Microsoft is celebrating 11 years of the Windows Insider Program with custom desktops and maybe a secret hint for users wondering which operating system to consider.
The software vendor uses the Windows Insider program to try out unreleased versions of its flagship operating system on its army of unpaid testers. It was first opened by then-Windows supremo Terry Myerson in 2014 and initially headed by Gabe Aul.
Aul departed after a few years (he now works at Meta) and was replaced by Dona Sarkar. The Windows Insider Program evolved to include ninja cat mascots and taco hats, though critics questioned whether testing actually improved outcomes.
Over the years Insiders have flagged serious issues — sometimes to no avail. Take for example, the catastrophic Windows 10 October 2018 Update, which deleted some users’ files. Insiders warned it was problematic, saying so well before its release, but Microsoft pushed on regardless.
In 2024, Microsoft pledged to “Make Start Great Again” after a backlash against Windows 11 changes.
Despite these public failures, Microsoft was this week at pains to tell its legion of testers that “your voice matters” and the feedback is “invaluable.”
And to reward the loyalty of those poor souls who’ve spent the past 11 years navigating the pre-release builds of Windows? Microsoft has created some… wallpapers. There are dark and light mode versions, and the number “11” is prominently stamped over the image.
Currently, the Windows Insider program consists of a Release Preview Channel, a Beta Channel, a Dev Channel, and a bleeding-edge Canary Channel. For enterprise administrators, the RP channel is of most interest, since it contains a glimpse of what will almost definitely hit production in the coming months. The other channels are geared toward enthusiasts who are willing to accept more risk in return for an early look at where Windows might or might not be going.
So where is it going? There’s still no sign of Windows 12 for those curious Insiders, not even in the Canary Channel.
The contents of a Windows Insider zip file showing a _MACOSX folder
Perhaps Windows 12 is not the future. Look in the wallpaper zip file, and there’s a _MACOSX folder. It could just be leftover from somebody using a Mac – instead of a Surface Laptop – to create the file. Or it could be a secret message from the Windows Insider Program… ®