The latest Build 27686 finally introduces the new Windows Sandbox Client Preview

Microsoft released the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27686 to the Canary Channel with significant new features, enhancements, fixes, and changes. Let’s take a look.

First off, the spotlight is on the Windows Sandbox Client Preview. This feature, filled with all the tech goodies, lets users play with it without messing up the actual system. This new preview, updated via the Microsoft Store, has some cool features. We’re talking about runtime clipboard redirection, audio/video input control, and the ability to share folders with the host at runtime. And for those who love tinkering with commands, there’s a super early version of command line support. Just a heads-up, though: the commands might change over time. If you want to enable it, follow our comprehensive guide.

Now, onto the changes and improvements. Some features previously rolled out to Insiders in the Canary Channel might disappear as newer builds come into play. But here’s the good news: optimizations have been made to improve battery life for PCs running Build 27686 and beyond in the Canary Channel. And if you’re not seeing the battery life you expected, the Feedback Hub is your go-to place to voice out.

In response to feedback, there’s now a detach virtual hard disk (VHD/VHDx) button in Settings, making it a breeze to detach your VHD/VHDx as needed. Plus, for those interested in network performance, your device might run network tests in the background to collect diagnostic data, using a small amount of data and only on non-metered connections.

For command-line enthusiasts, there’s a treat, too. The FAT32 size limit for formatting disks has been increased from 32GB to a whopping 2TB. Talk about an upgrade, right?

But, as with all things tech, it’s not all smooth sailing. There are a few issues, such as the emoji panel closing unexpectedly or the Windows Hello pin and biometrics getting a bit wonky on new Copilot+ PCs joining the Canary Channel. That’s what feedback and updates are for to improve things step by step.

You can read the full changelog of the Build 27686 here.