How to enable early version of Continuum on Windows 10 build 9879

This registry tweak will enable an early version of Continuum on your Windows 10 PC.

Very early version of new Start screen for Continuum in Windows 10

Although the latest version of Windows Technical Preview, build 9879, includes some interesting tweaks around the user-interface, new features for OneDrive, and other features such as Storage Sense, one feature missing in the build is Continuum.

Recently Microsoft showed a new mode in Windows 10 that allows convertible devices such as the Lenovo Yoga and Surface Pro 3 to switch from a desktop-optimized to a touch-optimized mode, making easier for users with these devices to better navigate and interact with the new operating system.

SEE ALSO: Windows 10 preview build 9879: hands-on with the new features (video)

Even though, Microsoft said that Continuum for Windows 10 would be available soon for testing, the feature didn’t make it to the latest Windows 10 Technical Preview build 9879.

However it seems that the software giant has secretly included an alpha version of the feature. And Windows Insiders already testing the latest build can easily enable Continuum by modifying the registry.

How to try Continuum on Windows 10

  1. Open the Start menu, do a search for regedit, and run it as an administrator.

  2. Navigate the following path:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell\Launcher\
  3. Right-click and create a new DWORD 32-bit.

  4. Rename UseExperience and change the value to 1.

  5. Reboot your system and you’ll be able to play with the new Start screen.

    New Start menu for Continuum in Windows 10

It’s worth noting that this version of the feature is in the early stages, meaning that is completely broken and it doesn’t remotely work as Microsoft demoed the feature back in September, so proceed with caution. To undo the changes, simply repeat step 4 and change the value to 0 and reboot your system.

Important: Know that changing the Windows registry can cause serious problem to your system. It’s assumed that you know what you’re doing and you have created a backup before proceeding with this intructions.

Via WinBeta

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.