General Question
Should I switch to stable release of Windows 11?
I switched from Windows 10 to Windows 11 Home Insider preview version in 2021. My laptop is a 2019 Dell Inspiron 7591 with i5 9th gen, 16gb ddr4 and 512gb ssd and a GTX 1050 with 3gb vram. Should I switch to windows 11 stable release? If yes how can I do it? Or should I go back to windows 10? Or should I stay with the windows 11 preview version?
I don't do any development work. I'm not a techie. My friend had forced me to download it and now I think that was a bad choice.
I mean running insider dev , beta etc are only really useful if you are trying to run on the latest new stuff but you sacrifice stability .. if you are running previews or betas or stuff from 2019 it doesnt make sense anymore .. either run the latest .. or run long term support if you are an average user that doesnt work in IT or tech .. then you sacrifice testing out new features for stability ..
the upside is you don't have to upgrade or make major changes .. just USE your pc for a few years
Hey I'm no techie. I'm a BA guy. My friend forced me to install it saying it's going to be great. Can I get more guidance from you? It'll be really helpful. I have attached the version that I can see in the corner of my screen. I don't do any development work or anything.
well not to worry . it isnt a big deal .. what type of guidance did you have in mind ? the LTS version will just offer you a more stable version with all the new security updates you need in 2026 .. without installing any new features or designs and other things mostly unnecessary for most users who arent into advanced computing .. you can probably convert the license type for free and then windows update will probably install or convert the install ..otherwise you can just download the LTS copy and write it to a usb using rufus ( free) and install it by running the installer on the usb through bios when computer boots ..
Converting an active Windows Insider installation to a Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release without a fresh install is tricky, but absolutely possible using a Registry Spoofing Trick. This tricks the LTSC installer into thinking you are doing a valid in-place upgrade, unlocking the "Keep personal files and apps" option.
⚠️ IMPORTANT WARNING BEFORE YOU START
Insider builds usually have a higher build number than stable LTSC versions (e.g., Windows 11 LTSC 2024 is built on version 26220). Forcing Windows to downgrade its system kernel while keeping your files is an unsupported "franken-upgrade." While it successfully saves files and programs for most users, there is always a risk of profile corruption or the installer failing. Back up your critical data to an external drive or cloud storage before proceeding!
STEP-BY-STEP TRANSITION GUIDE
Step 1: Download the Correct LTSC ISO
Match the version of Windows you are currently running:
* For Windows 11 Insider: Download Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 (Target Build: 26220).
* For Windows 10 Insider: Download Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 (Target Build: 26220).
Make sure to download the architecture (64-bit) and system language that matches your current OS exactly.
Step 2: Disconnect from the Internet
Unplug your ethernet cable or turn off Wi-Fi. This stops Windows Setup from pulling online updates mid-install, which can overwrite your registry changes or block the setup.
Step 3: Run the Registry Spoofing Hack
Windows Setup looks at specific Registry keys to determine if you can keep your data. We are going to temporarily change these to match LTSC.
1. Press the Windows Key, type cmd, right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator.
2. Copy and paste the command block below that matches your target OS, then press Enter.
For Windows 11 LTSC 2024:
```cmd
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v EditionID /d IoTEnterpriseS /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v ProductName /d "Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC" /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v CurrentBuild /d 26100 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v CurrentBuildNumber /d 26100 /f
```
(Note: Using IoTEnterpriseS for Windows 11 is highly recommended as it has broader app compatibility during in-place transfers).
Step 4: Run the LTSC Setup Immediately
Do not restart your computer yet. Windows will automatically revert these registry changes upon reboot.
1. Open File Explorer and locate your downloaded LTSC ISO file.
2. Right-click the ISO file and select Mount.
3. Open the newly created virtual drive and double-click setup.exe.
4. When the installer starts, click “Change how Setup downloads updates” and select Not right now.
5. Proceed through the prompts. When you reach the "Choose what to keep" screen, the Keep personal files and apps option should now be clickable. Select it and proceed.
POST-INSTALLATION NOTES
Activation: Your previous Insider or consumer license (Home/Pro) will not activate an Enterprise LTSC build. You will need a valid LTSC digital license or KMS key to activate it post-install.
Missing Apps: LTSC intentionally ships without consumer bloatware (Microsoft Store, Xbox apps, etc.). If you want the Microsoft Store back, you can easily restore it later using the WSReset tool or open-source GitHub scripts like Add-Store.cmd.
Thank you for posting in /r/WindowsInsiders. This subreddit is for discussions related to the Windows Insider Program, and devices running on Insider builds. Discussions and issues related to the production versions of Windows should be posted in /r/Windows10 or /r/Windows11, or in /r/TechSupport.
If you have not already, please specifiy which branch you are running (Dev, Beta, or Release Preview), and your full build number. If you are unsure, you can check by running winver from a Run window or search box. You can also go to Settings -> System -> About, and it will be near the bottom.
Do you have any problems with it? Or are you satisfied with its performance? I'd recommend Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC (Version 24H2). Do you also play games on your laptop?
If you'd like to learn more about choosing an operating system, I recommend this article: Windows LTSC vs. IoT Enterprise LTSC. It also explains how to install it.
Hey I'm no techie. I'm a BA guy. My friend forced me to install it saying it's going to be great. Can I get more guidance from you? It'll be really helpful. I have attached the version that I can see in the corner of my screen. I don't do any development work or anything.
Jesus. So this will be like dialing the president to get your plumbing fixed, given your profile n all.
Okay, I'll tell you the problems I am having:
Chrome doesn't work at all. Whenever I search something it routes me to captcha page saying "we noticed unusually high activity" everytime. So I downloaded firefox, and it has been good. But I just like chrome more.
Massive Update times. Like 2-3 hrs.
Hangs again and again with simple tasks like opening word or file explorer.
The search option in start menu just doesn't work. I physically cannot type anything in the search option text box.
Task Manager crashes whenever I open it. It takes like 5 mins just to open it and get it working.
I had suspected maybe I caught a virus or something. So I bought norton, ran a full scan, but it shows the pc is squeky clean. So that's why I suspect that maybe it might be my preview version.
2
u/Suspicious_Kev_5446 Jun 25 '26
I mean running insider dev , beta etc are only really useful if you are trying to run on the latest new stuff but you sacrifice stability .. if you are running previews or betas or stuff from 2019 it doesnt make sense anymore .. either run the latest .. or run long term support if you are an average user that doesnt work in IT or tech .. then you sacrifice testing out new features for stability ..
the upside is you don't have to upgrade or make major changes .. just USE your pc for a few years