Here's why it takes 24 hours to join a Windows Insider ring on PC

Surface Insider Rings
Surface Insider Rings (Image credit: Windows Central)

Have you ever wondered why it can take up to 24 hours to switch Windows Insider rings or receive your first build after joining the program on a Windows 10 PC? Well, as it turns out, the reasoning comes down to a simple compatibility check process.

As spotted by Microsoft MVP Richard Hay, Microsoft provides a relatively thorough explanation for the 24 hour wait in an article on its TechNet site:

Once your machine is updated to Windows 10 and you select your desired flight ring, the process known as "Compatibility check" will need to run in the background. There is no manual way to force this process to run. This process allows for the discovery of your OS type (32-bit, 64-bit), build edition (Home, Pro, Enterprise), country and language settings, and other required information. Once this process is complete, your machine will be auto-targeted for the next available flight for your selected ring. For the first build on any given machine, this may take up to 24 hours to complete.

It's not world-changing information by any means, but it does answer a question that's likely crossed the mind of many Insiders in the past. Still, it's a little weird that switching rings on Mobile is nearly instant while PC can take so long. But, as the phrase goes, c'est la vie.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl