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Manage preview builds: registry value ManagePreviewBuildsPolicyValue and 1 moreComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

Policy ID
ManagePreviewBuilds
Scope
Computer Configuration
Supported on
At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1709
Source
Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category
Windows Components › Windows Update › Manage updates offered from Windows Update

Registry

ManagePreviewBuildsPolicyValue

REG_DWORDComputer
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate Current key
Enabled value
2
Disabled value
1
Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]

; Options (use only one)
; Enabled
"ManagePreviewBuildsPolicyValue"=dword:00000002
; Disabled
"ManagePreviewBuildsPolicyValue"=dword:00000001
CMD
:: Options (use only one)

:: Enabled
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "ManagePreviewBuildsPolicyValue" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
:: Disabled
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "ManagePreviewBuildsPolicyValue" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Enabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'ManagePreviewBuildsPolicyValue' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null
# Disabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'ManagePreviewBuildsPolicyValue' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null

BranchReadinessLevel

REG_DWORDComputer
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate Current key
Enabled value
Depends on the option value
Element
Select the Windows readiness level for the updates you want to receive:
Options
ItemStored value
Dev Channel2
Beta Channel4
Release Preview Channel8
Release Preview of Quality Updates Only64
Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]

; Options (use only one)
; Dev Channel
"BranchReadinessLevel"=dword:00000002
; Beta Channel
"BranchReadinessLevel"=dword:00000004
; Release Preview Channel
"BranchReadinessLevel"=dword:00000008
; Release Preview of Quality Updates Only
"BranchReadinessLevel"=dword:00000040
CMD
:: Options (use only one)

:: Dev Channel
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "BranchReadinessLevel" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
:: Beta Channel
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "BranchReadinessLevel" /t REG_DWORD /d 4 /f
:: Release Preview Channel
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "BranchReadinessLevel" /t REG_DWORD /d 8 /f
:: Release Preview of Quality Updates Only
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "BranchReadinessLevel" /t REG_DWORD /d 64 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Dev Channel
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'BranchReadinessLevel' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null
# Beta Channel
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'BranchReadinessLevel' -PropertyType DWord -Value 4 -Force | Out-Null
# Release Preview Channel
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'BranchReadinessLevel' -PropertyType DWord -Value 8 -Force | Out-Null
# Release Preview of Quality Updates Only
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'BranchReadinessLevel' -PropertyType DWord -Value 64 -Force | Out-Null