Windows 11: Common Errors and How to fix it!

1. Internet Slow After Upgrading

Several reported that their internet connection has slowed after upgrading to Windows 11. It seems that online activities, using VPNs, and general web browsing are noticeably sluggish.

Fortunately, this issue commonly happens due to the wrong configuration before updating on our machine, or incompatible network driver.

We can do many ways to fix this, we might improve it quickly by using an external USB Wi-Fi dongle. Otherwise, we’ll need some extra modifications on our setting and hope the problem can be solved.

Diagnose: Right-click the network icon on the right side of the taskbar and select Diagnose network problems or open Get Help for Network & Internet.

Make sure Wi‑Fi is turned on: Select the No Internet icon on the right side of the taskbar, and make sure Wi-Fi is turned on. If it isn’t, select it to turn it on. Also, make sure the Airplane mode is turned off.

Forget network: Select Manage Wi-Fi Connections (>) on the Wi-Fi quick setting, and see if a Wi-Fi network you recognize and trust appears in the list of networks. If it does, select the Wi-Fi network, and then try to connect to it. If it says Connected underneath the network name, select Disconnect, wait a moment, and then select Connect again.

Frequency band setting: Wi-Fi routers broadcast at two different network frequency bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. These will appear as separate networks in the list of available Wi-Fi networks. Check out Wi-Fi problems and your home layout and choose the correct network band.

Physical switch: Make sure the physical Wi‑Fi switch on your laptop is turned on. (An indicator light usually shows when it’s on).

DNS Settings: Make sure to turn off all the VPN networks and try using the recommended IPv4/ IPv6 on DNS settings (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4).

Reset method: If the problem still happening, try to restart the network driver: go to Device Manager > Network Adapter > choose your network card’s driver and then Disable Device > then Enable Device. We can also try to restart the modem and wireless router to see if the problem was solved. 

2. Can’t Search in the Start Menu

Many users have complained that they are unable to type in the search bar of Windows 11’s Start Menu. While there are alternative ways to search in Windows 11, it’s inconvenient for those accustomed to this feature.

Microsoft has acknowledged this issue and suggested that opening and closing the Run dialog (Win + R) might allow you to use the search bar. Although this workaround functions, it’s not a long-term solution. We’ll need to wait for a proper fix in a future update.

3. File Explorer Still Looks Like Windows 10

Despite upgrading to Windows 11, File Explorer still resembles its Windows 10 version. Fortunately, there’s a simple fix:

1. On the File Explorer taskbar, select ‘View’.
2. Choose ‘Options’ from the far right and go to the ‘Views’ mode.
3. Find the option ‘Launch folder windows in a separate process’. Ensure the checkbox next to it is unchecked.
4. ‘Apply’ the changes. File Explorer will restart.

After restarting, File Explorer should have a redesigned layout suitable for Windows 11.

4. Widgets Panel is Empty

The Widgets panel, a new feature in Windows 11 that provides quick access to information like news and calendar events, might appear empty for some users.

To fix this issue, click the icon at the top right of the Widgets panel and then select ‘Sign out’. Sign back in, and the Widgets should reappear.

Widgets in Windows 11 provide updates like weather and news. If they’re not showing, ensure you’re logged into your Microsoft account. If the icon isn’t visible on the taskbar, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Taskbar.
2. Select Taskbar Settings.
3. In Taskbar Items, toggle the Widgets switch on.

5. Memory Issues Slowing Down the OS

Some users have reported that closing File Explorer might cause some remaining allocations in RAM, potentially causing memory issues and slowing down the system. Microsoft has yet to confirm this issue, but here’s a workaround:

1. Restart File Explorer via Task Manager: Find Windows Explorer, select it, and click ‘Restart’.
2. Alternatively, restart your PC.
3. In Task Manager, you can also monitor File Explorer’s memory usage.

6. Start Menu Not Responding

If the Start Menu isn’t working after upgrading to Windows 11, try restarting your PC. Press Windows + D to go to the desktop, then Alt + F4 to open the Shut Down dialog. Select ‘Restart’ and click ‘OK’.

If the Start Menu still doesn’t respond after restarting, you may need to use the DISM and SFC tools:

1. Press Windows Key + R, type “cmd”, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt as admin.
2. In the Command Prompt, type: “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” to remove corrupted files from the upgrade. This might take some time.
3. After completing, type: “sfc /scannow” to check all files for correctness.
4. Press Enter, and the tool will scan for issues.

✨Creating a new user account might resolve the problem if this doesn’t work.

7. Lag and Stuttering After Update

This is a common issue after updating to Windows 11. This could be due to hardware incompatibility. Ensure your PC meets the minimum requirements:

• Intel 8th generation or AMD 3rd generation CPU or newer
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB SSD
• TPM 2.0 chip (if your PC lacks this, you can still install Windows 11 but with limited features)

These are the hardware requirements that your machine should have to run Windows 11 because of its huge functionality with the new version. If we didn’t meet the requirements, we should downgrade our OS version or try to build another suitable device.

If your hardware meets these requirements but you are still experiencing issues, try resetting your PC as a last resort.

8. Hardware Problems with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Audio

If updating to Windows 11 causes issues with hardware like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or audio, try updating your drivers:

1. Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.
2. Go to Bluetooth (or Wi-Fi, depending on the issue).
3. Click Properties -> Driver -> Update Driver. Choose to let the system find the driver or update manually.

For manual updates, visit the support page of your PC’s manufacturer, download the necessary drivers, and install them.

In some cases, trying to Disable > then Enable the specific driver again could solve the problem if you don’t want to update the driver

9. External Display Only 30Hz

If your external display has poor quality or a low refresh rate of 30Hz, it might indicate a problem with your monitor setting, but sometimes, it might be the wrong configuration in your OS.

Check your hub if your laptop only has USB-C ports. If everything seems correct, verify and update the drivers for all connection ports (HDMI, DisplayPort).

If the issue persists, manually adjust the refresh rate:

1. Go to Settings -> System -> Display -> Advanced Display.
2. Select the external display and adjust the refresh rate to the highest setting.

Note: Please make sure your monitor supports the target refresh rate, using a compatible cable, and compatible input/output port in your machine as well

10. Battery Only Charges to 80%

If your battery only charges up to 80% after upgrading to Windows 11, it’s usually related to battery management software rather than the OS itself.

Some brands have smart charging modes to extend battery life, like ASUS’s MyASUS or LG’s LG Control Center. Adjust these settings in the utility software to resolve the issue.