How to switch between fast and slow rings on the Windows 10 Insider Preview

By Richard Devine
last updated

You might not even know that you can change how quickly you get updates to the Windows 10 Insider Preview, nor which speed you're currently getting them at.

Fortunately, changing between the "fast" and "slow" rings is extremely simple to do. And since build 10122 has some pretty showstopping bugs for some folks using AMD GPUs, you might need to get onto the slow ring in a hurry.

Here's what to do.

  1. Open up the "Settings" app
  2. On the main screen you'll want to click on "Update & security"
  3. From there you'll find yourself in the Windows Update menu.
  4. Click on "Advanced options"
  5. Scroll right to the bottom where you;ll see a drop-down box
  6. Click on it and select "fast" or "slow" depending on your preference.

And that's all there is to it. You can switch between the two at any time by following the same steps.

Richard Devine
Richard Devine

Richard Devine is an Editor at Windows Central. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently you'll find him covering all manner of PC hardware and gaming, and you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

20 Comments
  • What about phones? Have an M8 that doesn't want to update to 10.
  • Go on the windows insider app. Tap "get preview builds" and choose what ring of updates you want to be in it.
  • Doesn't give me that option, just goes straight to no builds available.
  • That's a blessing. When the latest build was released I couldn't even switch from the fast ring before i was forced to upgrade, got crippled with the start screen bug and had to roll back to 8.1.
  • Here's the thing, it updated to 10 just fine in the beginning. After a reset, it lost my Boomsound settings. I rolled back to 8.1 with the revocery tool but now it won't update back to 10.
  • After your rollback, did you re-enroll in the old developers preview app and update to that latest build? That might be your problem. I had to do that because the rollback puts you in the latest official build.
  • Yea, I tried DP update but still wouldn't go to 10. Rolled back again with recovery and still no dice. I even unenrolled from WI and signed back up.
  • Weird, I was immediately able to sign up for the fast ring (slow ring isn't an option for me) again. Sounds like your One isn't registering the correct device type to Insider.
  • Yea, I would think the recovery tool would fix that but apparently not. Oh well, thanks for trying.
  • I don't see the Slow ring option on my phone. Only Fast ring and I haven't installed any build at all yet.
  • Then you should wait for consumer os release of windows 10 like me!!
  • Last night I kept on changing it from slow to fast ring, but every time I went back, it would have reverted back to slow ring.
  • Lol.. What a tutorial.....
  • Laugh away. There are people who didn't know this existed. That's what we're here for.
  • Exactly, why do people like this even comment? What's the point?
  • Attention
  • Her friends should I update my laptop to windows 10
  • Super thank you
  • This task is so easy even my cat can do it... P.S me and my cat are both insiders already :D
  • Doesn't work AT ALL!!! Only 'slow' ring...pfffft