Windows 11 Problems, Issues with Solutions, and Fixes [2025 Complete Guide]

Introduction

Windows 11 has been one of the most anticipated operating system releases by Microsoft. It comes with a refreshing user interface, new productivity tools, gaming improvements, enhanced security features, and better integration with Microsoft services. From the redesigned Start Menu and centered Taskbar to Widgets and Snap Layouts, Windows 11 aims to deliver a modern, polished computing experience.

However, with every major Windows upgrade, problems are inevitable. Since its release, many users have reported a variety of issues ranging from performance slowdowns and driver incompatibility to problems with updates, activation, networking, and hardware support. While Microsoft continues to roll out patches and improvements, many common Windows 11 problems and issues still persist in 2025.

This article is a complete troubleshooting guide that explains the most common Windows 11 problems and provides step-by-step fixes for each of them. Whether you’re struggling with activation errors, Wi-Fi not working, high CPU usage, or battery drain, you’ll find practical solutions here.

👉 For official updates and troubleshooting, always refer to Microsoft Support.

Common Windows 11 Problems and Their Fixes

Below we list the 15 most common Windows 11 problems, explain why they happen, and provide detailed solutions.

1. This PC doesn’t currently meet Windows 11 system requirements.

The Problem:
When you try to upgrade to Windows 11 using the PC Health Check Tool, you may see the message:
“This PC doesn’t currently meet Windows 11 system requirements.”

This happens mainly because Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) and Secure Boot, which older hardware often lacks.

The Fix:

1. Restart your PC and enter BIOS/UEFI (usually by pressing F2, F10, or DEL at startup).
2. Enable TPM (it may also be called “PTT” on Intel systems or “fTPM” on AMD).
3. Enable Secure Boot.
4. Save changes and restart.
5. Run PC Health Check again.

💡 If your system is older and doesn’t support TPM 2.0, you can still bypass the requirement using Registry hacks or by replacing installation files during setup.

2. Windows 11 Unable to Activate

The Problem:
After upgrading from Windows 10, some users notice their Windows 11 installation is not activated, showing error codes like 0xC004F213 or 0xC004F034.

The Fix:

1. Go to Settings > System > Activation.
2. Click on Troubleshoot if you see an error.
3. If you had a digital license linked to your Microsoft account, sign in again to sync it.
4. If activation still fails, re-enter your Windows 10/11 product key.

👉 Official guide: Microsoft Activation Support.

3. Unable to Drag and Drop Items to the Taskbar

The Problem:
Microsoft redesigned the Windows 11 Taskbar, but unfortunately, it removed the ability to drag and drop files, shortcuts, and apps directly onto it.

The Fix:

• Install a free tool called Windows11DragAndDropToTaskbarFix from GitHub.
• Alternatively, use the Pin to Taskbar option by right-clicking on apps.

4. Blank Widgets Panel

The Problem:
Windows 11 introduced Widgets (weather, news, calendar), but sometimes they load as blank or don’t update.

The Fix:

1. Make sure you’re signed into your Microsoft Account.
2. Enable Widgets in Taskbar settings.
3. Restart Windows Explorer from Task Manager.
4. Update Windows 11 to the latest build.

5. Unable to Download Apps from Microsoft Store

The Problem:
Apps won’t download or update, showing the error “Something happened and this app couldn’t be installed.”

The Fix:

1. Press Win + R, type wsreset.exe, and press Enter.
2. Check your date & time settings.
3. Sign in again with your Microsoft account.
4. If the issue persists, reinstall the Store with PowerShell:

Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

6. Slow Internet or Wi-Fi Not Working

The Problem:
Wi-Fi disconnects frequently, 5GHz doesn’t work, or browsing is much slower compared to other devices.

The Fix:

1. Update Wi-Fi drivers from Device Manager.
2. Run Network Troubleshooter (Settings > Network & Internet > Troubleshoot).
3. Reset the network stack using Command Prompt (Admin):

• netsh winsock reset
• ipconfig /flushdns

Read More.

7. Windows 11 Slow Boot Time

The Problem:
Windows 11 takes too long to boot up.

The Fix:

1. Disable unnecessary startup programs:
   • Open Task Manager > Startup apps.
   • Disable apps with “High” impact.
2. Enable Fast Startup:
   • Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what power buttons do.
   • Check “Turn on fast startup.”
3. Consider upgrading to an SSD if you use an HDD.

8. Printer Not Working or Printing Slowly

The Problem:
Printers may stop responding, print very slowly, or fail to print in color.

The Fix:

1. Update or reinstall printer drivers.
2. Restart Print Spooler Service:
   • Press Win + R, type services.msc, and  restart “Print Spooler.”
3. Hard reset your printer.
4. Check default printer settings.

9. Windows 11 Battery Draining Fast

The Problem:
Laptop battery drains faster than on Windows 10.

The Fix:

1. Enable Battery Saver Mode.
2. Check Battery Usage by App in Settings.
3. Disable background apps.
4. Reduce display brightness and disable animations.

10. Unable to Change Default Browser

The Problem:
Microsoft made it harder to change the default browser in Windows 11.

The Fix:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps.
2. Select your browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.).
3. Change the default for each file type (.html, .htm, .pdf).

11. High CPU and Memory Usage

The Problem:
Task Manager shows 100% CPU, memory, or disk usage.

The Fix:

1. Identify heavy apps in Task Manager.
2. Run Check Disk:
3. chkdsk /f
4. Disable the SysMain (Superfetch) service.
5. Scan for malware.

12. Slow File Explorer

The Problem:
File Explorer in Windows 11 opens slowly or crashes.

The Fix:

1. Open Folder Options > Clear File Explorer History.
2. Disable “Show recently used files in Quick Access.”
3. Revert to classic File Explorer via registry tweak.

13. Too Much Bloatware

The Problem:
Windows 11 ships with pre-installed apps like Netflix, Spotify, Xbox, and TikTok.

The Fix:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps and uninstall what you don’t need.
2. Use PowerShell to remove in bulk:

Get-AppxPackage *spotify* | Remove-AppxPackage

📸 Image Placement: Screenshot of Apps list.

14. Blank/Black Screen

The Problem:
Users encounter a black screen after installation or updates.

The Fix:

1. Disconnect external devices.
2. Boot into Safe Mode.
3. Update graphics drivers.
4. Run Startup Repair.

📸 Image Placement: Black screen issue image.

15. Windows 11 Slow Performance Overall

The Problem:
Some users feel Windows 11 is slower than Windows 10.

The Fix:

1. Disable visual effects:
   • Right-click Start > System > Advanced system settings > Performance > Adjust for best performance.
2. Remove unnecessary background apps.
3. Enable High Performance power mode.
4. Keep Windows updated.

📸 Image Placement: Performance Options dialog screenshot.

Advanced Troubleshooting for Windows 11

If the above fixes don’t solve your issues, try these advanced methods:

1. System Restore—roll back to a previous state.
2. Reset This PC—reinstall Windows without losing files.
3. Event Viewer—check logs for detailed errors.
4. Check for Updates—Microsoft frequently patches known issues.

FAQs

Q1: Is Windows 11 stable now?
Yes, Windows 11 is stable for most users, but older PCs and unsupported hardware face more issues.

Q2: Can I install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware?
Yes, but you may miss security updates in the future.

Q3: How to downgrade back to Windows 10?
Go to Settings > System > Recovery > Go back (within 10 days of upgrade).

Q4: Why is Windows 11 slower than Windows 10?
Because of higher hardware demands, background services, and new animations.

Q5: How often does Microsoft release bug fixes?
Microsoft releases monthly Patch Tuesday updates and optional updates in between.

Conclusion

Windows 11 is modern, powerful, and secure, but it is still evolving. From activation errors to Wi-Fi issues, slow boot times, and battery drain, many users face common problems. The good news is that most of these issues can be fixed using simple troubleshooting steps like updating drivers, tweaking settings, or running built-in tools.

Microsoft continues to release updates to improve stability and fix bugs. For official troubleshooting, visit Microsoft Windows 11 Support.

If your PC continues to face critical issues, consider resetting Windows or rolling back to Windows 10 until more stable updates are released.