Windows 11 enthusiasts, get ready for another boost from the Insider builds. The latest Windows 11 Canary update—Build 27818—has rolled out with a mix of speed improvements, several bug fixes, and, yes, a small removal of a quirky feature that you may or may not miss. In this article, we’ll dive deep into what’s new, why it matters, and how these changes can enhance your everyday Windows experience.
Imagine working with a zip file containing hundreds of small files; previous iterations might have left you tapping your foot as Windows chugged through the extraction process. With this update, Microsoft has honed in on those performance bottlenecks to ensure that even a large number of files can be processed swiftly. This isn’t merely a cosmetic update—it’s a significant nudge toward a snappier, more responsive File Explorer, a core element of the Windows experience.
Key Benefits for File Explorer:
• Faster extraction speeds when handling large archives
• Improved responsiveness that minimizes downtime during routine file management tasks
• A refined user experience that reflects Microsoft’s commitment to incremental yet impactful performance tuning
This update signals that even routine tasks, like unzipping files, matter to Microsoft. With competition always looming in the productivity space, every millisecond of saved time contributes to a smoother workflow.
For some, these suggested actions were a convenient shortcut—occasionally prompting a call, a search, or perhaps even a calendar entry. For others, the suggestions often felt like unwanted noise that cluttered the clipboard experience. In Build 27818, the balance seems to tip in favor of a streamlined interface by removing these suggestions altogether.
Analyzing the Removal:
• Reduced on-screen clutter: Removing the prompts declutters the interface, letting you focus on more essential tasks.
• A minor loss for power users: Those who found value in the actionable suggestions may need to adjust their workflow, though the benefits of a cleaner interface might outweigh this drawback for most users.
• A subtle nudge in design evolution: Microsoft appears to be fine-tuning the Windows experience by prioritizing performance and simplicity, even if it means letting go of some features that aren’t universally embraced.
This change continues the ongoing conversation about interface design trade-offs: Should every potential action be prompted, or is less sometimes more when it comes to user experience? Microsoft’s decision reflects a broader trend in OS design, where minimalism and efficiency often take precedence over feature overload.
Windows Security Enhancements:
A change in the Windows Security app now provides additional details including manufacturer information and version details for Pluton TPM chips. This update, though subtle, is particularly significant for users concerned with system security and enterprise environments. Detailed security information facilitates better system oversight and troubleshooting, especially when dealing with advanced hardware features like the Pluton TPM.
System Stability and Bug Fixes:
• A fix for a d3d9.dll crash that was causing multiple application launch failures has been implemented.
• An issue where File Explorer Home sometimes loaded random text (“Name”) has been resolved, ensuring that the user interface is always coherent.
• The taskbar and system tray have received attention as well, with fixes addressing issues like improperly drawn corners in application previews and stray underlines persisting even after apps are closed.
Input and Settings Improvements:
• A high-impact crash involving ctmon.exe—which could severely affect typing—has been fixed, bringing relief to users who rely on stable input systems.
• Memory read errors in the Settings app, which previously led to crashes and error messages like “The instruction at 0x00007FFEDEBDC003 referenced memory at 0x0000000000000010,” have now been corrected.
• For Japanese users, a display issue in the Accounts section (showing “First Name Last Name” instead of the culturally expected “Last Name First Name”) has been addressed.
Graphics and Gaming Enhancements:
• Users in multi-monitor setups may have experienced sluggish video performance, especially after switching display modes. Build 27818 includes fixes to smooth over these bumps.
• Additionally, there have been tweaks in graphics settings to prevent crashes in the Settings > System > Display > Graphics section, and even address some issues where certain games failed to launch post-upgrade with DirectX errors like E_INVALIDARG or E_UNEXPECTED.
Other Essential Fixes:
• An issue preventing Visual Studio Code installations when Admin Protection was enabled is now resolved.
• Remote Desktop users should notice that the previous freeze issue upon connection has been mitigated.
• Finally, a perplexing error about certain apps not opening—due to a required virtual machine component not loading—has been fixed.
Together, these changes affirm Microsoft’s commitment to ironing out rough edges, providing a more reliable platform for both casual and professional users.
Broader Implications:
• Incremental updates like this one often set the stage for more significant, consumer-focused changes in future Windows 11 releases.
• By addressing both performance and user interface quirks, Microsoft appears to be placing a renewed emphasis on overall usability and system stability.
• Enterprise users stand to benefit as well, particularly when system security and reliability are paramount. The updated transparency in the Windows Security app for Pluton TPM chips is a nod in this direction.
For everyday users, these tweaks might go unnoticed in day-to-day operations, but for power users and IT professionals, the cumulative effect of these improvements translates to enhanced productivity and fewer frustrating hiccups.
Is less truly more? On one hand, eliminating these prompts cleans up the clipboard experience, reducing visual noise and potential distractions. On the other, some users might find the contextual hints helpful, especially if they frequently interact with text that could benefit from immediate action suggestions.
Microsoft’s decision to deprecate this feature suggests that the data showed minimal overall usage or perhaps even user frustration with the interruptions. Trials and feedback loops within the Insider program likely played a role in this outcome. Ultimately, though the change is minor, it underscores a philosophy that values performance improvements and interface efficiency over a surplus of minor conveniences.
While the removal of the contextual suggestion feature might spark mixed reactions, it serves as a reminder that software evolution is a balancing act. Each update asks users to adapt slightly while promising a more robust and efficient system overall.
For IT professionals and everyday users alike, keeping an eye on these builds offers valuable insight into what future mainstream Windows updates might entail. It’s not just about big, flashy features; sometimes the real magic is in the fine-tuning that makes your daily computing experience smoother and more reliable.
Do you value a minimalist clipboard, or did you rely on those suggestions? As always, we invite you to share your experiences and join the discussion on our forum. Stay tuned—Windows 11 is continually evolving, and every update is a step toward a more refined, user-centric operating system.
Happy computing, and may your files unzip in record time!
Source: Windows Central Windows 11 Insider update improves File Explorer but also removes a small feature
A Speed Boost in File Explorer
One of the standout enhancements in Build 27818 is the noticeable improvement in the performance of File Explorer when it comes to extracting zip files. Whether you’re a power user dealing with large batches of data or a casual user unzipping a holiday photo archive, the unzipping process is now noticeably quicker.Imagine working with a zip file containing hundreds of small files; previous iterations might have left you tapping your foot as Windows chugged through the extraction process. With this update, Microsoft has honed in on those performance bottlenecks to ensure that even a large number of files can be processed swiftly. This isn’t merely a cosmetic update—it’s a significant nudge toward a snappier, more responsive File Explorer, a core element of the Windows experience.
Key Benefits for File Explorer:
• Faster extraction speeds when handling large archives
• Improved responsiveness that minimizes downtime during routine file management tasks
• A refined user experience that reflects Microsoft’s commitment to incremental yet impactful performance tuning
This update signals that even routine tasks, like unzipping files, matter to Microsoft. With competition always looming in the productivity space, every millisecond of saved time contributes to a smoother workflow.
The Case of the Vanishing Suggested Actions
Every update brings its own set of trade-offs, and this one is no exception. Along with performance enhancements, Microsoft has decided to remove the feature that displays suggested actions when copying a phone number or a future date.For some, these suggested actions were a convenient shortcut—occasionally prompting a call, a search, or perhaps even a calendar entry. For others, the suggestions often felt like unwanted noise that cluttered the clipboard experience. In Build 27818, the balance seems to tip in favor of a streamlined interface by removing these suggestions altogether.
Analyzing the Removal:
• Reduced on-screen clutter: Removing the prompts declutters the interface, letting you focus on more essential tasks.
• A minor loss for power users: Those who found value in the actionable suggestions may need to adjust their workflow, though the benefits of a cleaner interface might outweigh this drawback for most users.
• A subtle nudge in design evolution: Microsoft appears to be fine-tuning the Windows experience by prioritizing performance and simplicity, even if it means letting go of some features that aren’t universally embraced.
This change continues the ongoing conversation about interface design trade-offs: Should every potential action be prompted, or is less sometimes more when it comes to user experience? Microsoft’s decision reflects a broader trend in OS design, where minimalism and efficiency often take precedence over feature overload.
Beyond File Explorer: A Multitude of Fixes
While the enhanced File Explorer performance and the removal of suggestion prompts have garnered significant attention, Build 27818 is not just about these two changes. The update includes a host of fixes and improvements across various system components, ensuring a more stable and enjoyable experience for Windows Insiders. Here’s a breakdown of some of the notable adjustments:Windows Security Enhancements:
A change in the Windows Security app now provides additional details including manufacturer information and version details for Pluton TPM chips. This update, though subtle, is particularly significant for users concerned with system security and enterprise environments. Detailed security information facilitates better system oversight and troubleshooting, especially when dealing with advanced hardware features like the Pluton TPM.
System Stability and Bug Fixes:
• A fix for a d3d9.dll crash that was causing multiple application launch failures has been implemented.
• An issue where File Explorer Home sometimes loaded random text (“Name”) has been resolved, ensuring that the user interface is always coherent.
• The taskbar and system tray have received attention as well, with fixes addressing issues like improperly drawn corners in application previews and stray underlines persisting even after apps are closed.
Input and Settings Improvements:
• A high-impact crash involving ctmon.exe—which could severely affect typing—has been fixed, bringing relief to users who rely on stable input systems.
• Memory read errors in the Settings app, which previously led to crashes and error messages like “The instruction at 0x00007FFEDEBDC003 referenced memory at 0x0000000000000010,” have now been corrected.
• For Japanese users, a display issue in the Accounts section (showing “First Name Last Name” instead of the culturally expected “Last Name First Name”) has been addressed.
Graphics and Gaming Enhancements:
• Users in multi-monitor setups may have experienced sluggish video performance, especially after switching display modes. Build 27818 includes fixes to smooth over these bumps.
• Additionally, there have been tweaks in graphics settings to prevent crashes in the Settings > System > Display > Graphics section, and even address some issues where certain games failed to launch post-upgrade with DirectX errors like E_INVALIDARG or E_UNEXPECTED.
Other Essential Fixes:
• An issue preventing Visual Studio Code installations when Admin Protection was enabled is now resolved.
• Remote Desktop users should notice that the previous freeze issue upon connection has been mitigated.
• Finally, a perplexing error about certain apps not opening—due to a required virtual machine component not loading—has been fixed.
Together, these changes affirm Microsoft’s commitment to ironing out rough edges, providing a more reliable platform for both casual and professional users.
What This Means for Windows 11 Users
As always, Microsoft’s Insider builds serve as both a testing ground and a preview of what's to come. Build 27818 is a clear indication that attention to detail matters. From enhancing something as everyday as unzipping files in File Explorer to scrubbing away inconsistencies in the Settings and taskbar interfaces, every improvement contributes to a more polished experience.Broader Implications:
• Incremental updates like this one often set the stage for more significant, consumer-focused changes in future Windows 11 releases.
• By addressing both performance and user interface quirks, Microsoft appears to be placing a renewed emphasis on overall usability and system stability.
• Enterprise users stand to benefit as well, particularly when system security and reliability are paramount. The updated transparency in the Windows Security app for Pluton TPM chips is a nod in this direction.
For everyday users, these tweaks might go unnoticed in day-to-day operations, but for power users and IT professionals, the cumulative effect of these improvements translates to enhanced productivity and fewer frustrating hiccups.
A Closer Look at the Feature Trade-Offs
Decisions in software development rarely please everyone, and this update is no exception. The removal of the suggested actions—which pop up upon copying phone numbers or future dates—highlights an ongoing debate about balance in user experience design.Is less truly more? On one hand, eliminating these prompts cleans up the clipboard experience, reducing visual noise and potential distractions. On the other, some users might find the contextual hints helpful, especially if they frequently interact with text that could benefit from immediate action suggestions.
Microsoft’s decision to deprecate this feature suggests that the data showed minimal overall usage or perhaps even user frustration with the interruptions. Trials and feedback loops within the Insider program likely played a role in this outcome. Ultimately, though the change is minor, it underscores a philosophy that values performance improvements and interface efficiency over a surplus of minor conveniences.
Final Thoughts
Build 27818 for Windows 11 Insiders embodies the spirit of continuous improvement that Windows users have come to expect. With a sharpened focus on File Explorer performance—ensuring that unzipping files is faster and less cumbersome—and a streamlined approach to user interface elements, this build confirms Microsoft’s dedication to refining even the smallest details.While the removal of the contextual suggestion feature might spark mixed reactions, it serves as a reminder that software evolution is a balancing act. Each update asks users to adapt slightly while promising a more robust and efficient system overall.
For IT professionals and everyday users alike, keeping an eye on these builds offers valuable insight into what future mainstream Windows updates might entail. It’s not just about big, flashy features; sometimes the real magic is in the fine-tuning that makes your daily computing experience smoother and more reliable.
Do you value a minimalist clipboard, or did you rely on those suggestions? As always, we invite you to share your experiences and join the discussion on our forum. Stay tuned—Windows 11 is continually evolving, and every update is a step toward a more refined, user-centric operating system.
Happy computing, and may your files unzip in record time!
Source: Windows Central Windows 11 Insider update improves File Explorer but also removes a small feature
