Windows 11 now allows you to automatically install preview updates

Microsoft has added a new option to Windows 11 that allows you to automatically install preview updates once they appear on Windows Update. The option significantly speeds up the update receiving process, as "Preview" updates come as optional patches that you have to install manually.

The option is hidden in the Settings app of the Canary build 25314. To give it a try, you must enable it with ViVeTool. Actually, it exists since Build 25309, but requires the Update Stack Package version 1101.2303.8011.0 to be installed. In the Windows Component Store, it is referred as 'ContinuousInnovationOptin'.

The option manages how you receive monthly C and D updates. Microsoft releases them in the third and fourth weeks of the month, respectively. D is for the latest version of Windows 11 and Windows 10, C is mostly for older versions of Windows.

When enabled, it makes your PC to automatically download C and D updates, and install them. This works if there are no upgrade blocks for your device. This way, you can speed up your access to newest features Microsoft ships now as "Moment updates".

There are two methods to enable the fast update arrival for your PC. You can either enable the GUI option, or turn it on via a Registry tweak. The feature is available since build 25309. To quickly find what build you have installed, press Win + R, type winver, and see the information in the About Windows dialog. In both cases you need ViVeTool. Let's review both methods.

How to enable automatic C and D update installation in Windows 11

1. Download ViVeTool from this GitHub link, and extract the downloaded ZIP file to c:\vivetool folder.
2. Right-click the Start button with the Windows logo in the taskbar, and select Terminal(Admin) from the menu.
3. In Terminal, type c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:43132439, and press Enter.
4. Restart Windows 11.
5. Open Settings (Win + I), and click on the Windows Update section on the left. On the right, enable the new Get the latest updates as soon as they're ready for your PC toggle option.

You are done!

It is easy to restore the defaults and hide the option with the undo command: c:\vivetool\vivetool /disable /id:43132439.

Now, let's review the alternative method.

Turn on the fast update receiving in the Registry

Note: This method works in build 25309 or above. Also, it requires the Update Stack Package version 1101.2303.8011.0.

Do the following.

1. First of all, run the c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:43132439 command as Administrator and restart Windows 11. This part is similar to the above reviewed method.
2. Now, open the Registry editor (Win + R > type regedit in the Run box > press Enter).
3. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings. If any of the path parts are missing in the Registry, create the missing subkeys.
4. Right-click the Settings key on the left, and select New > Dword (32-bit) value. Name it IsContinuousInnovationOptedIn and set it to 1.
5. Restart Windows 11 one more time.

You are done!

To undo the change, remove the IsContinuousInnovationOptedIn value from the Registry, and run this command as Administrator: c:\vivetool\vivetool /disable /id:43132439. You have to restart Windows 11 to apply the changes.

Via @XenoPanther and @PhantomOfEarth