How to leave the Dev Channel in the Windows Insider Program without a clean install

This page explains how to leave the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider Program.

By joining the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider Program, you can try new features that are not yet complete and are still in development.

The Dev channel is primarily used by developers, but members of the public can join without realizing it and then be unable to leave.

Go to "Settings" > "Windows Update" > "Windows Insider Program" > "Stop receiving preview builds" > click on the related link "Stop participating in the Insider Program" and Microsoft Edge will open and display the message "Leave the Windows Insider Program) page will be displayed.

To access the Windows Insider Program in Settings, you must turn on "Send optional diagnostic data" under "Settings" > "Privacy and security" > "Diagnostics and feedback."

*You can turn "Send optional diagnostic data" "On" or "Off" only if the "Connected User Experiences and Telemetry" service is running.
https://windows-waza.com/if-your-win10-win11-computer-suddenly-slows-down/#index_id4

If "Send optional diagnostic data" is "Off" and you open "Settings" > "Windows Update" > "Windows Insider Program", you will see the following:

However, as you can see in the following image, the "Exit Program Now" button is grayed out and you cannot exit.

Also, it says "This email address is not registered as a Windows Insider."

How to leave the Dev Channel in the Windows Insider Program

By following the method I discovered below, you can exit the Dev channel of the Windows Insider Program without a clean install and return to the regular version of Windows 11.

We received an inquiry from a user, so we tested it this time. *Tested on Windows 11 version 24H2.

In short, you edit the registry to exit the Windows Insider Program and install the regular version of Windows 11 (24H2) over it.

This is an overwrite installation, so your apps and personal files will not be deleted. However, some Windows settings will be reset to their default state.

"If you're on the Dev Channel or want to stop getting preview builds immediately,
Follow these steps to complete a clean installation of Windows"You will need to do a clean install," but I have confirmed that a clean install is not necessary.

Close the Settings screen, Microsoft Edge, and any open apps.

1.Start buttonRight-click and open Terminal (Admin).

2. Type the following command and press Enter:

reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\Applicability /v EnablePreviewBuilds /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

3. When you see the message "This operation was completed successfully," close Windows PowerShell and open "Settings" > "Windows Update" > "Windows Insider Program."

4. You will now be no longer a member of the Windows Insider Program.

If you are concerned about Windows Update running while you are performing this operation, you may want to pause Windows Update at this point.

I want to read it together

How to Pause Windows Updates Until a Convenient Time [Win11/10] Have you ever been in a panic when Windows Update suddenly started while you were working or doing other tasks? When you're doing important work or want to maintain your current environment, it's best to wait until it's convenient...

5. Restart your PC once.

6. Once your PC boots up, refer to the following page to download the Windows 11 ISO file.

I want to read it together

How to download Windows 11 ISO files This article provides a clear explanation of the entire process for downloading the latest Japanese version of Windows 11 ISO file from the official Microsoft website.

7. Once the ISO file has finished downloading, right-click on the ISO file and click "Mount".

8. After a while, a security warning will appear. ① Uncheck "Always ask before opening this file" and then ② click "Open."

9.The contents of the ISO file will then be displayed, so double-click "setup.exe" to open it.

If you are using a laptop, be sure to connect the AC adapter to prevent the battery from running out during the process.

10. When the "User Account Control" message appears, click "Yes".

11. "Windows 11 Setup" will be displayed, so click "Change how updates are downloaded in Setup."

12. Select "Not now" and click "Next."

13. The "Applicable notices and license terms" will be displayed. Click "Agree."

14. Your PC will now be checked, so please wait a moment.

15. When the message "Ready to install" appears, make sure there is a check mark to the left of "Keep personal files and apps" and then click "Install."

16.The Windows 11 installation will then begin, so please wait until it is complete.

The time it takes to install Windows 11 varies depending on your environment. (In some cases, it may take more than an hour.)

17. Once the installation of Windows 11 is complete, the sign-in screen will appear, so please sign in.

When you start the application for the first time, the "Welcome" screen may remain displayed and you may not be able to sign in for a while, but please wait without doing anything.

18.After signing in, go to "Settings" > "System" > "About".

You should now see that the "OS Build" in "Windows Specifications" has returned to the normal version.

*If you install from the Windows 11 ISO file downloaded on 2025/04/18, the OS build will be 26100.1742.

19.Windows Update screenOpen it and run "Check for updates" to update to the latest version.

*If updates are paused, click "Resume updates."

20.As of January 8, 2015The latest update for Windows 11 version 24H2 is "KB5055523 (OS Build 26100.3775)", but you may see the previous preview version "KB5053656 (OS Build 26100.3624)" available.

In that case, ignore it and run "Check for updates" again.

This will begin downloading and installing the latest version, KB5055523.

21. Once the update is complete, restart your PC, open "Settings" > "System" > "About" and check the "OS Build" under "Windows Specifications."

If it says "26100.3775", it is the latest version as of April 18, 2015.