The latest update from the Windows 11 Canary Channel, build 27686, introduces a wealth of new features that are sure to pique the interest of tech enthusiasts and professionals alike. At the forefront of this release is the much-anticipated Sandbox Client preview, which allows Insiders to explore its capabilities firsthand.
Significant Changes to FAT32 Partition Size
One of the standout announcements from Microsoft is the substantial increase in the FAT32 partition size limit. The new format limit has been raised from a mere 32 GB to an impressive 2 TB. This change marks a significant shift, as the previous restriction had been a longstanding limitation within the Windows ecosystem. Microsoft stated:
When formatting disks from the command line using the format command, we’ve increased the FAT32 size limit from 32GB to 2TB.
While users have historically found workarounds to bypass this limitation, the official adjustment is a welcome development for many. A notable example comes from Windows enthusiast Xeno, who successfully formatted a 114.6 GB drive, a feat that was previously unattainable. There is hope that Microsoft will extend this enhancement to the GUI-based Format dialog box, making it more accessible for everyday users.
Enhancements to File System Support
In addition to the FAT32 improvements, build 27686 also brings advancements to the Resilient File System (ReFS). As highlighted by another enthusiast, PhantomOcean3, this build raises the ReFS version support to 3.15, while still maintaining compatibility with the earlier version 3.14. This progression in file system support aligns with Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to enhance performance and reliability.
For those who may not be familiar, Microsoft introduced ReFS-based Dev Drives during the Build conference in March 2023. These virtual hard disks (VHDs) were designed to deliver performance boosts of up to 30%. The latest build continues to refine these Dev Drives, further solidifying their role in the Windows ecosystem. For a deeper dive into the features of build 27686, additional coverage is available through dedicated resources.
