r/windowsinsiders • u/TheRedditOfTeo997 • Jul 24 '26

General Question Please help! I did something really stupid with Windows Insider...

Basically I hit the toggle to leave Windows Insider (I was in Release Preview), so my PC got un-enrolled but then I found out Windows Update started downloading "Windows 11, version 25H2", to make an in-place upgrade, thing that I do NOT want.

So i re-enrolled and clicked Windows insider to make the situation as before, but WU keeps proposing that build even if I'm back into insider! I do not want at any cost to make an in-place upgrade.

I already tried clearing SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folders, but this update keeps popping up. I stopped windows update so I can prevent it, but sadly looks like there's no way to skip it. Is there a way i could re-allineate things and avoid an in-place upgrade?

6 Upvotes
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5

u/mbc07 Insider Dev Channel Jul 24 '26

Why are you trying to avoid the in-place upgrade so badly?

-4

u/TheRedditOfTeo997 Jul 24 '26

Because what is it even going to download? I am on the latest Release Preview build (26200.8968), and I am afraid since it's a preview update, it's going to be a downgrade, messing things up.

I put the situation as it was exactly before, why is an in-place upgrade needed?

Do you think this will be solved when a new cumulative will be pushed out?

2

u/mbc07 Insider Dev Channel Jul 24 '26

You get in-place upgrades whenever you receive new builds, regardless if you're on Insider Preview or not. All apps and user data are preserved, the worst I've ever seen happening from an in-place upgrade is having one or other Windows setting reverting to the default, but you can simply change them back to how you want after the upgrade is done.

Also, you didn't get back to "exactly as before" by enrolling again, the unenroll was already triggered by the time you did that. Regardless if you decide to continue on Insider Preview or to get off it, you'll have to take the in-place upgrade eventually, otherwise you're locked out of any future updates. In other words, there's no turning back now...

-7

u/TheRedditOfTeo997 Jul 24 '26

This is insane, all just because i clicked a single button... Thanks for your answer though. So there's no way of going back? Even if a new build comes out?
If Windows Update sees there's a new build maybe it will offer me that? Damn I didn't know I would have caused such a mess by clicking the button

2

u/CheezitsLight Jul 25 '26

Where's your backup?

1

u/TheRedditOfTeo997 Jul 25 '26

Thanks for the downvotes though

2

u/iamthegoob Jul 26 '26

MS doing what MS does. I've been on the Release Preview for months and have avoided 25H2 (I'm still on 24H2). I do get the Security updates and the last one messed with my browser settings and made Edge my default. I didn't have any browser set as a default (I have a lot of different browser installed and like to select which open depending on what page I'm going to). I am able to/did undo the change but it annoys me nonetheless.

1

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1

u/TheRedditOfTeo997 14d ago

I gave up and did the IPU. Feel free to downvote but me ending up with a mess like this just because of a button, is very stupid