Enhanced Taskbar Icons and Context Menu Features in Windows 11 Build 27898

Canary users of Windows 11 are encouraged to update to the latest build, 27898, which introduces a plethora of new features and improvements. Key enhancements include the implementation of small taskbar icons, the introduction of Quick Machine Recovery, refined context menus, link previews in the share dialog, and more. Here’s a detailed overview of what’s new in this significant update.

New Features in Windows 11 Build 27898

The standout addition in this update is the small taskbar icons. This long-awaited feature gives users the option to customize their taskbar appearance, creating more space for applications. Users can choose to display smaller icons consistently, select smaller icons only when the taskbar is full, or opt not to use them at all, all customizable through the Settings menu.

Another major enhancement is Quick Machine Recovery, which was previewed during Ignite 2025. This feature enables users to apply essential patches and fixes directly from the Windows Recovery environment on systems that experience boot failures. You can configure this feature in Settings > System > Recovery.

Accessibility and User Experience Improvements

Build 27898 also brings a selection of accessibility improvements. Users can now input hard-to-pronounce words into Windows 11’s Voice Access to enhance speech recognition accuracy. Currently, this feature supports a variety of languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, and Chinese. Additionally, the Narrator tool has been upgraded with a Screen Curtain feature that obscures the screen, preventing unauthorized viewing. Activating this feature can be done easily with the keyboard combination Caps + Ctrl + C while Narrator is in use. Furthermore, the accessibility flyout in the system tray now includes clear descriptions for each assistive technology.

Other notable changes in this build comprise a refined context menu, which now includes dividers for common file actions, improved privacy dialogs for app permissions (which show a dimmed view of the app when displaying), updated default browser settings, and a new adaptive power saver. This adaptive power-saving feature intelligently adjusts energy saver settings based on the device’s current power state and system load without altering screen brightness.

Fixes in Build 27898

The update also addresses several issues, enhancing performance and stability:

File Explorer:
- Enhanced performance when extracting archive files, especially for large 7z or.rar files.
Input:
- Resolved an issue that caused problems when typing Japanese using the touch keyboard after switching from an English keyboard.
Settings:
- Fixed a bug that could lead to crashes when modifying mouse cursor settings.
- Addressed an underlying issue preventing the Settings window from responding properly after resizing.
Other:
- Rectified an error in previous builds affecting the output of Math. Pow(), which could disrupt app functionality.
- Clarified error messages related to failed Windows Updates due to insufficient free space on the system reserved partition.

Known Issues

Users should also be aware of existing issues in this build:

General:
- IMPORTANT NOTE FOR COPILOT+ PCs: Users transitioning to the Canary Channel on new Copilot+ PCs from other channels may experience the loss of Windows Hello PIN and biometric authentication. This may result in error 0xd0000225, stating your PIN is unavailable. You can re-create your PIN by selecting “Set up my PIN.”
File Explorer:
- A new issue may prevent File Explorer from retaining view settings, affecting desktop icons which might revert to default sizes and positions.
Settings:
- Ongoing investigations into potential crashes within Settings when accessing options under Power & Battery.
Remote Desktop:
- Users may encounter significant graphical distortion when using Remote Desktop on Arm64 devices.