How to get NEW Xbox One features and free games before all your mates
Get an early look at new Xbox games and features by joining Microsoft's Insider Program
WANT to get all the latest and greatest Xbox features before everyone else?
All you need to do is sign up to Microsoft's Xbox Insider Program beta scheme, and you'll get to test out new features before they go live to the world. Here's a complete guide...
What is the Xbox Insider Program?
Many big tech companies offer beta versions of their software, so they can test it out on a small group of people before sending it out to the world.
This means when the final update does go out, it'll hopefully be bug free.
The Xbox Insider Program is Microsoft's version of that, and gives Xbox gamers access to features and games that are still in development.
"Join the Xbox Insider Program and help make work-in-progress content and features coming to Xbox even better," explains Microsoft.
"Tell us what you love, what you could do without, and what you want more of by completing quests, surveys, quick polls, and reporting them directly to developers."
How to join the Xbox Insider Program
All you need to do is download the Xbox Insider Hub, which is an app on your Xbox or PC.
First, navigate to the Store tab through your Xbox dashboard, or select Store in the guide.
Then select Search, and search for the Xbox Insider Hub.
Once you've found it, simply choose Get/Install.
How do you get Insider previews?
Microsoft's product or feature tests are called "previews", and each one has different requirements.
To see if you're eligible, launch the Xbox Insider Hub and go to Insider content.
Choose a preview you're interested in, and you'll be able to find the eligibility requirements under the Info tab on the Insider content details page.
How do Xbox One Preview Rings work?
Users can move between various Preview Rings, which give you different levels of access to new content.
Access to rings is based on your interests, the length of time you've been an Xbox Insider, your Xbox Insider XP score, the games you own and more.
Microsoft lists the rings as follows:
- Alpha – Open on an “invite only” basis and receives updates at the earliest point in the preview window.
- Beta – Open to Xbox Insiders with a Program tenure of 3 or more months and an Xbox Insider XP Level of 4 or higher. This ring receives updates shortly after Alpha.
- Delta – Open to any Xbox Insider with a tenure of 1 or more months that has reached Xbox Insider Level 2 or higher. Depending on certain edge cases where further attention is required from Alpha or Beta rings, Delta Insiders may receive system updates before Beta, though this is not a common scenario. Additionally, while early system updates are not guaranteed across the Delta ring, all Delta Insiders will receive the update prior to GA.
- Omega – Open to anyone and receives system updates shortly before the GA (General Availability) release.
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You can move to a different Preview Ring by following these steps:
- Launch the Xbox Insider Hub
- Choose Insider Content
- Go to System
- Then choose Xbox One Update Preview
- Select Join or Manage
- Choose a different Preview Ring from the available choices
It's worth noting that to become an Insider, you'll need to sign up to some terms and conditions.
And some previews will require signing an additional (and strict) Non-Disclosure Agreement that prevents you from sharing details of the content with other people.
Know any great Xbox tips or tricks? Let us know in the comments!
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