and which are not. And we know it sucks that some might not be eligible for Windows 11. But the reason we do this is to keep devices more productive, to have a better experience and most of all to have better security than before so that they can remain protected ”.
Then there's a request to turn off backups that can block upgrades, and Carley says Group Policy can be used, although not recommended, to bypass those blocks. However, she adds:
"This Group Policy will not allow you to bypass the Windows 11 hardware application. We will always prevent you from upgrading your device to an unsupported state because we really want to make sure your devices stay supported." load and secure ”.
The AMA videos are available on YouTube, and if you make it past the sixth minute, you can hear the relevant questions and answers:
Switching channels with hardware that is fully compatible with Windows 11 is no problem.
In fact, moving from the Dev channel to the Beta channel is something Microsoft highly recommends. In addition to pointing out that "your feedback has the biggest impact" in the beta channel, Microsoft also says that now is the perfect time to make the switch due to the parity between Dev and Beta versions at the moment *: " You can simply change your channel setting. It's the same version at the moment, so if you want to go beta, now is the time ”.
It's also worth mentioning that sticking to the Dev channel means not only using a potentially unstable version, but there's a hurdle to overcome when Windows 11 hits RTM later in the year. To the question "Can I stay on the Dev Channel after Windows 11 officially releases and continue to receive Dev Updates for Windows 11?" Microsoft replied, "No, if you are staying in the Dev channel and want to upgrade to Windows 11 upon commercial release, you will need to perform a clean install."
So now is the best time for Insiders to switch from Dev channel to Beta channel.
How to switch from Insider Dev channel to Beta channel
You can switch from Dev channel to Beta channel very easily and enjoy the increased stability of the latest version:
- In the Dev version of Windows 11, open Settings through the Start menu
- Head to Windows Updates> Windows Insider Program
- In the Choose your Insider settings section, click the drop-down menu and select Beta channel (recommended)