Most common Windows 11 problems and how to fix them

Microsoft has refined its operating systems over the years, but Windows 11 is not without its share of bugs and performance issues. Since its release in October 2021, the operating system has seen numerous updates, yet users continue to report a range of problems, from difficulties with installation to slow performance and software glitches.

Fortunately, many of these common issues have clear and effective solutions. This guide provides an updated look at the most frequent Windows 11 problems and how to resolve them, helping you maintain a stable and efficient system.

1. Can’t upgrade to Windows 11

The first Windows 11 problem many users will come across is the realization that one’s system doesn’t meet the Windows 11 minimum requirements for one or more reasons.

In the link above, we’ve set out how to establish if your system can be upgraded and how to apply it if so. Otherwise, it might be time to upgrade to one of the best business laptops to make the most of Microsoft’s newest operating system.

It’s worth noting that you can easily check for an update within Windows by opening the settings menu and clicking ‘Windows update’ then ‘Check for updates’.

If all else fails, Microsoft has a dedicated Windows 11 installation assistant for manual updates. Just be sure to back up all your critical data first, to avoid losing anything in the process.

2. Windows 11 is slow or frequently freezes

While Windows 11 is a fresh look with exciting new features for the decades-old operating system, users who have installed it on a machine that previously hosted an older operating system may inadvertently have brought problems along with it.

These can result in software crashing unexpectedly or devices becoming slower than they should. More often than not, outdated drivers or software conflicts are to blame – here are some simple steps to keep Windows 11 running at peak efficiency:

1. Keep on top of driver updates: Drivers such as graphics drivers for GPUs as well as crucial firmware updates are major cause for Windows 11 slowdown issues. Make sure they’re regularly updated to stave off unwanted drops in performance.
2. Optimize system settings: Poor performance in Windows 11 can be partially addressed by altering some key system settings. For example, programs that automatically open on startup can hog system memory without users knowing. To change what opens on startup:
   1. Launch the Settings app by searching for it in the Start Menu
   2. Within settings, choose ‘Apps’ and then ‘Startup navigation’
   3. Toggle the switches next to apps to choose whether they automatically open when you startup your PC
3. Reset your pc: If problems persist after upgrading to Windows 11, a factory reset can solve problems. As above, make sure to back up data before moving ahead with this step.

3. Windows 11 can’t find a printer

If you’re troubleshooting Windows 11 problems, you’re probably no stranger to troubleshooting printer problems either.

One of the most straightforward ways to fix printer problems within Windows 11 is to troubleshoot the problem in the ‘Get Help’ app.

To do this, simply search ‘printer troubleshooter’ in the Start Menu. This will then run diagnostics to try to fix the problem.

It may also be necessary to install the latest printer drivers. Microsoft recommends doing this via Windows Update, which should automatically search for the latest hardware drivers to ensure printers connect to your Windows 11 device with no issues.

However, it’s also possible to reset printer drivers within device manager. To do this:

1. Right click on the Start Menu and select ‘Device Manager’
2. Click on the > arrow next to the printer you’re trying to connect to
3. Right click on the printer and select ‘Uninstall device’, then confirm you would like to move ahead with uninstalling when prompted
4. Restart Windows
5. Once your device reinitializes, it will attempt to reinstall the driver
6. If this doesn’t happen automatically, follow the above steps to navigate back to your printer in the device manager, right click on it, and select ‘Update driver’
7. Then select ‘Search automatically for updated driver’

4. Snipping Tool is crashing or not opening 

Windows 11 brings with it a new snipping tool, with new features that are better suited for business users. But it’s also known to crash under certain circumstances, or fail to launch altogether.

There are a number of possible steps to address these issues. First, make sure to install the latest Windows updates when prompted as these often contain bug fixes for embedded programs within Windows 11 such as Snipping Tool.

Second, it’s possible to repair the Snipping Tool if you have administrator privileges. To do so:

1. Open Settings by searching for it in the Start Menu.
2. Select ‘Apps’
3. Navigate to the snipping tool and select ‘Advanced options’
4. Click ‘Reset’ and then confirm you would like to reset the app

If all else fails, you can use a third-party screenshot software such as ShareX, Greenshot, or Flameshot.

5. Windows 11 PC is short on disk space

If you've upgraded to Windows 11 from a previous version, you may notice a significant reduction in free disk space. This is because Windows saves a copy of your old operating system in a folder named " Windows.old." This folder can take up more than 20GB and is kept for 10 days to allow you to revert to your previous Windows version if needed.

After ten days, Windows is designed to automatically delete these files. However, if you need to free up the space sooner and are confident you won't be returning to your old os, you can manually remove these files.

The recommended method to remove previous installation files is through the storage settings:

1. Go to ‘Settings’ then ‘System’ and ‘Storage’
2. Click on cleanup recommendations.
3. Look for and select previous Windows installation(s), along with other temporary files you wish to remove
4. Click the ‘Clean up’ button to remove the selected files

Leveraging storage sense for automatic cleanup

To maintain disk space day to day, Windows 11 comes with a built-in tool called Storage Sense. After it’s been enabled, Storage Sense regularly frees up space by deleting redundant data including temporary files and anything in the recycling bin.

Users can set Storage Sense to operate on a custom schedule including at daily, weekly, or monthly intervals. Alternatively, it can be set to only activate when disk space is running low. It can also be set to consider files in specific folders such as Downloads.

If disk space continues to be a problem, consider moving files to external storage such as an HDD or SSD.

For ongoing disk space management, Windows 11 includes a feature called Storage Sense. When enabled, it automatically frees up space by deleting unnecessary items like temporary files and the contents of your recycle bin.

You can configure Storage Sense to run on a schedule, such as daily, weekly, monthly, or when your disk space is low. It can also be set to clear out your downloads folder periodically.

6. Windows 11 search isn’t finding my files

Microsoft updated the search menu in Windows 11, which can be found in the taskbar or by pressing the Windows key + S. Sometimes, the search menu will be slow to load results or fail to find files altogether.

This is a common issue if you’ve recently updated your PC, or added a lot of new files to your disk. If you’ve only just done so, give your device time to update its search index – up to a full 24 hours in some cases.

If it’s still not working after this time, there are more active fixes you can apply.

First, you can rebuild the search index. Open the control panel by searching for it in the search menu, or by pressing Windows + R to open the run dialog and search “control” then press enter.

Next, set the view option to ‘large icons’ or ‘small icons’ and select ‘indexing options’ and ‘advanced’. In the ‘troubleshooting’ section, press ‘rebuild’, and press ‘ok’ on the prompt that will be shown. Your device will now rebuild the search index, which could take some time to complete. If you need to pause this at any time, you can do so by pressing the ‘pause’ button at the bottom of indexing options within the control panel.

While indexing is in progress, CPU and disk usage will be high and search results may not appear as desired.

For a more manual approach, that should only be attempted by those with express permission of the IT department, you can also rebuild the search index using a batch file (.BAT). To do so, open notepad by searching for it or pressing Windows + R to open the run dialog and searching “notepad” and copying in the following text:

@echo off
net stop wsearch
del "%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\Windows.edb"
:wsearch
net start wsearch
IF NOT %ERRORLEVEL%==0 (goto :wsearch) ELSE goto :END
:END

Then save this file to the desktop with your chosen name and ‘.bat’ at the end. After it’s saved, right click the batch file and choose ‘run as administrator’ from the context menu that shows up and press ‘yes’ when prompted.

This deletes the entire search index and rebuilds it from scratch.

7. Distracting notifications

Distractions can be more than annoying, they can also seriously detract from productivity.

Fortunately, Microsoft has improved its notification system in Windows 11 to make them less distracting than before. This is achieved through a new mode called Focus Assist. To activate it, click on the icons in the bottom-right corner of the screen where the battery, Wi-Fi, and volume indicators are located. A pop-up panel will appear, allowing you to switch on Focus Assist.

There are two modes to choose from within Focus Assist:

• Priority Only: This mode allows messages from specific apps or people to come through. It requires setting up your priority list, which can be customized to include applications such as Microsoft Teams or contacts like your boss.
• Alarms Only: As the name suggests, this mode only allows pre-set alarms to interrupt your work, providing a more distraction-free environment.

To set up Focus Assist:

1. Open Settings by finding it in the Start Menu or searching “settings” in the search menu.
2. Click ‘System’ in the list on the left.
3. Under ‘Focus’, select how long the session should last and edit the appearance of the session using the check boxes.

This feature helps you maintain concentration, ensuring that only crucial notifications interrupt your workflow. By customizing your Focus Assist settings, you can minimize distractions and enhance productivity, even if the boss often calls from Microsoft Teams.

8. Windows 11 Wi-Fi issues

Wi-Fi connectivity problems can be a major source of frustration for Windows 11 users, manifesting as dropped connections, slow internet speeds, or an inability to connect to networks altogether. These issues can originate from outdated drivers, conflicting settings, or hardware malfunctions. Below are detailed steps to troubleshoot and resolve common Wi-Fi problems in Windows 11.

Update network drivers

Outdated or incompatible network drivers are a frequent cause of Wi-Fi issues. Ensuring your drivers are up to date can often resolve connectivity problems. To update your network drivers:

1. Open Settings by searching for it in the Start Menu or searching "settings in the search menu.
2. Select 'Windows Update', then 'Advanced options' and 'Optional updates'.
3. Look for network adapter updates and install them.
4. Alternatively, visit your network adapter manufacturer’s website (e.g., Intel, Realtek, or Broadcom) to download the latest driver.

Reset your network settings

If updating drivers does not resolve the issue, resetting your network settings to their default configuration may help:

1. Go to Settings then 'Network & Internet', and 'Advanced network settings'.
2. Select 'Network reset' and follow the prompts.
3. Restart your PC and reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.

Disable power-saving settings

Windows 11’s power-saving features can sometimes interfere with Wi-Fi connections, particularly on laptops. To disable these settings:

1. Open Device Manager by pressing Windows key + X and selecting it from the menu.
2. Expand Network adapters, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter, and select Properties.
3. Navigate to the Power Management tab and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

Forget and reconnect to your network

Corrupted network profiles can also cause connectivity issues. To resolve this:

1. Open Settings then 'Network & Internet', 'Wi-Fi', and 'Manage known networks'.
2. Select your network and click 'Forget'.
3. Reconnect to the network by entering the password again.

Check your router and connection

Sometimes, the problem lies with your router or internet connection:

• Restart your router by powering it off for 30 seconds and then turning it back on.
• Ensure your router’s firmware is up to date by checking your manufacturer’s support page.
• Test your connection on another device to rule out ISP-related issues.

Use the troubleshooter

Windows 11 includes a built-in troubleshooter for diagnosing Wi-Fi issues:

1. Go to 'Settings' then 'System', 'Troubleshoot', and 'Other troubleshooters'.
2. Run the 'Internet Connections' troubleshooter and follow the recommendations.

These steps should help resolve most Wi-Fi connectivity problems. If issues persist, it may be worthwhile contacting your internet service provider or check for hardware faults in your network adapter or router.

9. Windows 11 updates fail to install 

Keeping Windows 11 current is vital for security and stability, but updates can sometimes fail to install, get stuck, or produce errors. If you are encountering these issues, here are several effective troubleshooting methods.

Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Microsoft provides a built-in tool designed to automatically find and fix common update problems. 

Clear the Windows Update cache
Corrupted files in the update cache are a frequent cause of installation failures. Clearing this cache can resolve the problem.

Install updates manually

If a particular update constantly fails, you can download it directly from the Microsoft update catalog. Search for the update using its knowledge base (kb) number and download the version that matches your system's architecture (x64 or arm64). 

Check for system file corruption

Corrupted system files can interfere with the update process. You can use built-in command-line tools to scan for and repair these files. 

Ensure sufficient disk space and a stable connection

Updates require adequate disk space to download and install correctly. A lack of space or an unstable internet connection can lead to update failures. Ensure your primary drive has several gigabytes of free space and your network connection is reliable before attempting to update.

Temporarily disable third-party security software

Antivirus or firewall applications can sometimes mistakenly block Windows updates. Temporarily disabling this software may allow the update to proceed.

Check for known issues

Microsoft maintains a list of known issues for Windows 11 releases, including version 26H1. Checking this official documentation can provide information on existing bugs and potential workarounds. In some cases, Microsoft may place a "safeguard hold" on updates for devices with known compatibility problems until a fix is available.

10. The taskbar is unresponsive or not working 

A non-functional taskbar can severely disrupt your workflow, preventing access to the start menu, pinned applications, and system notifications. This issue can manifest as a frozen taskbar, missing icons, or a complete failure to respond to clicks.

Here’s how to troubleshoot and fix a problematic taskbar in Windows 11:

1. Restart Windows Explorer: The taskbar is part of the Windows Explorer process. Restarting it can often resolve temporary glitches.
2. Run the system file checker (sfc) and dism: Corrupted system files can cause the taskbar to malfunction. The built-in SFC and DISM (deployment image servicing and management) tools can find and repair these files.
3. Re-register the taskbar using PowerShell: If the above methods don't work, you can try re-registering the taskbar and other built-in Windows apps using a PowerShell command.
4. Check for conflicting applications or services: Sometimes, third-party applications or system services can interfere with the taskbar's operation.

By following these steps, you should be able to restore the functionality of your Windows 11 taskbar.