Windows 11 launches in a week, on Tuesday, October 5. With the launch finally in the books, Microsoft distributed what was supposed to be a near-final version of the operating system to all Windows Insider Program participants.

This is a big deal because this is the first time a build of Windows 11 has been released to people in the Insider Program's Release Preview channel; Insiders in the Dev and Beta channels have been testing early builds of Windows 11 for some time. tested, but the only Release Preview builds that have been available so far have been those of Windows 10, which Microsoft has promised to continue to support through October 2025.

Now that a build of Windows 11 (Insider Preview Build 22000.194 to be exact) has appeared on the Release Preview channel, we can be confident that it looks and feels like the version of Windows 11 that Microsoft will release next week. We can be sure that it will look and feel like the version of Windows 11 that Microsoft is releasing next week. This version includes many of the features promised to be coming in Windows 11, such as a revamped Start menu and an improved Photos app, but not everything is here. For example, Microsoft has delayed the start of Android app integration in Windows 11 until 2022.

Windows Insiders on the Dev and Beta channels have already been testing this build for some time, while those on the Release Preview channel have only recently started seeing it as an optional update in Windows Update.

Since the Release Preview channel of the Windows Insider Program is essentially for Windows builds that are ready, the version of Windows 11 that these Insiders are currently testing will be very close to the version that Microsoft will release next week.

If you want to take a peek a week early, you need to register your PC compatible with Windows 11 in the Release Preview channel of the Windows Insider Program. First, make sure your PC meets the Windows 11 system requirements. The easiest way to do this is to download and run Microsoft's PC Health Check app from the Windows 11 page.

Next, download the Windows 11 Insider Preview. To do this, make sure you are signed up as a Windows Insider, either from the Windows Insider Program website or from Windows 10 itself. Insider Program and select Windows Insider Program settings from the Start menu.

If your PC does not meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11, you will be told and limited to only testing future Windows 10 builds through the Insider Program. However, if you do meet the minimum requirements, you will have the option to click "Get started" and select a Microsoft account to register as a Windows Insider. After registering and being asked for Insider settings, simply select Release Preview Channel and press Confirm.

Once enrolled in the Windows Insider Program, open Windows Update (press Start, type Windows Update, and press Enter) and you will be prompted to download the optional upgrade to Windows 11, which will officially debut next week. You should see a prompt to download.