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Assign devices to servicing channels for Windows updates

Looking for consumer information? See Windows Update: FAQ

Tip

If you're not familiar with the servicing or release channels, read Servicing Channels first.

The General Availability Channel is the default servicing channel for all Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices except devices with the LTSC edition installed. The following table shows the servicing channels available to each edition.

Edition General Availability Channel Long-Term Servicing Channel Insider Program
Home No No Yes
Pro Yes No Yes
Enterprise Yes No Yes
Enterprise LTSC No Yes No
Pro Education Yes No Yes
Education Yes No Yes

Note

The LTSC edition is only available through the Microsoft Volume Licensing Center.

Note

Devices will automatically receive updates from the General Availability Channel, unless they are configured to receive preview updates through the Windows Insider Program.

Enroll devices in the Windows Insider Program

To get started with the Windows Insider Program for Business, follow these steps:

  1. On the Windows Insider website, select Register to register your organizational Microsoft Entra account.
  2. Follow the prompts to register your tenant.
    Note: The signed-in user needs to be a Global Administrator of the Microsoft Entra domain in order to be able to register.
  3. Make sure the Allow Telemetry setting is set to 2 or higher.
  4. For Windows devices, set policies to manage preview builds and their delivery:

The Manage preview builds setting gives administrators control over enabling or disabling preview build installation on a device. You can also decide to stop preview builds once the release is public.

  • Group Policy: Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Update/Windows Update for Business - Manage preview builds
  • MDM: Update/ManagePreviewBuilds

The Branch Readiness Level settings allow you to choose between preview flight rings, and allows you to defer or pause the delivery of updates.

  • Group Policy: Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Update/ Windows Update for Business - Select when Preview Builds and feature updates are received
  • MDM: Update/BranchReadinessLevel

For more information, see Windows Insider Program for Business.

Block access to Windows Insider Program

To prevent devices in your organization from being enrolled in the Insider Program for early releases of Windows 10:

  • Group Policy: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Data Collection and Preview Builds\Toggle user control over Insider builds
  • MDM: Policy CSP - System/AllowBuildPreview

Important

Starting with Windows 10, version 1709, this policy is replaced by Manage preview builds policy.

  • Group Policy: Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Update/Windows Update for Business - Manage preview builds
  • MDM: Update/ManagePreviewBuilds