Microsoft has today introduced three new Windows Insider channels Dev, Beta, and Release Preview. These new channels replace the existing Skip ahead, Fast ring, Slow ring, and Release Preview ring.
The Dev channel may be the most important channel for those insiders who want to try new changes and don’t mind the bugs and issues that come with these changes. Skip Ahead and Fast ring insiders will move by default to Dev channel.
These builds are not matched to a specific Windows 10 release. New features and OS improvements in this channel will show up in future Windows 10 releases when they’re ready and may be delivered as full OS build updates or servicing releases.
Slow ring insiders will be moved to the Beta channel by default. The Beta channel will get the changes and new features that will belong to the next major Windows 10 feature update release. For example, Windows 10 20H2 preview builds will be the next to be pushed to Beta channel.
As a part of the Beta Channel, Insiders will see builds that will be tied to a specific upcoming release, like 20H1 previously. Your feedback will be especially important here, since it will help our engineers make sure that key issues are identified and fixed before a major release.
Windows insiders in the Release Preview ring will be aligned to the Release Preview channel.
Insiders and IT Professionals in the Release Preview Channel will have access to the upcoming release of Windows 10 prior to it being released to the world, with advanced quality updates and certain key features. These builds are supported by Microsoft. The Release Preview Channel is where we recommend companies preview and validate upcoming Windows 10 releases before broad deployment within their organization.
