Don’t Panic! How to Fix “This Build of Windows will expire soon

In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to fix the “This Windows build will expire soon” warning and keep your system running smoothly.   

Here is a quick step guide to fix the issue this build of windows will expire soon In Windows 10 or Windows 11:

• Go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program.

• Select Dev Channel under “Choose your Insider settings”.

• Restart your PC.

• Reinstall Windows with Beta Channel ISO

• Opt to leave the Insider Program to revert to the stable version of Windows.

Understanding why this happens and how to resolve it is crucial to maintaining the performance and security of your computer.

Continue reading to learn the most effective solutions to this annoying problem and ensure that your Windows experience remains uninterrupted.

Why do you see the “This Build of Windows Will Expire Soon” error ?

You may encounter the “This Build of Windows Will Expire Soon” error primarily for two reasons:

Windows Insider Preview

• First and foremost, this is the most common scenario. The Windows Insider Program allows users to test pre-release versions of Windows before they’re publicly available. While these preview builds are designed to gather feedback and identify bugs, they come with a significant catch: expiration dates.

• Additionally, Microsoft releases new preview builds regularly, and consequently, the expiration date ensures users eventually transition to the latest version. As a result, this keeps the testing pool focused on the most recent features and ultimately helps avoid compatibility issues with outdated builds.

Corrupted System Files (Less Common)

On the other hand, in rare cases, corrupted system files related to Windows licensing can trigger this message even on a standard, non-Insider version of Windows.

Subsequently, these corrupted files might be causing your system to incorrectly identify itself as an expiring build.

Now, let’s break down each scenario with more details:

Windows Insider Preview:

• Who Gets It: Naturally, anyone enrolled in the Windows Insider Program and using a preview build.

• Why It Happens: Specifically, the preview build you’re using has reached its expiration date. In essence, Microsoft wants you to upgrade to a newer build with the latest features and bug fixes.

• What Happens If Ignored: Importantly, an expired build might become unstable, lose access to certain features, or even stop working altogether. Moreover, security updates are crucial, and expired builds won’t receive them, thus making your system vulnerable.

Corrupted System Files:

• Who Gets It: Although less common, this can happen to anyone using a standard Windows version.

• Why It Happens: In this case, corrupted system files related to licensing are sending incorrect signals to your system, thereby making it think it’s an expiring build. Notably, this could be due to various factors like unexpected shutdowns, malware infections, or even faulty hardware.

• What Happens If Ignored: While less likely than with an expired Insider build, nevertheless, ignoring this error might lead to licensing issues down the line, potentially causing activation problems.

In last, by understanding the reasons behind the “This Build of Windows Will Expire Soon” error, you can take appropriate action to fix it and, consequently, ensure your Windows system remains stable and secure.  

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How to fix “This Build of Windows Will Expire Soon” error ?

The solution to the “This Windows build will expire soon” error depends on whether you are using a Windows Insider Preview build or a standard version of Windows. Below is a breakdown of the methods for each scenario:

For the Windows Insider Preview

There are three main ways to approach expiration in an Insider Preview build:

Switch to development channel:

This is the simplest solution. The development channel receives the most frequent updates, ensuring you always have the latest version that doesn’t expire. Here’s how to change:

• Go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program.

• Under “Choose your Insider settings,” select Dev Channel.

• Restart your PC after the change.

Reinstall Windows with a Beta Channel ISO:

This option involves a clean installation using a Beta Channel ISO downloaded from the Microsoft website.

Preparation

• Back Up Your Data: This is crucial!  The reinstallation process will erase all your personal files, applications, and settings.  Back up everything important to an external hard drive or cloud storage service.

Download the Beta Channel ISO

• Visit the Microsoft Insider website: You might need to sign in with your Microsoft account if you’re not already.

• Navigate to the “Downloads” section specific to your Insider program version. (Instructions might vary slightly depending on the program version).

• Locate the Beta Channel ISO download for the appropriate Windows version (32-bit or 64-bit) you’re currently using. You can check your system type by going to Settings > System > About.

• Download the ISO file.

Create a Bootable USB Drive

• You’ll need a USB drive with at least 8GB of free space. Warning: This process will erase all data on the USB drive. Ensure you’ve backed up any important files on the drive.

• Download and install the Microsoft Media Creation Tool from the official Microsoft website.

• Run the Media Creation Tool and choose the option to “Create installation media for another PC.”

• Follow the on-screen instructions to select the downloaded Beta Channel ISO file and create a bootable USB drive.

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Reinstallation Process

Boot from the USB Drive:

• Restart your computer.

• During the restart process, press the key used to enter the boot menu (usually Esc, Delete, F2, F10, or F12, depending on your system). The exact key might be displayed on the boot screen.

• In the boot menu, select the option to boot from your USB drive. The name might vary but look for something like “USB Drive” or “UEFI USB.”

Start the Windows Setup:

• Once booted from the USB drive, the Windows Setup window will appear.

• Choose your language, keyboard layout, and time zone settings.

• Click “Install Now.”

License Agreement and Product Key:

• Read and accept the license agreement.

• You won’t need a product key for this reinstallation as long as your current Windows installation is activated. The setup will automatically detect the valid license during the process.

Choose the Installation Type:

• Select the option “Custom install (advanced).”

Drive Selection:

• On the “Where do you want to install Windows?” screen, you’ll see your existing partitions.

For a clean installation (recommended):

• Delete all existing partitions on your main drive (usually labeled “Drive 0”). This will erase all your data.

• Select the unallocated space and click “Next.”

For advanced users (optional):

• You can choose to keep existing partitions if you have separate data and system drives. However, ensure the target partition has enough free space for the installation. Select the desired partition and click “Next.”

Also Check: How to download SCCM Configuration Manager ?

Start the Installation:

• The installation process will begin. This might take some time depending on your system configuration.

• Your computer will restart several times during the process.

Windows Setup:

• Once the installation is complete, the Windows Setup will guide you through the initial configuration process.

• Choose your region, language, and keyboard layout.

• Set up a user account with a username and password.

• Configure privacy settings and other options according to your preferences.

Post-Installation:

• After completing the setup, your Windows system will be reinstalled with the Beta Channel build.

• You’ll need to reinstall your applications and restore your backed-up data.

• Remember to check for updates in Windows Update to ensure you have the latest drivers and security patches for your system.

Leave the Insider Program:

If you no longer wish to participate in the early trial versions, you can leave the program completely. This will revert your system to the publicly available stable version of Windows. Note: This process may take longer than the other options.

• Go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program.

• Click “Stop receiving Insider builds” and follow the on-screen instructions.

For standard Windows (damaged system files)

This scenario is less common, but if the solutions above don’t work and you have a standard version of Windows, try running the System File Checker (SFC) tool to check for corrupted system files:

Open the command prompt as administrator:

• Search for “cmd” in the Start menu.

• Right-click “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator.”

Run the SFC scan:

• In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: sfc/scannow

• The SFC tool will scan your system files and try to repair damaged ones. This process may take some time.

Also Check: How to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 ?

Important notes:

• Avoid modifying system files directly or entering generic product keys. These methods may have unintended consequences and could violate Microsoft’s license terms.

• If you’re not sure which scenario applies to you (Insider Preview versus standard Windows), check your Windows Update settings. If you see options related to the Insider Program, you are most likely using a preview version.

• If you follow these steps, you should be able to resolve the “This Windows build will expire soon” message and keep your Windows system running smoothly.

Conclusion

Facing the message “This version of Windows will expire soon” may be disturbing, but if you have the right knowledge, you can easily resolve it.

Whether you’re a Windows Insider Preview user or experiencing a rare system file corruption, there are clear steps you should take.

For Insiders, switching to the Dev channel, reinstalling with a Beta channel ISO, or abandoning the program entirely are viable options. If you’re running a standard version of Windows, a simple System File Checker scan could do the trick.

Remember, staying up to date is crucial for both system stability and security. By fixing this issue promptly, you will ensure that your Windows experience remains smooth and uninterrupted.

Reference:

Frequently Asked Question’s (FAQ’s)