Like all previous iterations of Microsoft’s venerable OS, Windows 11 has its own set of recurring issues. While some are a trivial problem, others can make the experience very frustrating.
In any case, some problems are more common than others. Apart from Windows 11 system requirement issues, you may face audio, network connectivity, battery, display and other problems.
Here we have put together a list of common Windows 11 problems and how to fix them so that you can have the best experience using the best Windows OS version ever.
1. Unable to upgrade from Windows 10 to 11
Along with the much-anticipated design overhaul, Windows 11 has also tightened up on security requirements. When the OS was initially released, many old-gen but capable systems were left out of the upgrade queue.
At a minimum, installing Windows 11 requires TMP 2.0 and a Secure Boot-compatible device. You can check out the full list of Windows 11 system requirements here. If not, you’re unlikely to be able to upgrade easily.
That said, there is always a workaround when it comes to computers running the Windows OS. You can use a registry tweak to make an unsupported Windows 11 PC compatible. But there is a catch. Installing Windows 11 on an incompatible PC may make you ineligible for automatic updates. So, proceed with caution, as Windows 10 will continue to receive security updates until the end of 2025.
2. Unable to Install Windows 11 Feature Updates
Even on Windows 11-compatible systems, you may run into the problem of Windows being unable to install updates. This will prevent you from successfully installing the new build version of Windows 11 OS.
Corrupted software distribution folders and insufficient storage space may cause the update problem. See our guide on how to fix Windows 11 Version 22H2 update not installing for more details.
3. No sound issues in Windows 11
Sound problems in Windows 11 are largely caused by external factors. At times, you may also experience low audio on your Windows 11 PC. Audio problems are often caused by misconfiguration of playback devices.
If you have installed an audio tuning utility, make sure it is properly configured to use your default sound device. Additionally, try restarting the Windows Audio services and running the Windows Audio Troubleshooter to fix any problems.
In case of Bluetooth audio issues, explore our guide to fix Bluetooth audio not working on Windows 11.
4. Windows 11 Start Menu not working
With Windows 11, the default alignment of the Start menu is moved to the center of your screen. This makes sense aesthetically and practically for most users. And for the most part, it feels newer and sleeker than its predecessor.
However, if you prefer the classic left-side alignment, you can customize the Start Menu in Windows 11 to put it back where it belongs.
That said, the Start menu is still prone to some glitches. A common problem involves missing Start menu icons. Then you may also face the Start menu critical error. These problems are often triggered due to temporary conflicts with Start menu services and third-party software that can be resolved quickly.
5. File Explorer not working on Windows 11
File Explorer has been around since Windows 95. It is an extremely handy file manager application that makes it easy to access your file folders on your PC. With Windows 11, Microsoft has made the venerable File Manager even better.
With the latest 22H2 update, you can multitask with Windows 11 File Explorer with multiple tabs. You can further customize File Explorer to change folder and file icons and more.
If not, check out more ways to fix File Explorer won’t open on Windows.
6. Fixing Windows 11 Slow Performance
Officially, Windows 11 requires 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage to install the OS. But in a real situation, you would need at least 8GB of RAM and preferably a 128GB SSD boot drive for smooth day-to-day operations.
Sometimes performance issues can affect even high-end computers running Windows 11. Check out these best tips for speeding up a Windows computer to improve your system performance.
If the performance issue comes from slow startup, be sure to disable unnecessary startup apps in Task Manager.