Nov 10

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744 (Canary Channel)

Hi all, last Wednesday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744 to the Canary Channel.

While the upgrade seemed to to take langer than with the previous build, all Canary channel devices updateded smoothly here.

A small Admx error in display.admx on this build when opening gpedit.msc: (Feedback Hub: https://aka.ms/AAtectv)

I’m still running into black screen on the lock screen after locking sometimes (with administrator protection enabled). (Feedback Hub: https://aka.ms/AAtf66u)

UAC prompt sometimes does not appear when Admin Approval Mode is enabled with administrator protection, forcing the user to force shutdown (Feedback Hub: https://aka.ms/AAslpvo)

Happy upgrades!

What’s new with Build 27744

New Processor Feature Support in Prism

In today’s Canary Channel Insider Preview build, we’re previewing a major feature update to Prism, our emulator for Windows on Arm, that will make it possible for more 64-bit x86 (x64) applications to run under emulation by adding support for more CPU features under emulation.

This new support in Prism is already in limited use today in the retail version of Windows 11, version 24H2, where it enables the ability to run Adobe Premiere Pro 25 on Arm. Starting with Build 27744, the support is being opened to any x64 application under emulation. You may find some games or creative apps that were blocked due to CPU requirements before will be able to run using Prism on this build of Windows.

At a technical level, the virtual CPU used by x64 emulated applications through Prism will now have support for additional extensions to the x86 instruction set architecture. These extensions include AVX and AVX2, as well as BMI, FMA, F16C, and others, that are not required to run Windows but have become sufficiently commonplace that some apps expect them to be present. You can see some of the new features in the output of a tool like Coreinfo64.exe.

You can see some of the new features in the output of a tool like Coreinfo64.exe with newly exposed CPU features are highlighted above in green.
You can see some of the new features in the output of a tool like Coreinfo64.exe with newly exposed CPU features are highlighted above in green.

Note that in today’s preview, only x64 applications can use these new CPU features. If you have a 32-bit app or a 64-bit app that uses a 32-bit helper to detect CPU feature support, that app won’t detect the new features in Prism.

We welcome any feedback from Insiders who are interested in trying out apps and games using this early preview of Prism. Please submit any feedback on compatibility issues or performance regressions through the Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Apps and the specific app you’re seeing issues with (if you don’t see the app listed, use “All other apps”) to help us to ensure that this updated Prism provides a great experience.

Thanks for helping us improve emulation on Windows. We’re excited to see customers able to run more apps and games that they care about on Windows on Arm!

Changes and Improvements

[Start menu]

  • “All apps” is now just “All” on the Start menu.

[Input]

  • We’re beginning to roll out a new Gamepad keyboard layout for the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 that supports the ability to use your Xbox controller to navigate and type. This includes button accelerators (example: X button for backspace, Y button for spacebar) additionally the keyboard keys have been vertically aligned for better controller navigation patterns.
New Gamepad keyboard layout for the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 that supports the ability to use your Xbox controller to navigate and type.
New Gamepad keyboard layout for the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 that supports the ability to use your Xbox controller to navigate and type.

[Task Manager]

  • We’ve updated the design of the Disconnect and Logoff dialogs in Task Manager to now support dark mode and text scaling.
  • In the Performance section we now label listed disks with their type.

[Settings]

  • The detach virtual hard disk (VHD/VHDx) button we added under Settings > System > Storage > Disks & Volumes introduced with Build 27686 is now back with this build after being temporarily disabled starting with Build 27718.

Fixes

[General]

  • We fixed the issue causing some Insiders with PCs that have older NVIDIA GPUs (like the GTX 970, Quadro K620, etc.) to experience issues where their displays appear stuck at a black screen and unresponsive or seeing their GPUs showing errors in Device Manager and not working correctly.

[Input]

  • Fixed an underlying issue causing the Emoji Panel and Clipboard History to not open in certain surfaces anymore, including in Registry Editor.
  • Fixed an underlying issue which could lead to clipboard history not displaying items you’d copied.

[Windows Sandbox]

  • Fixed an issue impacting performance of Windows Sandbox for some Insiders after the latest updates.

[Graphics]

  • Fixed an which could lead dynamic refresh rate to get stuck at 60Hz on first boot.

[Other]

  • Fixed an issue causing some Insiders to see a bugcheck with error PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA starting in Build 27723.
  • Fixed an issue causing remote desktop connection (mstsc.exe) to crash in the previous flight.
  • Fixed a msmpeg2vdec.dll related issue in the last couple flights which was leading to some apps crashing.
  • Fixed an issue where rotation info about JPGs couldn’t be queried via APIs (for example, via PowerShell).
  • Fixed an underlying issue which was causing the Get-WindowsCapability command to get into a state sometimes where it would fail unexpectedly until rebooting your PC.
  • Fixed an issue causing mica to not work correctly when using a slideshow for your desktop background.
  • Fixed an issue which could lead to certain apps not detecting a scanner, although one was connected.

Known issues

[General]

  • [IMPORTANT NOTE FOR COPILOT+ PCs] If you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel or retail, you will lose Windows Hello pin and biometrics to sign into your PC with error 0xd0000225 and error message “Something went wrong, and your PIN isn’t available”. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN”.
  • We’re investigating reports that some Insiders are still experiencing rollbacks (with error code 0xc190010) when attempting to install the latest Canary builds.

[Desktop]

  • [NEW] We’re working on the fix for an issue where your desktop background may not show correctly sometimes with multiple monitors (showing big black areas).

source: Windows Blogs

Nov 03

Announcing the General Availability of Windows Server 2025

I’m excited to announce that Windows Server 2025 is now generally available! This latest release from Microsoft brings a host of new features and improvements designed to enhance security, performance, and hybrid cloud capabilities.

Key Features and Improvements

1. Enhanced Security: Windows Server 2025 introduces several security advancements, including improved algorithms for Name/SID lookups and enhanced security for confidential attributes. The new release also supports LDAP encryption by default and includes updates to the Kerberos PKINIT protocol for cryptographic agility.

2. Performance Boosts: One of the standout features of Windows Server 2025 is its significant improvements in I/O throughput performance. This enhancement is particularly beneficial for environments with high data transfer requirements, ensuring faster and more efficient operations.

3. Hybrid Cloud Capabilities: With the growing importance of hybrid cloud environments, Windows Server 2025 offers seamless integration with cloud services. This capability allows organizations to manage their infrastructure more effectively, leveraging both on-premises and cloud resources.

4. GPU Virtualization: The new Multi-Instance GPU (MIG) and GPU Partitioning features provide better support for GPU virtualization. These enhancements are crucial for workloads that require high computational power, such as AI and machine learning applications.

5. Active Directory Enhancements: Windows Server 2025 includes several updates to Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) and Active Directory Lightweight Domain Services (AD LDS). These updates improve domain management and introduce new functionalities like the 32k database page size, which significantly increases the capacity for multi-valued attributes.

Upgrade Paths

One of the notable changes in Windows Server 2025 is the expanded upgrade path support. Organizations can now upgrade from any of the last four versions (n-4) of Windows Server. This flexibility makes it easier for businesses to transition to the latest version without needing to perform multiple sequential upgrades.

Known Issues

As with any new release, there are a few known issues to be aware of:

  • Language Bug During Installation: Some text might appear in English during the installation process.
  • High Core Count CPUs: Devices with more than 256 threads/logical processors might experience issues.
  • iSCSI Environments: A ‘boot device inaccessible’ error might occur in certain iSCSI setups.

Microsoft has provided workarounds for these issues, ensuring that users can still deploy and use Windows Server 2025 effectively.

Support and Availability

Windows Server 2025 is a Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release, which means it will receive mainstream support until October 9, 2029, and extended support until October 10, 2034. This extended support period ensures that organizations can rely on Windows Server 2025 for their long-term infrastructure needs.

For those interested in trying out Windows Server 2025, a free 180-day trial is available from the Microsoft Evaluation Center. Additionally, System Center 2025 is also available, providing comprehensive management tools to complement the new server release.

In conclusion, Windows Server 2025 represents a significant step forward in server technology, offering enhanced security, improved performance, and robust hybrid cloud capabilities. We encourage all organizations to explore the new features and consider upgrading to take advantage of the latest advancements.

For more detailed information, you can visit the official Microsoft Learn page.

Nov 01

Comparing the Surface Pro 10 for Business and Surface Laptop 6 for Business

When it comes to choosing the right device for your business needs, Microsoft offers two compelling options: the Surface Pro 10 for Business and the Surface Laptop 6 for Business. Both devices are designed to enhance productivity and leverage the latest in AI technology, but they cater to different preferences and use cases. Let’s dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one suits your business best.

Design and Portability

Surface Pro 10 for Business:

  • Hybrid Design: The Surface Pro 10 is a versatile 2-in-1 device that functions as both a tablet and a laptop. Its detachable keyboard and built-in kickstand make it highly portable and adaptable to various work environments.
  • Display: It features a 13-inch PixelSense display with a 120Hz refresh rate, providing smooth visuals and a great touch experience.
  • Weight: Being lighter and more compact, it’s ideal for professionals who are always on the go.

Surface Laptop 6 for Business:

  • Traditional Laptop Design: The Surface Laptop 6 offers a more conventional laptop experience with a clamshell design. It’s available in multiple sizes, including a 15-inch model.
  • Display: While it doesn’t have a 120Hz refresh rate, it still boasts a high-resolution PixelSense display with excellent color accuracy.
  • Weight: Slightly heavier than the Surface Pro 10, it provides a more stable typing experience on your lap or desk.

Performance

Surface Pro 10 for Business:

  • Processor: Powered by Intel’s Core Ultra processors, it includes a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for handling AI tasks efficiently.
  • Graphics: Integrated Intel graphics are suitable for everyday business tasks and light creative work.
  • Battery Life: Offers impressive battery life, making it reliable for long workdays.

Surface Laptop 6 for Business:

  • Processor: Equipped with more powerful Intel Core Ultra H-Series processors, it can handle more demanding applications and multitasking.
  • Graphics: Features Intel Arc graphics, providing better performance for graphics-intensive tasks.
  • Battery Life: Despite its higher performance, it maintains all-day battery life, ensuring productivity without frequent charging.

Security and Connectivity

Surface Pro 10 for Business:

  • Security Features: Includes Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-In Security and a built-in NFC card reader for secure authentication.
  • Ports: Limited to two USB-C ports, which might require additional adapters for connectivity.

Surface Laptop 6 for Business:

  • Security Features: Also features Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-In Security and an optional smart card reader in the 15-inch model.
  • Ports: Offers a more extensive range of ports, including USB-A, USB-C, and a headphone jack, providing better connectivity options.

Use Cases

Surface Pro 10 for Business:

  • Best For: Professionals who need a flexible device that can switch between tablet and laptop modes. Ideal for those who prioritize portability and versatility.
  • Scenarios: Great for fieldwork, presentations, and any situation where a lightweight, adaptable device is beneficial.

Surface Laptop 6 for Business:

  • Best For: Users who need a powerful, traditional laptop with robust performance capabilities. Suitable for those who require a stable typing experience and more connectivity options.
  • Scenarios: Perfect for office-based work, heavy multitasking, and tasks that demand higher processing power.

Conclusion

Both the Surface Pro 10 for Business and the Surface Laptop 6 for Business are excellent choices, each with its own strengths. The Surface Pro 10 excels in portability and versatility, making it ideal for dynamic work environments. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop 6 offers superior performance and a traditional laptop experience, suitable for more demanding tasks and users who prefer a stable, powerful device.

Ultimately, the choice depends on your specific business needs and work style. Whether you prioritize flexibility or performance, Microsoft has a Surface device that can help you achieve your business goals.

Oct 30

How to File Actionable Windows Feedback Using the Feedback Hub

Providing feedback to Microsoft is crucial for improving Windows and ensuring it meets users’ needs. The Feedback Hub is a powerful tool that allows you to share your thoughts, report issues, and suggest new features. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you file actionable feedback effectively.

Step 1: Open the Feedback Hub

First, you need to open the Feedback Hub. You can do this by:

  1. Pressing the Windows key and typing “Feedback Hub.”
  2. Selecting the Feedback Hub app from the search results.

or even faster: Windows Key + F

Step 2: Sign In

To provide feedback, you need to sign in with your Microsoft account. This helps Microsoft track and respond to your feedback.

Step 3: Navigate to the Feedback Section

Once you’re signed in, navigate to the Feedback section. You can find this in the left-hand menu and click the give new feedback button.

Step 4: Choose the Type of Feedback

You have two main options:

  • Report a problem: Use this if you’re experiencing an issue or bug.
  • Suggest a feature: Use this if you have an idea for a new feature or improvement.

Step 5: Describe Your Feedback

This is the most critical part. Here’s how to make your feedback actionable:

  • Title: Provide a clear and concise title. For example, “Bluetooth connectivity issues after update.”
  • Details: Describe the issue or suggestion in detail. Include steps to reproduce the problem, expected results, and actual results. For example:
    • Steps to reproduce: Turn on Bluetooth, try to connect to a device.
    • Expected result: Device connects successfully.
    • Actual result: Device fails to connect, error message appears.

Step 6: Categorize Your Feedback

Select the appropriate category and subcategory for your feedback. This helps Microsoft route your feedback to the right team.

Step 7: Attach Files and Diagnostics

If applicable, attach screenshots, videos, or diagnostic data to help illustrate your feedback. This can be done by clicking on the Attach a file button.

Step 8: Submit Your Feedback

Once you’ve filled out all the necessary information, click the Submit button. Your feedback will be sent to Microsoft for review.

Step 9: Monitor and Upvote

After submitting, you can monitor the status of your feedback in the My Feedback section. You can also upvote feedback from other users that you find relevant.

Tips for Effective Feedback

  • Be Specific: The more specific your feedback, the easier it is for Microsoft to understand and address it.
  • Stay Objective: Focus on the issue or suggestion without emotional language.
  • Provide Context: Explain why the issue is important or how the feature would improve your experience.

By following these steps, you can ensure your feedback is clear, actionable, and helpful. Your input is invaluable in making Windows better for everyone. Happy feedbacking!

Oct 26

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2200 (Dev Channel)

Hi all, last Friday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2200 (KB5044376) to the Dev Channel.

At 1st downloading thoe update seemed to thake very long ( 1% for almost an hour ) next devices went smooth

Happy Upgrades!

[Windows Studio Effects]

  • Windows Studio Effects delivers AI-based camera and audio enhancements on devices equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Today, you can access Studio Effects in Quick Settings from the system tray of the taskbar. To further streamline your experience, an icon will now appear in the system tray when using any application with a Studio Effects-enabled camera. Simply click on this icon to launch the Studio Effects page in Quick Settings. Additionally, hovering over the icon will display a tooltip indicating which application is utilizing the camera.
New Studio Effects icon shown in system tray when using any application with a Studio Effects-enabled camera.
New Studio Effects icon shown in system tray when using any application with a Studio Effects-enabled camera.

[Dynamic Lighting]

  • When no compatible devices are attached, the Dynamic Lighting settings page will now show a placeholder message and Brightness and Effects controls are disabled.
  • On the Dynamic Lighting settings page, we have added Forward, Backward, Outward and Inward direction options to the Wave effect, and added the Forward direction option to the Gradient effect.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[Start menu]

  • Fixed an issue where if you clicked or tapped on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may break.

[Taskbar]

  • Fixed an issue where explorer.exe was crashing for some Insiders when hovering over certain open apps in the taskbar.

[Settings]

  • Fixed an issue where there was a blank entry in Privacy & Security and clicking it would crash Settings.

[Input]

  • Updated the mouse option “Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key”, so that the circles displayed are now DPI-aware, and aren’t really small on high DPI monitors.

Fixes for everyone in the Dev Channel

[Other]

  • [Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file (DriverSiPolicy.p7b)] Fixed: This update adds to the list of drivers that are at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
  • [HTML Applications (HTA)] Fixed: HTA optional components (OC) are now in ARM64 Windows PE.
  • [Live kernel debug files (dumps)] Fixed: sys creates live kernel debug files when it should not.
  • [User interface (UI)] Fixed: You cannot view some parts of the UI when you run certain apps.
  • [Winlogon] Fixed: A stop error occurs during shutdown.
  • [sfc /scannow command] Fixed: You get errors every time you run the command.
  • [Windows Disk Cleanup app] Fixed: This update addresses some of the causes for the wrong free space estimates and improves its accuracy.

Known issues

[Start menu]

  • [NEW] You may see there is an unexpected amount of spacing between items in the Start menu apps list.

[Dev Drive]

  • [NEW] We’re working on the fix for an underlying issue leading to Dev Drives potentially not being accessible within WSL.

soure: Windows Blogs

Oct 20

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2130 (Dev Channel)

Hi all, last Thursday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2130 (KB5044400)) to the Dev Channel.

All smooth updates here, Happy Upgarding!

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[Start menu]

  • “All apps” is now just “All” on the Start menu.

[Input]

  • We’re beginning to roll out a new Gamepad keyboard layout for the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 that supports the ability to use your Xbox controller to navigate and type. This includes button accelerators (example: X button for backspace, Y button for spacebar) additionally the keyboard keys have been vertically aligned for better controller navigation patterns.
New Gamepad keyboard layout for the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 that supports the ability to use your Xbox controller to navigate and type.
New Gamepad keyboard layout for the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 that supports the ability to use your Xbox controller to navigate and type.

[Narrator]

  • We have added a new shortcut “Narrator key + control + X” to copy what Narrator last spoke to clipboard. It follows the pattern of using “Narrator key + X” which repeats the last spoken phrase out loud and is a good way to memorize similar shortcuts. You can use these shortcuts to review and copy what Narrator spoke, useful in cases you want to quickly copy some content or descriptions or codes/numbers for use.
  • Narrator will now auto-read contents of a mail in the new Outlook app similar to behavior in Outlook classic.

[Networking]

  • If you use the netsh wlan show networks command, you should be able to read SSIDs that are UTF-8 encoded. This means that Wi-Fi SSIDs with Unicode characters (like emojis) should be properly displayed in netsh output.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[General]

  • Fixed an issue for a small number of Insiders after the latest builds, where on locking your PC, after waking the PC from sleep the login screen contents wouldn’t load and you couldn’t sign back in.

[Input]

  • Fixed an underlying issue which could lead to clipboard history not displaying items you’d copied.

[Taskbar]

  • Fixed an issue where if you had multiple windows open for an app on your taskbar, pressing WIN + multiple times wasn’t cycling between the windows, for example, pressing WIN + 1.

[Narrator]

  • We have addressed a performance issue where Narrator would slow down after 15 minutes of continuous use with a single application. If you continue to experience any performance delays, do report using Feedback Hub.
  • Fixed an issue where Narrator would add an additional announcement “contains style” whenever its focus is on text that has styling attributes such as bullets, numbers across applications such as Microsoft Edge, Teams, Outlook, etc.
  • Fixed an issue where few dialogs in Narrator were not adopting the 200% text scaling setting in Windows.

[Live captions]

  • Fixed an issue causing live captions to crash for some people in the previous flight when you tried to use it.

[Other]

  • Fixed an issue causing mica to not work correctly when using a slideshow for your desktop background.

Known issues

[Taskbar]

  • [NEW] We’re investigating reports that explorer.exe is crashing for some Insiders when hovering over certain open apps in the taskbar.

[Start menu]

  • If you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may break. If you encounter this issue, please try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

source: Windows Blogs

Oct 20

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27729 (Canary Channel)

Hi all, last Wednesday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27729 to the Canary Channel.

This update holds a few new things, updated snippintool that can copy as table, very nice! Copilot button remapping in the settings app and fixed crashing of Microsoft Solitaire & casual games.

Intresting development when a device has both Wi-Fi and a UTP connected network: the Microsoft Store waits for Wi-Fi for installation of Apps: (Feedback Hub: https://aka.ms/AAsy8z5)

Happy Upgrading!

Changes and Improvements

[Settings]

  • We are adding the ability to configure the Copilot key. You can choose to have the Copilot key launch an app that is MSIX packaged and signed, thus indicating the app meets security and privacy requirements to keep customers safe. The key will continue to launch Copilot on devices that have the Copilot app installed until a customer selects a different experience. This setting can be found via Settings > Personalization > Text input. If the keyboard connected to your PC does not have a Copilot key, adjusting this setting will not do anything. We are planning further refinements to this experience in a future flight.
New setting for configuring the Copilot key highlighted in a red box.
New setting for configuring the Copilot key highlighted in a red box.

Fixes

[General]

  • We fixed an underlying issue causing some games, including Microsoft Solitaire & Casual Games, to crash on launch after installing Build 27718+.

[Windowing]

  • Fixed an underlying issue which could cause the screen to go black for a few seconds for some people when using ALT + Tab.

[Other]

  • We fixed an issue causing BitLocker to not work correctly for a small number of Insiders in the last 2 flights.

Known issues

[General]

  • [IMPORTANT NOTE FOR COPILOT+ PCs] If you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel or retail, you will lose Windows Hello pin and biometrics to sign into your PC with error 0xd0000225 and error message “Something went wrong, and your PIN isn’t available”. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN”.
  • We’re investigating reports that some Insiders are still experiencing rollbacks (with error code 0xc190010) when attempting to install the latest Canary builds.
  • [UPDATED] Some Insiders with PCs that have older NVIDIA GPUs (like the GTX 970, Quadro K620, etc.) are experiencing some issues where their displays appear stuck at a black screen and unresponsive or seeing their GPUs showing errors in Device Manager and not working correctly. We are aware of the issue and working on a fix. If you are impacted by this issue and unable to use your PC, you can boot into Windows Recovery (WinRE), roll back to the previous build, and pause updates in Windows Update to wait for a new build with the fix for this issue. If you paused updates with Build 27723 last week you will need to un-pause and re-pause updates to not take Build 27729 to remain on Build 27718 for right now.
  • [NEW] We’re working on the fix for an issue causing some Insiders to see a bugcheck with error PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA starting in Build 27723.

[Input]

  • We’re working on the fix for an underlying issue causing the Emoji Panel and Clipboard History to not open in certain surfaces anymore, including in Registry Editor.

Snipping Tool Update

We are rolling out an update for Snipping Tool (version 11.2409.23.0 and newer) to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels that introduces a new “Copy as table” feature.

Snipping Tool showing copy as table option with text pasted into Microsoft Excel.
Snipping Tool showing copy as table option with text pasted into Microsoft Excel.

Customers can do even more with Snipping Tool! Alongside existing text features, like copying text from an image and redacting sensitive information, we’re adding a new option for “Copy as table”. Customers can use “Copy as table” to easily copy structured table data into an email, document, or spreadsheet. To get started, capture a screenshot with table data, select “Text actions,” and select “Copy as table.” You can paste the structured table data from there! Please note: the current implementation of the feature works best when your screenshot only includes one table.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Snipping Tool.

source: Windows Blogs

Oct 13

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27723 (Canary Channel)

Hi all, last Wednesday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27723 to the Canary Channel.

A quick and smooth update on all my Canary devices here

Since last week’s build the Canary channel has the Administartor Protection built in, give it a spin it looks very promissing.

Happy ugrading!

Changes and Improvements

[General]

  • [REMINDER] Insider Preview Build Expiration: The expiration date for Insider Preview builds flighted to the Canary Channel has been updated to 9/15/2025 starting with Build 27695. Please make sure you are updated to the latest build in the Canary Channel.

[Search on the Taskbar]

  • We are beginning to roll out the ability to share local files directly from within the search results shown in the search box on the taskbar.
New option to share a local file highlighted in a red box in the search results from the search box on the taskbar.
New option to share a local file highlighted in a red box in the search results from the search box on the taskbar.

[Voice Access]

  • We are making improvements for the spelling and corrections experience in voice access. You can now use the experience for the entire voice access session. The spelling experience will now enable you to dictate the characters at a faster speed and offer more editing flexibility inside the experience with dictation commands, namely selection, deletion and text navigation commands.

[Fonts]

  • There is a new simplified Chinese font (Simsun-ExtG) with 9,753 ideographs supporting Unicode Extensions G, H and I. Included is the highly requested character for Biangbiang noodles. This character U+30EDD is said to be the most complicated Chinese character, as you can see in the image below. We are aware that some applications may not be able to display these new extension characters yet.
    • Unicode range G 30000-3134A (4,939 chars)
    • Unicode range H 31350-323AF (4,192 chars)
    • Unicode range I 2EBF0-2EE5D (622 chars)
Biangbiang character Unicode 30EDD.
Biangbiang character Unicode 30EDD.

[Settings]

  • The detach virtual hard disk (VHD/VHDx) button we added under Settings > System > Storage > Disks & Volumes introduced with Build 27686 has temporarily been disabled starting with Build 27718. We’re working to re-enable this change in a future flight soon.

Known issues

[General]

  • [IMPORTANT NOTE FOR COPILOT+ PCs] If you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel or retail, you will lose Windows Hello pin and biometrics to sign into your PC with error 0xd0000225 and error message “Something went wrong, and your PIN isn’t available”. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN”.
  • [NEW] We’re investigating reports that some games, including Microsoft Solitaire & Casual Games, are crashing on launch after installing 27718.
  • [NEW] We’re investigating reports that some Insiders are still experiencing rollbacks (with error code 0xc190010) when attempting to install the latest Canary builds.
  • [ADDED 10/10] Some Insiders with PCs that have older NVIDIA GPUs (like the GTX 970, Quadro K620, etc.) are experiencing some issues where their displays appear stuck at a black screen and unresponsive or seeing their GPUs showing errors in Device Manager and not working correctly. We are aware of the issue and working on a fix. If you are impacted by this issue and unable to use your PC, you can boot into Windows Recovery (WinRE), rollback to the previous build, and pause updates in Windows Update to wait for a new build with the fix for this issue.

[Input]

  • We’re working on the fix for an underlying issue causing the Emoji Panel and Clipboard History to not open in certain surfaces anymore, including in Registry Editor.

source: Windows Blogs

Oct 06

Enhancing Security with Remote Desktop Services: Limiting Console Session Access

In today’s digital landscape, securing remote access to systems is paramount. One effective method to enhance security is by configuring Remote Desktop Services (RDS) to limit the number of connections, thereby blocking access to the console session via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this using Group Policy.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Open Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)
    • Press Win + R, type gpmc.msc, and press Enter. (or locally run gpedit.msc)
  2. Navigate to the Specific Policy
    • Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Connections.
  3. Configure the Policy
    • Locate the policy named “Limit number of connections”.
    • Double-click to open the policy settings.
  4. Enable and Set the Limit
    • Select “Enabled”.
    • In the “RD Maximum Connections allowed” box, set the desired number of connections. For instance, setting it to 1 ensures only one remote connection is allowed, effectively blocking access to the console session.
  5. Apply and Close
    • Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
  6. Update Group Policy
    • Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run gpupdate /force and reboot the machine to apply the new policy settings.

Benefits of Limiting Connections

  • Enhanced Security: Restricting the number of connections minimizes the risk of unauthorized access.
  • Resource Management: Prevents system overload by limiting the number of active sessions.
  • Control and Monitoring: Easier to monitor and manage remote sessions, ensuring compliance with security policies.

By following these steps, administrators can effectively block access to the console session using RDP, thereby enhancing the overall security of their systems. This simple yet powerful configuration helps maintain a secure and efficient remote access environment.

Oct 06

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1930 (Dev Channel)

Hi all, last Friday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1930 (KB5044388) to the Dev Channel.

This build also has the policy templates for Administartor Protecion, only enableing them does not enable the feature (yet)

All Dev channel device upgrades went smooth here, make sure to use the Feedback Hub if any issues are spotted.

Happy Upgrades!

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[General]

  • This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

[Fonts]

  • There is a new simplified Chinese font (Simsun-ExtG) with 9,753 ideographs supporting Unicode Extensions G, H and I. Included is the highly requested character for Biangbiang noodles. This character U+30EDD is said to be the most complicated Chinese character, as you can see in the image below. We are aware that some applications may not be able to display these new extension characters yet.
    • Unicode range G 30000-3134A (4,939 chars)
    • Unicode range H 31350-323AF (4,192 chars)
    • Unicode range I 2EBF0-2EE5D (622 chars)
Biangbiang character Unicode 30EDD.
Biangbiang character Unicode 30EDD.

[Windows Sandbox]

  • The new Windows Sandbox Client Preview that began rolling out with Build 26120.1843 should now be available to all Insiders in the Dev Channel.
Windows Sandbox Client Preview with new dropdown showing clipboard redirection, audio/video input control, and the ability to share folders with the host.
Windows Sandbox Client Preview with new dropdown showing clipboard redirection, audio/video input control, and the ability to share folders with the host.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[Other]

  • Fixed an issue for some Insiders with dual boot devices, where the boot menu (where you select which OS to boot into) wasn’t displaying correctly (the color was wrong, and it might only display in half the available space).

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Dev Channel

[Settings]

  • We are adding the ability to configure the Copilot key. You can choose to have the Copilot key launch an app that is MSIX packaged and signed, thus indicating the app meets security and privacy requirements to keep customers safe. The key will continue to launch Copilot on devices that have the Copilot app installed until a customer selects a different experience. This setting can be found via Settings > Personalization > Text input. If the keyboard connected to your PC does not have a Copilot key, adjusting this setting will not do anything. We are planning further refinements to this experience in a future flight.
New setting for configuring the Copilot key highlighted in a red box.
New setting for configuring the Copilot key highlighted in a red box.

Known issues

[General]

  • This build may fail to install with error 0x800f0983. If you see this error, please try to install it again, as it should work on retry. If it stays on 0%, please be patient – it should proceed.

[Start menu]

  • If you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may break. If you encounter this issue, please try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

New Clock widgets: Countdown and Timer

We are rolling out a Clock app update to Windows Insiders across all Insider Channels that includes two new clock widgets: countdown and timer. Make sure you have the latest version of the Clock app update from the Microsoft Store (version 11.2408.9.0 and higher). After you open the widgets board, you can open the widgets picker by clicking the “+” button in the top right corner where you would be able to add these widgets to your board.

New countdown and timer widgets from the Clock app showing on the widgets board.
New countdown and timer widgets from the Clock app showing on the widgets board.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Clock App.

source: Windows Blogs