The new Windows 11 Canary build is all about tightening up the AI‑era Windows experience, especially for accessibility, security, and cross‑device productivity. It also brings a surprisingly powerful update to the classic Paint app that creators have been asking for for years.
Windows 11 Canary gets smarter and more connected
Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28020.1619 (KB5077230) to the Canary Channel, continuing its rapid-fire testing of long‑lead features with Insiders before they head toward Dev, Beta, and eventually stable releases. As usual for Canary, this build may be rough around the edges, but it gives us an early look at where Windows 11 is headed next.
In this build, Microsoft is expanding Cross‑Device Resume, the feature that lets you pick up what you were doing on your Android phone directly on your PC. If you’re using an Android device from HONOR, OPPO, Samsung, Vivo, or Xiaomi, you can now resume activities like Spotify playback, a Word or PowerPoint session, or even a browsing session, and continue from your Windows desktop.
Online files you open in the Microsoft Copilot app on your phone can now hand off to the matching Microsoft 365 app on your PC when installed, or fall back to your browser if they’re not. Vivo users also get specific support for continuing sessions from the Vivo Browser to their PC, making the ecosystem story tighter for popular Android OEMs.
Narrator customization and more natural Voice features
Accessibility gets a notable boost in Build 28020.1619 with new customization options for Narrator. You can now choose which details Narrator speaks about on‑screen controls and reorder that information so it lines up better with how you personally move through apps. The idea is to cut down on unnecessary chatter and make the spoken feedback easier to follow, especially for power users who live in complex apps all day.
On the input side, Microsoft is rolling out a new “Wait time before acting” setting in Voice Typing that lets you control how long Windows waits before executing a voice command. You can choose between shorter and longer delays to better match your natural speaking style, whether you dictate quickly or pause between phrases, and this setting is rolling out across desktop form factors rather than being limited to Copilot+ PCs. Voice Access is also getting a more streamlined setup flow that walks you through downloading the right speech model for your language, picking your preferred microphone, and understanding what you can actually control with your voice.
Stronger Windows Hello security for more PCs
Security‑conscious users get a meaningful enhancement in this build with Windows Hello Enhanced Sign‑in Security (ESS) expanding to support peripheral fingerprint readers. Previously, ESS was effectively gated behind devices with built‑in biometric hardware, but now desktops and other PCs that rely on external fingerprint sensors can tap into the same hardened sign‑in experience. Once you plug in a supported ESS‑capable fingerprint reader, you can head to Settings > Accounts > Sign‑in options and enroll just like you would on a modern laptop with integrated biometrics. This is especially useful for custom desktops and Copilot+ PCs where users want both high security and flexible hardware choices.
Settings Agent language expansion and a refreshed setup screen
Microsoft’s AI‑powered Agent in Settings continues to quietly evolve with broader language support in this Canary build. In addition to the existing English (en‑us, en‑gb) and French (fr‑fr, fr‑ca) locales, the experience now supports German (de‑de), Portuguese (pt‑br, pt‑pt), Spanish (es‑es, es‑mx), Korean (ko‑kr), Japanese (ja‑jp), Hindi (hi‑in), Italian (it‑it), and Simplified Chinese (zh‑cn). That expansion should make the Settings Agent more useful in global regions where Windows 11 is growing quickly, and also signals that Microsoft sees AI‑assisted configuration as a core part of the OS going forward.
Some Insiders will also notice a refreshed SCOOBE (Second Chance Out of Box Experience) screen when reviewing recommended settings on their PC. Instead of bouncing through multiple setup pages, this redesigned view aims to gather key choices into a more intuitive, streamlined UI where you can quickly decide which recommended settings you want to keep or change. As with many Canary experiments, this updated SCOOBE is rolling out to a subset of testers first for feedback.
Paint finally gets freeform rotate
Outside the core OS, Microsoft is also shipping an update to the classic Paint app alongside this build. With Paint version 11.2601.391.0, a long‑requested “freeform rotate” capability arrives, letting you rotate shapes, text, and selections to any angle instead of just snapping to fixed increments.
When you select an object in Paint, you’ll see a rotate handle above it that allows free dragging in any direction, and a “Custom rotate” option in the Rotate menu for precise angle entry when you need pixel‑perfect alignment. For creators, meme makers, and anyone doing quick mockups, this small change makes Paint feel significantly more modern and flexible.
As always, Microsoft reminds Windows 11 Canary Channel Insiders that these builds can be unstable, features may roll out gradually with control feature rollout technology, and some features might appear in Dev or Beta before they hit Canary—or never ship at all. If you want off the Windows 11 Canary train, a clean install of Windows 11 is still required, and the familiar desktop watermark will remain as a reminder that you’re running pre‑release code.
Recent Posts You Might Like
- Windows 11 Dev Build 26300.7877 Delivers Impressive Polishes to Settings, Taskbar, File Explorer, and Paint Freeform Rotate
- Xbox Free Play Days Brings Battlefield 6, Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash, and More This Weekend
- Windows 11 Beta Build 26220.7872 Brings Polished Settings and Taskbar Tweaks, Trails Dev Build on Extras
Discover more from Microsoft News Now
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
