Common Windows 11 issues and their fixes

Windows, for years, has been the operating system of choice for students, and professionals alike. Its ease of use, and its sheer customisability have made it a favourite across industries over the years. Windows 11 happens to be no exception.

ALSO READ: Windows 11: All you need to know about the new OS version

However, like any other operating system, Windows 11 too is prone to the occasional bugs and glitches here and there. While they may be annoying, they’re really not that difficult to deal with. Here’s a list of the most common issues Windows 11 users may face, and their fixes for a smooth, uninterrupted, and hassle-free experience. Read on:

Network and connectivity issues

First off, reset your router. It may not be a fault on Windows’ end at all. Resetting your modem or router should ideally fix the issue a majority of the time. Alternatively, reset your desktop or laptop once. That being said, the network drivers on Windows 11 are prone to the occasional bugs too.

If that is the case, consider resetting your system’s network settings. To do this, press the Windows key and ‘I’ to open the settings menu. Here, select ‘Network and internet’ option, and then ‘Advanced network settings.’ Now, scroll down and hit ‘Network reset,’ followed by ‘Reset now’ and  ‘Yes’ to confirm.

A third option is to run the Windows 11 network troubleshooter. Search for it in the Windows search box. Select ‘Find and fix network problems.’ Then, select ‘Next,’ and ‘Troubleshoot my connection to the internet.’ This launches and automated troubleshooting tool which generally rectifies issues on its own.

Flickering, blurry, or black Windows 11 screen

Your screen flickering is often an anxiety inducing moment, considering how laptops and desktops are fairly large investments. It may not be as big of an issue as you may think though.

Begin with checking your PC’s connections, and ensure the cables are plugged in firmly.

However, if this doesn’t fix it, there may be an issue with your system’s drivers. Windows 11 comes with a generic display driver. Ideally, one should install all pending updates after a fresh Windows installation on their systems.

If the issue still persists though, consider updating your GPU drivers which ideally should fix the screen’s flickering. A black screen issue on the other hand, mostly requires a repair installation of the operating system.

No sound in Windows 11

There are a few reasons one might be facing sound issues on Windows 11.

Of course, first is the most obvious fix. Check your system’s volume levels. To do this, right-click the speaker icon on the bottom right and select ‘Open Volume Mixer.’ Here, make sure that the volume is raised high enough.

A second issue could be with the sound settings. To check the same, right-click the speaker icon on the bottom right of the screen and select ‘Open sound settings.’ Check whether under the ‘where to play sound’, the correct playback device is selected- your speakers, or an external speaker or headphone.

If none of these fix the issue, run the Windows 11 audio troubleshooter. For this, right-click on the speaker icon at the bottom right, and select ‘Troubleshoot sound problems.’ The system should mostly fix any issues with its audio drivers on its own, at this point.

Windows 11 is slow or frequently freezes

If you find Windows 11 is running slow on your system, or frequently causing it to hang, there are a few things you can try.

First, make sure that all your drivers are updated and that your CPUs and GPUs have the latest software.

Alternatively, open the Windows 11 Settings menu, select ‘Windows Update’, ‘Advanced Options’ and check for ‘Optional Updates’ there. This is another way of updating and fixing drivers which may have developed any issues.

ALSO READ: Top new features to look forward to in the next big Windows 11 update

If you’ve recently upgraded your operating system Windows 10, it could also be a software incompatibility issue. In the same Advanced Options’ menu, there is an option to reset your PC. This wipes the system and does a fresh install of Windows 11, but keeps all files on the system as is.

Windows 11 start menu not working

If you find your start menu not working, restarting Windows Explorer is the first step one can take to deal with the same.

Another option is to check whether it is set to full screen or not. To do this, right-click on the Start Menu, and select “Settings.” Next, click on “Personalization” and then “Start,” and check if the “Use Start full screen” option is enabled. If not, simply toggle it on.

A third option one has is to check for Windows updates, which usually have bug fixes and security patches.

If none of the above methods work, you may need to resort to resetting the Start Menu. To do the same, right-click on it and select “Windows PowerShell (Admin).” Next, type in the command – “Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}” and hit enter. This should most likely fix your start menu and ensure its issues do not crop up again.