Getting around Windows 11 isn’t too bad once you get the hang of what’s new, but some stuff can be oddly tucked away or not that obvious at first. If you’re hitting snags, especially with features not working right or options missing, there’s often a quick fix or a hidden trick to make things smoother. This isn’t about fluff; it’s about turning those confusing, frustrating moments into minor bumps on the way to a more efficient setup. From tweaking settings to troubleshooting weird UI quirks, these tips should help make your Windows 11 experience a little less headache-inducing.
How to Fix Common Windows 11 Snags
Fix 1: Reset the Start Menu if It’s Acting Up
Sometimes, the Start menu can get sluggish or just refuse to open properly. This is usually because some system files or app shortcuts are corrupted. Running a quick reset can usually clear that up. It’s kind of weird, but you can do this via PowerShell.
- Right-click the Start button and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
- Type the following command and hit Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft. Windows. StartMenu | Remove-AppXPackage - Once it finishes, reboot the PC.
This resets the Start menu components, and in my experience, it often just fixes weird bugs or missing icons. It’s not always perfect on the first try, but sometimes a reboot after running it is all it takes. Just keep in mind, this might temporarily mess with some pinned apps, so you’ll need to pin them again later.
Fix 2: Tweak Snap Layouts and Desktop Behavior
If Snap Layouts are acting flaky or shortcuts aren’t working like they should, it helps to confirm that the feature is enabled in Settings. Also, sometimes Windows gets confused after updates.
- Open Settings from the Start menu or press Win + I.
- Go to System > Multitasking.
- Make sure Snap windows is toggled on. Also, check if options like When I snap a window, automatically size it to fill available space are enabled.
If you still can’t invoke Snap by hovering over the maximize button, try resetting the app preferences via PowerShell:
- Open PowerShell (Admin) again.
- Run:
Get-AppXPackage *Windows. Client. CBS* | Remove-AppXPackage - Reboot and see if the Snap feature behaves better.
This isn’t guaranteed, but on some setups, it clears out lingering corrupted configs that hold snap functionality hostage.
Fix 3: Refresh Widgets if They’re Not Updating
If your Widgets aren’t showing fresh info, it’s probably due to cache issues or background processes hanging. The easiest fix—restart the widget process manually.
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc or right-click taskbar > Task Manager).
- Look for Microsoft Windows Widgets in the list.
- Right-click it and select End task.
- Open the start menu, type Widgets, and launch it again.
On one setup it worked the first time, on another I had to do this a couple of times. No idea why, but it’s usually a quick fix for unresponsive or outdated widgets.
Fix 4: Make Sure Your System is Fully Up to Date
This sounds obvious, but Windows updates often fix bugs or compatibility issues that cause UI parts to misbehave. Double-check for updates.
- Open Settings > Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates. If any are available, install them and reboot.
Sometimes features like Snap, Widgets, or even the Start menu get tweaked in updates, so staying current is a good idea anyway. Just make sure you haven’t paused updates or blocked certain patches, which can cause weird glitches in newer builds.
Honestly, Windows 11 sometimes feels like it’s just testing your patience, but most issues are fixable with some combination of settings adjustments, command-line tricks, or updates. Not sure why it works, but these steps helped clear up a handful of annoying bugs in my own installs over time. Just keep poking around, and don’t be shy about running a quick system scan or reset if needed. Fingers crossed this helps someone avoid the endless click-and-hope routine.
Summary
- Reset start menu with PowerShell if icons are missing or it’s unresponsive.
- Check and tweak Snap settings in System > Multitasking.
- Restart Widgets process if info isn’t updating.
- Keep Windows updated—often fixes more than you’d expect.
Wrap-up
In the end, Windows 11’s quirks can be frustrating, but most of them are fixable without a full reinstall. It’s a mix of hunting down small settings and sometimes running simple commands—nothing too crazy, but definitely not always obvious. If one fix doesn’t do the trick, try another. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone.