What you need to know
- Windows 11 and Windows 10 version 21H2 commercial previews have been released by Microsoft.
- Those in the Windows Insider Program for Business can access them via the standard channels.
- To get the Windows 11 commercial preview, devices will need to have supported hardware.
Those in the Windows Insider Program for Business can get their hands on commercial previews for Windows 11 and Windows 10 version 21H2. If commercial devices don't meet Windows 11's supported hardware requirements, they'll be defaulted to Windows 10 21H2.
The commercial preview builds can be obtained via all the standard methods: Windows Update, the Azure Marketplace, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), as well as the Windows Insider Program ISO download page. Microsoft's offering free support for organizations running the preview builds, meaning you can test the releases and associated deployment methods while still having support before everything becomes generally available.
Microsoft's blog post announcing the build availability outlines the specifics of what availability means and what options you'll have:
Commercial devices configured for the Windows Insider Program Release Preview Channel via the Windows Update Settings page or via Windows Update for Business policy will automatically be offered Windows 11 as an optional upgrade provided that the device(s) meet the hardware requirements and have taken the September 1, 2021 optional cumulative update (KB5005101). If you do not wish to upgrade a device to Windows 11, simply select "Stay on Windows 10 for now", at which point Windows 10, version 21H2 will be offered instead. Commercial devices in the Release Preview Channel that do not meet the hardware requirements necessary to support Windows 11 will be offered Windows 10, version 21H2 automatically instead.
That blog post also breaks down the specifics of how to get the commercial previews depending on which channel you're using.
