Windows 11 Common Issues and Fixes

It has been a while since Windows 11 was launched in October 2021. We were met with a few surprises aside from the obvious change to the UI design that we’d grown accustomed to with previous Windows versions; there were also a few little nuisances users have reported. We at Channel Tech have also used it (we wrote a review here, in case you missed it), gotten to know its quirks, and listed a few of the more common issues users have experienced over the last couple of years.

While we’re waiting for Windows 12 to release (we hear of a ‘Windows Refresh’ happening in 2024), we’re stuck with 11, and we’re here to help you figure out how to fix issues you may be dealing with.

close up picture of the windows key on a laptop

How To Fix Common Windows 11 Issues

No Audio

If you’re experiencing no sound on your Windows 11 system, there could be a variety of reasons. Here’s a step-by-step troubleshooting guide to help you resolve the issue:

  • First, perform a basic check. Ensure that your speakers or headphones are properly connected and the volume is not muted or set too low. It would also help to use an extra set of speakers or headphones to rule out any hardware issues.
  • Check your Sound settings. Sometimes, the output device selected is not the one you want to use. This can happen particularly for users with multiple audio devices connected to the computer. Make sure the desired speaker is set to default. Check the volume level.
  • If that doesn’t work, try the Troubleshooter. Go to “Settings” > “System” > “Sound”. Click on “Troubleshoot” under the “Troubleshoot” section. This will run the built-in Windows troubleshooter, which can automatically detect and fix some problems with sound.
  • If no problems were found, or if, after running the troubleshooter, the problem persists, check your Device Manager. Right-click on the Start button and select “Device Manager”. Expand the “Sound, video and game controllers” section and look for any devices with a yellow triangle icon indicating a problem. If you see any, right-click on them and select “Update driver” or “Uninstall device”. If you choose to uninstall, restart your PC afterwards, and Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver.

Network Issues

Software conflicts and hardware malfunctions are two of the more common reasons for network issues on Windows 11. There are a few others that you might have encountered, but we’ve listed below some of the things you can do before sending your laptop for repair.

  • As in any other issue, always perform a basic check. For network problems, look at all physical connections, such as your Ethernet cable, Wi-Fi router, modem, etc. They might have become loose or disconnected, causing network connectivity issues. Doing so will isolate any external hardware-related cause.
  • If that looks good, restart your modem and router by unplugging them for 30 seconds and plugging them back in. You can also check if other devices can connect to the network without issues. Or check your Internet Service Provider website for a known network outage in your area.
  • You can also run the Network Troubleshooter to let Windows diagnose and attempt to fix any recognised issues automatically. You can do this by going to “Settings” > “Network & Internet” and then clicking on “Troubleshoot”.
  • Restart the Network Adapter by right-clicking on the network icon in the system tray and selecting “Open Network & Internet settings”. Click on “Change adapter options”, then right-click on your network adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and select “Disable”. Wait a few moments, then right-click again and select “Enable”.
  • Sometimes, outdated drivers could also be causing the issue. Best to check by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting “Device Manager”. Expand the “Network adapters” section, right-click on your network adapter and select “Update driver”. You can search automatically or browse your computer if you have a downloaded driver.
  • Reset your Network settings to default. Go to “Settings” > “Network & Internet” > “Advanced network settings”. Scroll down and click on “Network reset”. This will restore networking components to default settings and might require a restart.
  • Third-party security software can also sometimes block network connections. Consider temporarily disabling the software to see if it resolves the issue. If it does, adjust the software settings or consult its technical support.

network cables

Games Running Slow

Some users have reported games running slow on their Windows 11 computers. There could be a few reasons why this is happening. Follow the steps below to isolate the problem.

  • Check the game’s system requirements. Ensure that your PC meets or exceeds these requirements. If it doesn’t, you may experience lag or suboptimal performance.
  • Ensure that your Windows and Games are updated. Check for pending update installations. Some performance issues go away after installing critical updates.
  • Always check if your Graphics Drivers are updated. Outdated or incorrect graphics drivers can lead to performance issues. Visit the website of your GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest drivers for your specific graphics card.
  • How you’ve set up your in-game settings could also be sabotaging your computer’s performance. Lowering the graphics settings within the game can significantly improve performance. Adjust settings like texture quality, shadows, anti-aliasing, and resolution.
  • Close all your background applications. A lot of programs could be running in the background, most of which could be unnecessary. You can close them via the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
  • Adjust Power Plan to High Performance by going to “Settings” > “System” > “Power & sleep”. Click on “Additional power settings” to open the Power Options. Then, choose the “High performance” power plan.
  • You could also make sure that Windows is optimised for performance. Right-click on “This PC” and choose “Properties”. Click on “Advanced system settings” on the left, then under the “Performance” section, click on “Settings”. Choose “Adjust for best performance” or manually select the options you’re comfortable with. Windows 11 also has a Game Mode designed to improve performance. Go to “Settings” > “Gaming” > “Game Mode” and toggle it on/off to see which setting works best for you.
  • God forbid you have malware. But it can’t hurt to check by running a full system scan using a reliable antivirus or anti-malware software. These programs can help detect and remove any malicious software affecting performance.
  • Perform a Disk Cleanup and Defragmentation. Use the built-in Windows “Disk Cleanup” tool to remove temporary files, system cache, and other unnecessary files that may be causing slowness in performance. Consider defragmenting if you’re using an HDD (and not an SSD). You can use the “Optimise Drives” tool in Windows.
  •  Adjust your Graphics Card settings by following the steps below:
    • For NVIDIA users: Open NVIDIA Control Panel > Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings. Choose the game and adjust settings for optimal performance.
    • For AMD users: Open AMD Radeon Settings > Gaming. Adjust game-specific settings for performance.
  • Is your computer overheating? Overheating can throttle performance. Ensure your PC is adequately ventilated, and consider using monitoring software to check temperatures.
  • Try reinstalling the game. In some cases, game files might be corrupted. Consider reinstalling the game, but make sure you back up any saved game data first.

Contact a Professional

If the problem persists, contact one of our technicians at Channel Tech Support. We resolve and repair Windows 11 issues on your laptop or desktop. 
 
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