- Microsoft makes Copilot a regular app on Windows 11 and retires a dedicated keyboard shortcut.
- The Settings app also adds a new Linked Devices page and an Enhance pointer precision option in the Mouse settings.
- Windows 11 build 26227 is available through the Canary Channel for all Insiders.
- Windows 11 build 26120.751 rolls out in the Dev Channel with the same improvements as in the Canary Channel.
UPDATED 5/31/2024: On May 30, 2024, Microsoft began the rollout of Windows 11 build 26227 in the Canary Channel of the Windows Insider Program as a minor update with various changes, improvements, and known issues.
According to the official announcement, Windows 11 build 26227 transforms the Copilot integration into an app experience that you can resize and move around the desktop. However, this is the web version of Copilot installed as an app through the Microsoft Edge browser.
As a result of this change, the Copilot button will no longer be in the System Tray. Instead, it will be an app pinned in the Taskbar, which you can unpin and uninstall from your computer at any time.
In addition, since this is a simple web application, the chatbot (at least for now) won’t be able to change system settings, and Microsoft has also removed the “Windows key + C” keyboard shortcut. If you want to access Copilot through a shortcut, use the “Windows key + app position number” keyboard shortcut or the dedicated Copilot button on the keyboard.
The build 26227 for Windows 11 also ships with Emojis version 15.1, which introduces new emojis like head shaking horizontally and vertically, phoenix, lime, brown mushroom, and broken chain.
In the Settings app, specifically in the “Accounts” section, you will find a new “Linked devices” page. This page allows you to manage your computer and Xbox consoles connected to the same Microsoft account from within Settings. The company notes that this page is only available for the Home and Pro editions of the operating system.
One improvement that Microsoft didn’t mention is the addition of the new “Enhance pointer precision” setting. This setting was previously only available in the legacy version of the Control Panel to change the mouse sensitivity depending on how fast you move your cursor on the screen.
As part of the fixes, this update fixes stutters for animations with Task View, restartable apps, and location notifications. This release also resolves issues with the “Alt + Tab” interface, Widgets when using the keyboard shortcut, and crashes with the explorer.exe process.
Windows 11 build 26227 install
To download and install the Windows 11 build 26227, enroll your device in the Canary Channel through the “Windows Insider Program” settings from the “Update & Security” section. Once you enroll the computer in the program, you can download the build from the “Windows Update” settings by clicking the “Check for Updates” button.
If you have a device in the Dev Channel, you can update from the Windows Update settings by clicking the “Check for updates” button.
Update May 31, 2024: Microsoft is also making available the preview build 26120.751 in the Dev Channel as an enablement package with virtually the same changes as build 26227 in the Canary Channel. The only difference is that the preview in the Dev Channel includes fixes for Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles and Windows Update.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].