Microsoft has unveiled the latest iteration of Windows 11 for its dedicated Windows Insider program participants in the Canary Channel, marked by build number 27686. This update introduces a preview of the Windows Sandbox Client, alongside several enhancements aimed at optimizing battery performance and user experience.
What’s New with Build 27686
The highlight of this build is the introduction of the Windows Sandbox Client Preview, which is now conveniently updated through the Microsoft Store. This preview brings forth a suite of features including:
- Runtime clipboard redirection
- Audio and video input control
- Folder sharing capabilities with the host during runtime
Users can access these features via the newly added “…” icon located at the upper right corner of the application. Additionally, an early version of command line support is included, with commands subject to future changes. For further details, users can utilize the ‘wsb.exe –help’ command.
FEEDBACK: Users are encouraged to share their thoughts through the Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Security & Privacy > Windows Sandbox.
Changes and Improvements
In this build, several notable enhancements have been made:
[General]
- Some features previously available to Insiders in the Canary Channel may temporarily disappear as newer 27xxx series builds are rolled out. However, these features are expected to return over time.
- Optimizations have been implemented to enhance battery life for devices running Build 27686 and above. Feedback regarding battery performance is welcomed via the Feedback Hub, where users can capture additional logs by using the “Start recording” button.
[Settings]
Responding to user feedback, a new detach virtual hard disk (VHD/VHDx) button has been introduced in Settings, simplifying the process of detaching VHD/VHDx files. This option can be found under Settings > System > Storage > Disks & Volumes.
To facilitate future network performance enhancements, devices may now conduct periodic network tests in the background, collecting diagnostic data. These tests will utilize a minimal amount of data (up to 10MB/day) and will only occur on Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections that are not designated as metered.
[Storage]
The command line formatting command has seen an increase in the FAT32 size limit, now accommodating up to 2TB, up from the previous 32GB.
Fixes
Several issues have been addressed in this update:
[Dev Drive]
- Resolved an issue where Dev Drive VHDs failed to automatically re-mount after the underlying volume was dismounted and subsequently brought back online.
[Lock Screen]
- Improvements have been made to synchronize the battery icon on the lock screen with the actual battery level of the device.
[Windows Security]
- Fixed a display issue in the Windows Security app where a broken glyph appeared next to network names under Firewall & Network protection.
[Settings]
- Corrected spacing issues between the Create and Attach VHD buttons in the Disks and Volumes section.
- Fixed a problem where the power mode option appeared in Settings when it could not be changed, resulting in a blank dropdown.
- Resolved navigation issues when searching for Kiosk mode in Settings.
[Other]
- Addressed a glitch in the Registry Editor where pasting a HEX value could lead to incorrect saved values.
Known Issues
Users should be aware of the following known issues:
[General]
- IMPORTANT NOTE FOR COPILOT+ PCs: Transitioning to the Canary Channel from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail on a new Copilot+ PC may result in the loss of Windows Hello PIN and biometrics, accompanied by error 0xd0000225. Users can re-establish their PIN by selecting “Set up my PIN.”
[Input]
- Work is ongoing to resolve an issue causing the emoji panel to close unexpectedly when switching to the kaomoji and symbols sections or after selecting an emoji.
For those eager to explore the full details, the complete blog post is available for review.
