Windows 11 Canary Build 27744 returns the Gamepad keyboard, and fixes old dGPUs

Microsoft has unveiled the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744, now available to users in the Canary Channel. This release marks a significant step forward, as it offers a unified experience for all who install it, eliminating the previous dual-experience model that characterized earlier builds.

What’s New

New Processor Feature Support in Prism

This build introduces a noteworthy enhancement to Prism, the emulator designed for Windows on Arm. The update expands the capability to run a broader range of 64-bit x86 applications by incorporating support for additional CPU features. This improvement is already in limited use within the retail version of Windows 11, specifically in version 24H2, enabling applications like Adobe Premiere Pro 25 to function on Arm devices.

With Build 27744, any x64 application can now benefit from this expanded emulation support. Users may find that previously incompatible games and creative software can now run seamlessly on their devices. The virtual CPU utilized by x64 emulated applications will now support various extensions to the x86 instruction set architecture, including AVX, AVX2, BMI, FMA, and F16C, among others. These enhancements are crucial for applications that expect these features to be present.

Feedback from Insiders is encouraged as they explore the capabilities of this early preview of Prism. Users can report any compatibility issues or performance regressions via the Feedback Hub, ensuring a refined experience moving forward.

Changes and Improvements

[Start Menu]

• “All apps” has been simplified to “All” on the Start menu.

[Input]

• A new Gamepad keyboard layout for the on-screen keyboard is being rolled out, allowing users to navigate and type using an Xbox controller. This layout includes button accelerators and a vertically aligned key arrangement for improved navigation.

[Task Manager]

• The Disconnect and Logoff dialogs in Task Manager have been updated to support dark mode and text scaling.
• In the Performance section, disks are now labeled with their types for easier identification.

[Settings]

• The detach virtual hard disk (VHD/VHDx) button has returned under Settings > System > Storage > Disks & Volumes after a brief hiatus.

Fixes Implemented in This Build

[General]

• Resolved an issue affecting Insiders with older NVIDIA GPUs, which caused displays to freeze with a black screen.

[Input]

• Fixed issues preventing the Emoji Panel and Clipboard History from opening in certain applications.
• Addressed a problem that led to clipboard history not displaying copied items.

[Windows Sandbox]

• Improved performance issues impacting Windows Sandbox for some users.

[Graphics]

• Corrected an issue causing the dynamic refresh rate to remain stuck at 60Hz upon the first boot.

[Other]

• Fixed a bugcheck issue that some Insiders experienced starting in Build 27723.
• Resolved a crash issue with remote desktop connections in the previous flight.
• Addressed a problem with the msmpeg2vdec.dll that caused app crashes.
• Fixed an issue where rotation information about JPGs could not be queried via APIs.
• Resolved an underlying issue that caused the Get-WindowsCapability command to fail unexpectedly.
• Fixed a problem where mica did not function correctly with slideshow desktop backgrounds.
• Addressed an issue preventing certain apps from detecting connected scanners.

Known Issues

[General]

• [IMPORTANT NOTE FOR COPILOT+ PCs] Users joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC may encounter issues with Windows Hello PIN and biometrics, displaying error 0xd0000225. Recreating the PIN is possible via the “Set up my PIN” option.
• Investigations are ongoing regarding reports of rollbacks during the installation of the latest Canary builds.

[Desktop]

• We are working on a fix for an issue where desktop backgrounds may not display correctly across multiple monitors.

Reminders for Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel

• The Canary Channel builds represent early platform changes and should not be viewed as aligned with any specific Windows release. Features may evolve, be removed, or replaced based on feedback.
• Feature rollouts in the Canary Channel may begin with a subset of Insiders, gradually expanding as feedback is monitored.
• Some features may debut in the Dev and Beta Channels before appearing in the Canary Channel.
• Localization for features in active development will occur over time, and users are encouraged to report any localization issues via the Feedback Hub.
• To exit the Canary Channel, a clean installation of Windows 11 is required.
• The desktop watermark in the lower right corner is standard for these pre-release builds.
• For a comprehensive overview of build statuses across Insider channels, refer to Flight Hub.