Microsoft wants volunteers to become Xbox Alpha — Skip Ahead Insiders

What you need to know

  • The Alpha — Skip Ahead ring for Xbox Insiders allows you to test out upcoming features.
  • Beforehand, there was a very strict criterion for getting in.
  • Now, it looks like Microsoft wants even more testers.
  • You can take a look below to see how you can easily join the Alpha — Skip Ahead ring.

Ever since the Xbox One Preview Program launched, many owners have signed up to test out upcoming software features. There are a number of different rings depending on how comfortable you are with receiving possibly-broken updates. At the top of the pack is the Alpha — Skip Ahead ring which focuses on changes that won't be out for months. Beforehand, only the most dedicated Xbox Insiders could join.

Luckily, it seems like that's changed because the company needs more people to test out these faraway features. In a post on Xbox Wire, Xbox Program Manager Jen Sheffield said the following.

Invitations are open to any Xbox Insiders who participate in the steps found on the subreddit... No matter what Xbox Insider Update Preview ring you're currently in, you have the chance to be part of Alpha Skip-Ahead! Because we have limited spots available, invitations will be extended to users who complete the survey on a first-come basis.

You'll have to follow the following steps in order to enroll.

  • If you're interested in participating in the Alpha — Skip Ahead ring, please let Microsoft know by following the steps before 2:59 EDT on September 22.
  • While on your Xbox, hold the power button down until the Power menu appears.
  • Select Report a problem.
  • Select Add new problem.
  • Find the new category tile named Future Build.
  • Select the tile and let us know why you're interested in being in the ring.

That's everything you have to do. If you're interested in signing up, get on it right now! Hopefully, they have enough slots to let everyone in.

Xbox

Main

CATEGORIES
Asher Madan

Asher Madan handles gaming news for Windows Central. Before joining Windows Central in 2017, Asher worked for a number of different gaming outlets. He has a background in medical science and is passionate about all forms of entertainment, cooking, and antiquing.

Latest in Xbox
Cover art for Heroes of the Storm.
Xbox Game Pass will give you more benefits in free-to-play games like Heroes of the Storm
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 accessibility settings at launch.
Activision user research workers form union under Microsoft
Xbox Game Hubs 2025
A quick look at Xbox's new "Game Hubs," a small new feature that may be more meaningful than you think
8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard Xbox Edition
Drop everything — the Xbox keyboard is on sale
Xbox
Microsoft's Xbox strategy has reader opinions split almost perfectly in half
Xbox Series X
Xbox testing new Game Hubs feature, update rolling out to select users now
Latest in News
Cloud servers
Microsoft has killed "several" data center projects in the U.S. and Europe, according to reports
Photo of Microsoft's new sign-in page for Xbox.com using the Microsoft Edge browser.
Over one billion users will get a new Microsoft user experience, and it has a dark mode
Promotional screenshot of heroes fighting a giant in Pillars of Eternity
Obsidian's classic Baldur's Gate successor 'Pillars of Eternity' is getting a surprise turn-based mode later this year, alongside other updates
Atomfall
Atomfall reviews and Metacritic scores are in: Here's a roundup of what everyone's saying about this new Game Pass survival game
Screenshot of one of the new flat world presets in Minecraft.
Minecraft testing new flat world presets and a better way to locate your friends in-game
Cover art for Heroes of the Storm.
Xbox Game Pass will give you more benefits in free-to-play games like Heroes of the Storm