Windows 11 Build 27783: New Features, Fixes, and Future Insights

Brace yourselves, Windows enthusiasts—Microsoft is keeping its foot on the accelerator with the latest release in the Canary Channel, Build 27783 for Windows 11. Unveiled on January 29, 2025, this new preview build packs some nifty features, a handful of fixes, and a dash of tweaks meant to fine-tune the operating system we’ve come to both love and critique.
Let’s dissect the details, because you deserve nothing less than the full download before you decide whether to take the plunge into this new build.

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New Features That Stole the Spotlight​

File Explorer’s Sleek New "Shared Files" Section​

File Explorer continues to evolve, and this time it’s stepping into social territory with a new "Shared Files" tab on the Home page. Confused? Don’t worry. Think of it as File Explorer's attempt to act a bit more like your favorite collaboration app.
If you’re signed into Windows with your Microsoft account, this section lets you browse files shared with you from platforms like Microsoft Teams or email. For those on Entra ID accounts (formerly Azure Active Directory), it takes things up a notch, letting you view not just the files shared with you but also shared files that you’ve extended to others.
This feature is a welcome addition for both personal and business users, encouraging fluid file sharing without needing to dive into the browser or specific apps. Plus, the section now offers better categorization under Recent, Favorites, and Shared, even pulling content you’ve worked on in apps such as Forms, Power BI, or Designer.
Who wins here? Collaboration junkies and productivity warriors—this one’s for you.

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Magnifier Gets Smarter​

For accessibility enthusiasts and folks needing an easier way to zoom in and out of their screen, Magnifier introduces some small but practical updates:

• CTRL + ALT + Minus now toggles zoom levels between your current setting and 1x zoom.
• Handy buttons have been added for quick resets, whether that’s zooming to fit your screen or toggling back to a preferred magnification level.

These tweaks might seem minor, but for users relying on Magnifier daily, the convenience factor just got a major boost.

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Fixes & Improvements: Painting Over Cracks​

What else has changed? A lot, actually. Build 27783 focuses on stamping out bugs and smoothing over wrinkles. Here’s the breakdown:

System Enhancements​

• Taskbar & System Tray Love: Fixed an errant issue where hovering over open apps didn’t always show preview windows. Annoying? Yes. Solved? Definitely.
• Input Stability: Specifically for Pinyin IME users, shifting between windows (ALT + Tab) would sometimes trigger language-switching issues. No one signed up for accidental English typing, and now you can bid those unintended inputs farewell.

Window Handling​

• ALT + Tab transitions are smoother, with fewer cases of 'app freezes' when cycling between applications.

Graphics Crash-Free Settings​

• The problem of Settings > System > Display > Graphics causing the app to flat-out crash has also been neutralized.

Remote Desktop Fixes​

• This build resolves a show-stopping problem where MSTSC (Remote Desktop Protocol’s executable) wasn’t connecting. Rendering glitches that plagued certain PCs during RD sessions have also been addressed.

Miscellaneous Polishing​

• A memory leak in explorer.exe that could wreak havoc on performance over time is now plugged.
• If you’ve been using the shutdown /r/ /fw command for your scripting needs, it’s finally back to working as intended.

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Known Issues (Because Nothing’s Perfect)​

Yes, Build 27783 isn’t flawless, and no one’s pretending it is. Here’s what Microsoft has flagged as the persistent hiccups still waiting for fixes:

• Hello, No Hello: A glitch makes setting up Windows Hello PINs a nightmare for Copilot+ PCs transitioning from non-Canary builds, complete with cryptic error messages (error 0xd0000225). For now, manually resetting up your PIN is a workaround.
• Minimized File Explorer Leads to Mayhem: Restoring a minimized File Explorer can result in visual disturbances.
• Hyper-V Not Playing Nice: For virtualization enthusiasts, watch out. Some reports say both Hyper-V and its derivatives (e.g., Windows Subsystem for Linux) are currently dysfunctional post-update.
• SFC /scannow False Positives: Running System File Checker throws unnecessary errors. No actual harm, but definitely a heads-up for IT administrators or power users who lean on this tool.

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Is the Build Worth a Shot?​

Let’s wrap it up. Build 27783 shines in delivering meaningful updates like the “Shared Files” feature for File Explorer and improvements to Magnifier, alongside a treasure trove of bug squashes. It’s clear that Microsoft is continuing to refine its Canary Channel builds with precision—whether or not these previews always land flawlessly in execution.
If you're a tinkerer, early adopter, or your middle name is “Patch Tester,” then this build won’t disappoint—limitations notwithstanding. But as always, for anyone who prizes stability above all else, the Canary Channel might be a tad too wild for your taste. Consider sticking to more refined Insider Channels or retail versions in the meantime.

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How to Install Build 27783​

If you’re ready to dive in, follow these steps:

• Ensure you’re in the Canary Channel of the Windows Insider program.
• Check for updates through Settings > Windows Update. Click "Check for updates."
• Grab a coffee (or two) while the update installs, and don’t forget to reboot when prompted.

For Windows enthusiasts, testers, and tech lovers, let us know your thoughts on Microsoft’s latest offering. Is File Explorer’s new tab a game-changer or just another breadcrumb on the long path to OS perfection? Sound off in the forums!

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Source: Neowin Windows 11 Canary build 27783 is out with a new File Explorer section and more