New Features in Windows 11 Build 27959 for Canary Channel

Exploring Windows 11 Build 27959: New Features and Fixes

Microsoft has unveiled Windows 11 build 27959 in the Canary Channel, introducing a variety of updates that enhance user experience and functionality. This build coincides with builds 26220.6772 and 26120.6772 released in the Dev and Beta Channels, which, while also featuring new attributes, restrict users from creating a local account during the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE).

As detailed in the official announcement, build 27959 introduces options for changing on-screen hardware indicators’ locations, features a new pin capability within the Windows Share interface, and provides fresh keyboard shortcuts. Additionally, numerous performance and user interface fixes have been addressed, improving overall system performance.

Key Enhancements in Windows 11 Build 27959

Here’s a breakdown of the prominent updates that have been introduced in this latest preview build:

Reposition On-Screen Hardware Indicators

Under Settings > System > Notifications, users can now find a new setting titled “Position of on-screen indicators.” This feature allows you to select the placement of hardware indicators—such as brightness, volume, and virtual desktops—either at the bottom center, or the top left or right of your display.

Position of on-screen indicators setting / Image: Mauro Huculak

Enhanced Windows Share with Pin Option

The Windows Share interface now allows users to pin favorite applications for quick access in the “Share using” section. Simply hover over the desired app and click the “pin” button to keep it within easy reach.

New Keyboard Shortcuts for Symbols

To streamline text input, Windows 11 now includes keyboard shortcuts for entering punctuation marks. Users can input an En dash (–) using “Windows key + Minus” and an Em dash (—) with “Windows key + Shift + Minus”, eliminating the need to access the Emoji Panel for these characters.

Performance Improvements and Fixes

This build also encompasses a variety of performance enhancements and fixes across multiple components of the operating system:

File Explorer: Enhanced visibility in the “Open With” context menu and improved performance when launching cloud files.
Taskbar: Resolved synchronization issues with battery icons and ensured that app previews function correctly.
Start Menu: Fixed an issue that caused the Start menu to close unexpectedly when using the “Windows key + Shift + S” screenshot shortcut.
Graphics: Addressed rendering glitches affecting onscreen content during updates from background applications.
Windows Hello: Fixed PIN setup errors identified by error code 0x80090010 on domain-joined devices.
Voice Access: Resolved the 9001 error that hindered Voice Access functionality.
Development Tools: Updated PIX on Windows to enable accurate GPU capture playback on the latest builds.
Windows Security: Corrected issues affecting the readability of apostrophes in app text.

It’s important to note a known issue in this build regarding sleep and shutdown functionality not operating correctly.

Additionally, Microsoft has rolled out Windows 11 build 27954, which addresses shared file and folder enhancements using the Server Message Block (SMB) v1 protocol.

How to Download the Preview Build

To download and install Windows 11 build 27959, users must enroll their devices in the Canary Channel via the “Windows Insider Program” found in the “Update & Security” settings. After enrollment, navigate to “Windows Update” settings, enable the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option, and click “Check for Updates” to obtain the new build.

Source & Images