Windows 11 Insiders can now begin testing early foundational builds that are expected to work towards the next platform release, which is likely to debut in 2027 with version 27H2.
Windows Insiders can now install next-gen platform builds to test.(Image credit: Windows Central)
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Microsoft has announced that it's splitting the Windows Insider Canary Channel in two as it begins testing the next platform release under a new series of build numbers that are ahead of the current 25H2, 26H1, and 26H2 build numbers. This is the first of likely many preview builds that are laying the groundwork for next year's 27H2 release, which we expect will ship on top of a new platform release, or Windows "core" as Microsoft calls it.
The splitting of the Canary Channel isn't a new concept for the Windows Insider Program. Microsoft had a thing called "Skip Ahead" that it used to offer to Windows Insiders in its most experimental preview channel, which let users skip ahead to the next major Windows platform release. This is essentially the exact same thing, except this time it's not called Skip Ahead.
Instead, Microsoft has buried the next-gen platform release builds under the Optional features area in Windows Update. If you're already enrolled in the Canary Channel, you won't automatically get this new build, which is build 29531. Instead, you'll stay testing 26H1 builds until you manually opt in to receiving the next-gen platform builds.
New Windows platform releases don't come along that often these days. Windows 11 version 26H1 is the first version of Windows 11 to receive a new platform release since version 24H2, and before that, it was with version 22H2. With version 26H1 only being available exclusively on Snapdragon X2 SoCs, it won't be until 2027 with version 27H2 that everyone receives a new platform release again.
I suspect what Microsoft is now testing in the Canary Channel is the early foundational builds that are building towards this next platform release. The current platform release in testing is codenamed Krypton, but I don't expect this platform release to ship in any meaningful way. Given 27H2 is expected to launch in the second half of next year, I'd guess that the next platform release to ship will be codenamed Strontium.
The Strontium platform release is expected to be finalized in the first half of 2027, which would make it a strong contender for basing the 27H2 release on top of next year. Microsoft has already confirmed that it will bring 26H1 and 26H2 users onto the same platform release next year, under a unified Windows core, which I expect will be Strontium.
As is unfortunately always the case with these bleeding-edge platform builds, Insiders who choose to test them now will likely see a reduction in features as Microsoft no longer develops surface-level features on top of in-development platform builds. Active development on features takes place on top of the shipping platform release, which is currently Germanium (version 24H2/25H2), and so it takes a little longer for new features to arrive on the Canary Channel builds.
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Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Central and has been with the site since 2016. Bringing you exclusive coverage into the world of Windows, Surface, and hardware. He's also an avid collector of rare Microsoft prototype devices! Keep in touch on Twitter and Threads
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