Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27754 to the Canary channel brings huge changes to taskbar

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27754 to the Canary Channel. This build introduces a modernized Windows Hello experience, aligning it with contemporary visual design standards.

A new Windows Hello icon appears on the Windows sign-in screen and in other Windows authentication flows, such as when setting up a new device or signing into the Microsoft Store. Third-party apps can also use the icon to indicate the availability of different authentication methods. Microsoft says the icon is designed to “facilitate fast and clear communication” to users, making it easier to understand what’s happening during an authentication interaction.

Microsoft has also redesigned the Windows security credential experience for Windows Hello PINs, passwords, biometrics, and devices. The new system makes switching between authentication options and select devices easier. Microsoft is also adding a new credential experience for Windows Hello for Business, which will be coming to Windows 11.

Build 27754 introduces the ability to launch apps as an administrator from a Start menu or taskbar jump list. You can do this by holding down Shift and Ctrl when clicking a jump list item, and it should work with both Win32 and UWP apps.

Microsoft has also improved the taskbar previews that appear when hovering over apps on the taskbar, including the animations that appear when these previews show. It’s also testing a simplified system tray design that highlights the date and time in a shortened form and shows the notifications bell icon only when you’re in focus assist’s priority-only mode.

Like always, this build has many bug fixes and a list of known issues. On the bug fix front, there’s a fix for a problem with the Digital Markets Act policy in EEA regions, an issue causing RAW images in portrait mode to display in landscape mode thumbnails, and an issue causing secondary monitors to display widgets text in the taskbar even when the toolbar was set to the left side of the screen.

Meanwhile, the list of known issues includes a warning for Copilot+ PCs. According to Microsoft, if you’re on a new Copilot+ PC and join the Canary Channel, you’ll temporarily lose access to your Windows Hello PIN and biometrics with the error 0xd0000225. You should be able to set up a new PIN to get back up and running, but Microsoft says you’ll need to re-verify your identity for Microsoft services such as OneDrive, Microsoft 365, and the Microsoft Store.

The full list of changes, fixes, and known issues is in the official blog post for Windows 11 Build 27754.