An insertion system comprising: an insertion device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900) for installing an insertion set to a user, the insertion device including: a housing (10, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, 910) having a distal end; a driver (30, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830, 930) coupled to the housing, and configured to apply a force to an insertion set; an insertion set retention mechanism (20, 229, 329, 429, 529, 629, 729, 829, 929) coupled to the housing, and configured to retain an insertion set in a pre-installed position; an insertion set adapted to be coupled to the housing of the insertion device, the system being configured such that the driver and the insertion set retention mechanism are in direct contact with the insertion set when the driver is in a constrained position and the insertion set is in a loaded, pre-installed position; characterized in that the insertion set retention mechanism includes two insertion set retention elements (21, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 920) and two release elements (25, 425, 525, 625, 825) coupled to the two insertion set retention elements so that actuation of the release elements causes the insertion set retention elements to move and uncouple the insertion set from the insertion device; wherein the insertion set retention mechanism is configured such that after the insertion device has been actuated to install the insertion set to a user, the insertion device can be separated from the insertion set while the insertion set is installed to the user. an insertion device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900) for installing an insertion set to a user, the insertion device including: a housing (10, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, 910) having a distal end; a driver (30, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830, 930) coupled to the housing, and configured to apply a force to an insertion set; an insertion set retention mechanism (20, 229, 329, 429, 529, 629, 729, 829, 929) coupled to the housing, and configured to retain an insertion set in a pre-installed position; a housing (10, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, 910) having a distal end; a driver (30, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830, 930) coupled to the housing, and configured to apply a force to an insertion set; an insertion set retention mechanism (20, 229, 329, 429, 529, 629, 729, 829, 929) coupled to the housing, and configured to retain an insertion set in a pre-installed position; an insertion set adapted to be coupled to the housing of the insertion device, the system being configured such that the driver and the insertion set retention mechanism are in direct contact with the insertion set when the driver is in a constrained position and the insertion set is in a loaded, pre-installed position; characterized in that the insertion set retention mechanism includes two insertion set retention elements (21, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 920) and two release elements (25, 425, 525, 625, 825) coupled to the two insertion set retention elements so that actuation of the release elements causes the insertion set retention elements to move and uncouple the insertion set from the insertion device; wherein the insertion set retention mechanism is configured such that after the insertion device has been actuated to install the insertion set to a user, the insertion device can be separated from the insertion set while the insertion set is installed to the user.