- Windows 11 build 27686 finally adds a detach option for virtual drives in the Settings app.
- This flight also increased the format support by up to 2TB for FAT32.
- Also, Windows Sandbox has been updated from the store and has rolled out new features.
UPDATED 8/17/2024: Microsoft announced the Windows 11 build 27686 in the Canary Channel of the Windows Insider Program, which includes various improvements and fixes for administrator tools.
According to the official changes published on August 15, 2024, build 27686 brings an updated version of the Windows Sandbox tool with new features, and now the tool is updated from the Microsoft Store.
This flight updates the “Disk & Volumes” settings with a new option to detach virtual drives, increases the format size limit for FAT32 from 32GB to 2TB, and rolls out fixes an issue that prevented virtual drives from remounting automatically. The Lock screen addresses issues with the battery icon, icons in the “Firewall & Network” page in the Windows Security app, and fixes various problems with the Settings app and Registry.
Windows 11 build 27686 new changes
These are the most significant changes rolling out through the Canary Channel.
Windows Sandbox from the Microsoft Store
If you use the Windows Sandbox to test applications and browse untrusted sites to protect your main installation, the tool now updates from the Microsoft Store.
Also, the company is adding a menu from the top-right that adds clipboard redirection so you can copy and paste from the clipboard from the main installation.
In addition, you will also find the options to connect the audio and camera input to the virtual machine.
Virtual drives detach option
As part of the virtual drive improvements, on the “Disks & Volumes” page, inside the drive properties page, you will now find an option to detach VHD or VHDX. In the past, if you attached a virtual drive through the Settings app, you would have to use the legacy Disk Management app to detach it.
Format tool with 2TB support for FAT32
In the past, the “Format” tool only allowed you to format a storage using the FAT32 file system to a maximum of 32GB, but now, the company is updating the tool to support up to 2TB.
However, it’s important to note that the FAT32 file system’s limitation of 4GB per file still applies.
Auto HDR for videos when HDR is off
As part of the high dynamic range (HDR) settings, on Settings > Display > HDR, the “HDR” setting now adds a new “Allow HDR video streaming even when HDR is off” option to turn on the feature automatically when HDR is off. This option should work when watching a video of any size, but the setting recommends videos in full screen for best results.
Power mode for battery and plugged in
After releasing the preview, the company updated its notes, unveiling that build 27686 also updates the “Power & battery” settings page, allowing you to set the power mode for both when your computer is running on battery or plugged in. In addition, there are some interface changes on the page.
This feature was previously announced for devices enrolled in the Dev Channel.
Other changes
Microsoft also notes that after installing this build, the system will periodically perform network tests in the background to connect diagnostic data for future performance changes coming to the operating system. However, the company isn’t sharing details of those improvements.
If you have a Copilot+ PC enrolled in the Stable, Dev, or Release Preview Channels, switching to the Canary Channel will make you lose the Windows Hellow settings, resulting in the 0xd0000225 error, but you can always recreate your PIN and biometric authentication from the Settings app.
Finally, the company didn’t mention that this preview includes support for ReFS file system version 3.15.
Install build 27686
To download and install this Windows 11 build, 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 turning on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option and clicking the “Check for Updates” button.
Update August 17, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.
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].