Once you've downloaded the ISO of your choice, you may install the build through either an in-place upgrade or via a clean install. Instructions for each are as follows:
In-Place Upgrade:
An in-place upgrade will allow you to keep your files, settings, and applications while upgrading to a newer build of Windows.
Download the appropriate ISO for your Windows installation
Windows 11 - Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program
Clean Install:
A clean install will erase all files, settings, and applications from your device during the install process.
Download the appropriate ISO for your Windows installation
Save it to a location on your PC
If you want to create a bootable usb, see these additional steps
Open File Explorer, navigate to the save location for the ISO, and double-click the ISO file to open it.
Windows will “mount” the image so you may access the files contained therein.
Double-click the Setup.exe file to launch the install process
NOTE: During setup, click the “change what to keep” option.
Once the install has completed, verify your Windows Insider settings are correct.
Windows 10 - Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program
Windows 11 - Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program
Windows Insider Preview Activation
You will need to install the Windows Insider Preview build on a device that has been previously activated with Windows or with a Windows product key, or after a clean install, attach a Microsoft Account (MSA) that has a Windows license digital entitlement linked to it. For more details please see the article: Activation in Windows.
Important
Remember, trying out an early build like this can be risky. That's why we recommend that you don't install the preview on your primary home or business PC. Unexpected PC crashes could damage or even delete your files, so you should back up everything.
If you want to stop using Windows Insider Preview and return to your previous version of Windows, you'll need to reinstall your previous version from the recovery or installation media that came with your PC—typically a DVD. If you don't have recovery media, you might be able to create recovery media from a recovery partition on your PC using software provided by your PC manufacturer. You'll need to do this before you upgrade. Check the support section of your PC manufacturer's website for more info.
If you use the ISO to do a clean install of the Windows Insider Preview, you won’t be able to use the recovery partition on your PC to go back to your previous version of Windows.
After you install this new build from the ISO, it’s important to verify your Windows Insider Preview settings are correct to continue receiving additional preview builds from your selected flight ring.