Xbox Insider Program: How to Get Early Xbox One Updates

Shortly after its launch, Microsoft has steadily improved the software experience on Xbox One. The process started in 2014 with external hard drive support. By 2015, Microsoft added new ways to share clips and improved the social aspects of the console. In 2016, the company added the Xbox One to the Windows 10 family, making it possible for developers of all backgrounds to create their own apps that run on Xbox and Windows. The company is planning another large-scale update for 2017, and the Xbox Insider Program shows players how to test this update.

You probably haven’t heard of the Xbox Insider Program, but you may have heard of its predecessor, the Xbox Preview Program. The Xbox Preview Program is what gives users access to the Xbox Backward Compatibility Program, shortly after it was announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in 2015. This program has served the company well, but Microsoft included it in the Xbox Preview Program in late 2016. .

Here’s everything you need to know about getting early Xbox One updates through the new Xbox Insider Program.

Join the Xbox Insider Program

Microsoft officially announced the Xbox Insider Program last year, calling it the official way for games to get early Xbox One updates. In many ways, the program is similar to the Preview Program.

To participate, users only need to download Microsoft’s Xbox Insider Hub from the Xbox One’s Store. Microsoft receives the request and evaluates you for entry. Microsoft says that the program can sometimes switch from open to closed.

The company requires you to accept some basic Terms of Service when you sign up. It also reminds you of the risks involved in installing software early. Xbox Insider Program updates can and will break features on your console. Instead of fully developing an update and rolling it out to testers, Microsoft works on feature additions for almost every new build it releases. Features may be in the hands of testers, but cannot be completed. Sometimes behind-the-scenes changes produce bugs that the development team didn’t encounter in their own testing.

When joining the Xbox Insider Program, be aware that errors can and will occur. These bugs can affect everything from multiplayer games to other must-have features.

Microsoft usually announces new downloads for the Xbox Insider Program hours before they become available. Back in the Xbox Preview Programme, updates for members arrived about a month before they were released for everyone else. Now Microsoft tends to release fewer updates, which means that the features come to program members months before they’re released to everyone else.

Why Not Guarantee Early Xbox One Updates via Xbox Insider?

The differences between Xbox Insider and Xbox Preview start with how the updates come out. Both programs give players points for providing feedback and filing bug reports. Only Xbox Insider uses this score in a meaningful way. With Xbox Insider, those with the highest score can wait for updates before anyone else.

Microsoft’s releases are based on waves, and the top scorers in the program get a limited number of spots in the first waves. Players can track their progress directly from the Xbox Insider Hub and compare their scores with others’ high scores.

How to Join the Xbox Insider Program

Xbox Insider isn’t just a way to experience early Xbox One updates, but it’s what people appreciate most. The app offers early access to all apps, like Microsoft’s revamped Photos app, which pulls down slideshows of your pictures.

The key to increasing your score and getting more deals from the Xbox Insider Program is engagement.

Filling in Surveys

Xbox Insider Hub runs surveys frequently. These surveys often focus on new things that are changing. Sometimes they request feedback on the overall Xbox experience. Answering them earns you experience points.

Completing Missions

Like the Windows Insider Program, the Xbox Insider Program places great emphasis on Missions. In a Quest, Microsoft gives you quests using a new or updated feature. Once you have it, completing a survey on this feature earns you experience points.

Report Issues

Should you encounter an issue during testing while participating in the Xbox Insider Program, Microsoft hopes you will provide reports on any bugs you encounter, including providing screenshots if needed. A form to do this is also in the Xbox Insider app.

Good luck getting into the Xbox Insider Program and getting Xbox One updates early. While it may take more work than the original program to get updates as soon as they arrive, this program looks step-by-step on who should actually test the features as soon as they arrive.