This August 11 deadline could cut off your Windows Insider builds

If you participate in Microsoft’s Windows Insider Program, you will soon need to update your Secure Boot certificates to continue testing new Windows 11 features in advance.

Microsoft just announced that new certificate requirements will soon apply to the program, with current Secure Boot certificates expiring on August 11th, 2026. The support page says this:

Windows Insider Preview builds are code-signed with flight certificates used to securely sign Insider Preview builds and encourage devices to stay on up-to-date, supported versions of Windows. The current certificates are expiring on August 11, 2026, so we’re issuing renewal builds that carry the refreshed certificate. This is a routine, planned maintenance — not a response to any security issue.

The key bit follows after that:

In the past this renewal primarily affected the Canary Channel only. Because of a shift in what is being signed, it now applies across other Insider channels, including Experimental & Beta.

The certificate version you need to update to depends on which Windows Insider Channels and Windows 11 versions you’re using. Microsoft has listed the minimum requirements for each version and channel here.

Microsoft

To update certificates, simply check for updates via Windows Update.

Again, the deadline for updating Secure Boot certificates is August 11th, 2026. After that, Windows Insiders who haven’t updated their certificates will no longer have access to new Windows Insider updates.

Further reading: What is Secure Boot? Everything you need to know