Windows 11 is a fresh coat of paint on your trusty PC, but sometimes it can feel a bit overwhelming—or just weirdly different, especially if you’re coming from an older Windows version. Maybe the Start Menu is acting up, or some features aren’t behaving as expected. This guide should help troubleshoot common hiccups, tweak settings, and get things running smoothly. Because let’s face it, Windows has a way of making simple fixes feel like playing detective, but with a few commands or menu tweaks, you can usually straighten things out and get back to cruising through your day.
How to Fix Common Windows 11 Glitches and Tweaks
Fix 1: Restarting Windows Explorer (sometimes it’s all about the UI cache)
This is kind of the go-to move when things get sluggish or the Start Menu, taskbar, or desktop icons act wonky. Windows Explorer manages the desktop, file browsing, and taskbar stuff, so just resetting it can do wonders.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Scroll down to find Windows Explorer in the list.
- Right-click it and select Restart.
Doing this refreshes the UI components and clears out some minor bugs. Sometimes, it’s weird, but on some setups, you might need to do this a couple of times or after a reboot, but it’s usually quick and painless.
Fix 2: Check your Taskbar Settings (especially if icons are missing or misplaced)
If your taskbar isn’t behaving—icons disappeared, or right-click menu is missing—you might want to customize it again. Windows 11 changed how this is accessed, and of course, Windows has to make it harder than it should be.
- Right-click on the taskbar and pick Taskbar settings.
- Here, you can toggle which icons show up (like volume, network, battery), change the taskbar alignment, or move it around (although in Win 11, bottom is default).
- Under Taskbar behaviors, make sure Show recent notifications in the taskbar is enabled if you want notifications.
Sometimes, if icons are missing or not grouping right, toggling these options and then restarting the explorer helps. Also, flipping the Taskbar alignment from center to left and back might reset some display glitches.
Fix 3: Reset Windows Widgets (they can get buggy)
If your Widgets feed isn’t updating or shows an error, you might need to reset or refresh them. For some reason, Windows Widgets can be spike-prone.
- Close the Widgets popup if it’s open.
- Press Win + R to open Run.
- Type:
powershelland hit Enter. - Type:
Get-AppXPackage -Name MicrosoftWindows. Client. CBS | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_. InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}and press Enter.
This re-registers the Widgets and other Store apps without doing a full Windows reset. It’s kind of a shot in the dark, but it often fixes those minor quirks. On some setups, you might need to run PowerShell as Administrator.
Fix 4: Clear or Reset the Start Menu Layout
If the Start Menu is acting weird—like not opening, having missing tiles, or showing old pinned items—you can reset its layout.
- Open PowerShell as an administrator.
- Type:
Get-StartAppsto list apps or to reset, run:Get-StartApps | Foreach {Remove-StartApps -AppID $_. AppID}. - Or, in some cases, you can just delete the Start Menu layout file at:
C:\Users\your username\AppData\Local\TileDataLayer\Database. You’ll need to show hidden files, close the explorer, and then delete that database. After that, restart your PC.
Note: Be careful and back up that database if you’re unsure—it can be a pain to set everything back up manually. Resetting the layout tends to refresh pinned apps and might restore some order.
Fix 5: Run the Windows Troubleshooter (sometimes Windows can fix its own problems)
Or, if things are just wonky with hardware or Windows features, try the built-in troubleshooter. It’s not perfect, but it can catch some common issues.
- Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Run the troubleshooter for or Windows Update, Bluetooth, or Network Adapter depending on your issue.
In my experience, this is a quick way to get Windows to check itself without messing around too much.
What might still go wrong?
If, after all this, stuff still isn’t playing nice, maybe it’s worth checking for updates manually or even doing a repair install. Sometimes a bug patch or a new driver fixes the issue. Also, make sure your firmware and graphics drivers are up to date, because those can cause weird display glitches or performance hiccups.
Honestly, Windows 11 can be a pain sometimes, especially with updates and UI quirks. But most problems are fixable with a bit of digging or a quick restart of the explorer process. Just keep an eye on what’s changed after each update—sometimes, bugs sneak in, or settings get reset.
Summary
- Restart Windows Explorer via Task Manager.
- Check and customize taskbar settings.
- Reset or refresh Widgets if they’re acting strange.
- Reset the Start Menu layout carefully.
- Use built-in troubleshooters for hardware or system issues.
Wrap-up
Getting Windows 11 to behave isn’t always straightforward, but most hiccups are just a few tweaks away. Sometimes, a simple explorer restart or messing with taskbar options does the trick. Other times, it’s more involved, like resetting layouts or re-registering apps. In my experience, these approaches cover most of the common problems, and with a little patience, things tend to smooth out. Fingers crossed this helps someone cut through the frustration—and maybe saves a bit of time.