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If your Windows 11 Canary build is titled as a Dev build, don’t worry; you haven’t switched channels

You’re on the right channel, even if Windows 11 says you’re not.

2 min. read

Published onAugust 19, 2024

published onAugust 19, 2024

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The latest Windows 11 Canary buildwas one of the most significant in a while. It included many features, such as the automatic HDR settings and Windows Sandbox, as well as the change in the FAT32 file system. However, some insiders were also surprised by another confusing name.

Apparently, the winver dialogue and the System > About section now labelthis Windows 11 Insider version as “Dev,”even though it’s a Canary build.

Thought it would be Canary?🤔pic.twitter.com/egr5kGqV3m

Brandon LeBlanc, a Senior Program Manager at the Windows Insider Program team,chimed in to clarify. He mentioned that this “Dev” label doesn’t refer to the Insider Channel but indicates that the build is an in-development pre-release of Windows 11.

The “Dev” here is not the channel but to indicate it’s an in-development pre-release build of Windows 11.

This makes sense. After all, Canary builds are meant to be on the cutting edge, not tied to any specific Windows release. There’s already a Dev Channel, so you can see why some people might be slightly puzzled about the latest Windows 11 Canary build.

Remember when Microsoft had just two channels (or “rings”)? Fast Ring and Slow Ring were straightforward. Now, we’ve got four channels, and features often pop up in the “slower” or more stable channels before Canary and Dev.

Plus, with features rolling out gradually, it’s a bit of a lottery whether you’ll see new stuff immediately. While this approach has a clear logic, it doesn’t simplify things for Insiders.

If you ever wonder which Insider channel you’re on, go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider. You should see your channel there, as pictured above.

More about the topics:Windows 11,Windows Update

Claudiu Andone

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Oldtimer in the tech and science press, Claudiu is focused on whatever comes new from Microsoft.

His abrupt interest in computers started when he saw the first Home Computer as a kid. However, his passion for Windows and everything related became obvious when he became a sys admin in a computer science high school.

With 14 years of experience in writing about everything there is to know about science and technology, Claudiu also likes rock music, chilling in the garden, and Star Wars. May the force be with you, always!

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Claudiu Andone

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Oldtimer in the tech and science press, with 14 years of experience in writing on everything there is to know about science, technology, and Microsoft

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

If your Windows 11 Canary build is titled as a Dev build, don’t worry; you haven’t switched channels#