HPVWU

Join Date 06/2025

Taskbar icon hover showing wrong app

Hi, recently something changed so that now when I hover over an app icon on the taskbar, the popups are shifted and show the open window previews of the app next to it or two apps down. I'm on Win 11 24H2 and Start 11 is up to date. You can see it in the video link below.

I have tried resetting Start 11, reinstalling it, removing and re-adding the icons and several other things but the problems persist. Any idea what I can do to get this fixed?

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5xvluko1fj2m9htacvl58/IMG_5238.MOV?rlkey=3fj8brulx8z9grdlaaj67oi1q&st=r5m0qnxg&dl=0

Thanks,

Hunter

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Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Please try, uninstall Start11v2, reboot immediately (important), download latest version available in your account product download page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products Please try the Start11v2.52 (Beta) . Install it, reboot immediately again. Retest it and report back.

If the issue still there, please report back with information on these.

Windows 11 24H2 OS Build number. Please use Winver.exe to get this number.
Start11 Enhance taskbar turn on or off?

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

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Thanks for the response. I have done all of that and it is still the same. It does look weird with the icon next to the search icon, like they are overlapping or something.

I was wrong on my Windows version- it is Win 11 Version 23H2, OS Build 22631.5415. I haven't gotten the notice for the 24H2 update yet, probably because I use a fingerprint reader that is on the list of reasons why it is delayed.

I do have Enhanced Taskbar on and have it set to never combine taskbar buttons. It's all still the same as the original problem.

Edit: One thing I will add- there are two icons not on there now that I am having trouble with. I had a one to a folder for quick launcher folder that I can't get to pin back on there and the icon for MusicBee doesn't show up on the taskbar either when the app is open. Maybe they are hidden or stuck in there somewhere so are causing problems?

Thanks,

Hunter

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Need to know which Start11 version you have running now? If it is the latest version V2.52 beta, please try this. Backup your current and than do the Reset setting, reboot and see if the issue still appear after the reset settings. If it is not, restore your old setting, reboot and see if the issue return. Report back.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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Thanks. I am running the beta 2.52.3 and have done all of that, both before the beta version and after installing it. Nothing I have done has made any difference- it just comes back with the problem. The only thing I haven't done is go far enough back to a backup that should be before the problem started so I can try that and do all of this again to make sure. I don't think I deleted the settings when I uninstalled it though so may try that too.

Thanks,

Hunter

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Yes, nothing will fix it now, not even restoring the good config. I guess I'll reinstall again to see if I can get it to stay working correctly.

Damn, something happened while I was writing the reply below and it went right back to the problems. I didn't change anything from the good original so not sure what's up.

So I wiped, rebooted and reinstalled the beta again this morning. It was fine until I loaded a previous backup- the problem came right back on restoration so that's where the problem is. I had saved the original good config this morning before I restored the backup and was able to restore it and it seems to be working ok. I just have to figure out all of my custom settings and get it set up again.

Thanks,

Hunter

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Yes, we do have few reports that the settings are causing issue. Reset the setting and rebuilding it is a good steps to follow. Also, do a good backup to ensure something to fallback to if it happen again in the future.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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That's exactly what I have done but that is not working now either. It goes back to the problems no matter what I do and even restoring the good one doesn't stay working either.

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Please try cleanboot: https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1334935592/Start11+Clean+Boot. Try it and report back.

Note Cleanboot need to be done with some care on the steps.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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Ok, I set up a separate account that is local and not on our domain and Start 11 as it was already installed works fine without doing a clean boot or anything else. Is the batch file something that collects the config data? I'll have to run that later when I have time.

Thanks,

Hunter

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A question- I'm running this on a Samsung G9 57" monitor with a custom display scale setting of 110% so could that be affecting it? I have my text size set at 110 also so thought that might be throwing things off. Start 11 used to work fine at those settings though until recently.

I ran the batch file in my other login and it didn't change- it already worked so said that it was already running. I'm not sure what else to do since I didn't even need a clean boot to get it to work.

Thanks,

Hunter

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I saw the posts in https://forums.stardock.com/536081/is-start11-no-longer-being-supported-or-will-problem-with-taskbar-icons-get so tried disabling the Start 11 taskbar enhancement and it works ok now when that setting is off. Enabling it again causes the same problems and disabling it fixed it again so looks like it's something in there.

Thanks,

Hunter

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I believe that OP is on Start11v1 which might not the same as your issue, since you on Start11v2. If you wish to carry on by disabling Enhance taskbar without poking further into it. It is up to you.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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I realize that but the same thing worked for me. I would definitely like to get Start 11 working to it's full potential but needed a quicker fix right now so it was functional. What can I do next to figure this out?

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Perhaps to upgrade your Windows 11 to Windows 11 v24H2 OS Build 26100.4351 Ref: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/june-11-2025-kb5063060-os-build-26100-4351-out-of-band-b1746442-8c6c-425d-ac5a-3a8f51e372f3.

I suggest this to make sure you are at the same OS version level as general user out there.

Also checking your system by using sfc /scannow and DISM.

Please try the following:

-For Win8/10/11 Users: Open the Start Screen, and type 'cmd'. Right-click on the search result and select 'Run as administrator' from below.

-Type: sfc /scannow

-Wait for the scan to complete (this can take several minutes)

Some help on how this looks should you need it:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/929833/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system

If the SFC finds errors, but cannot fix them, please also run the following command in the same command prompt window:

dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Some help on how this looks should you need it:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-dism-command-line-utility-repair-windows-10-image

The above command should assist with replacing any damaged or problematic system files. Please note, however, since it may require restoring certain files, this process can take some time and you will need to be patient until it has completed.

Try those and report back.

Also, there is a newer version released. Start11v2.53 beta, please try this version. https://forums.stardock.com/536645/. Remember to reboot immediately after the installation done.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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Thanks. The beta didn't change anything though. I believe that I am not updated to 24H2 due to the problems with Nvidia display drivers with high resolution large monitors. I need to research that more to see what other options there are but this is my work pc so can't spend a lot of time troubleshooting if the update kills it.

Thanks,

Hunter

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Hello,
I have forwarded your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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Thank you. It worked fine until the last couple of months.

Hunter

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I just did another uninstall and reinstall because this is cutting my productivity when not working correctly and found that it works correctly after the reinstall if my start button is left aligned but the problems come back when I change it to center aligned. I didn't restore settings, I just am setting it up again from scratch. I can't use left aligned on my 57" widescreen but that's the only way it works. It also works correctly if I set the start button to left aligned but with center aligned taskbar buttons, but not if I move the start button to center too.

I'm going to have to find another solution if we can't get this solved soon because I can't function when I have a bunch of emails open in outlook or multiple windows with many apps.

Thanks,

Hunter

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You mentioned you did not do the Cleanboot steps fully. Perhaps you should try it and see if there is conflicting application that is blocking Start11 from working correctly in your system.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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I'm concerned about screwing up my work computer doing some of the steps for your clean boot and troubleshooting but I'm not clear how to do some of it either. I made another account that wasn't on our domain server and Start 11 worked fine no matter what I did. I ran the bat files on both accounts but am not sure what I'm trying to do or what the result is and how I go from there. Is it just to see if it works by loading it with the bat file?

Is there a more direct support approach that I can do? I really need to get this working so I can be more productive.

Thanks,

Hunter

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Hello,
I have forwarded your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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sdRohan

Join Date 10/2012

+727

Are you using any other multi-monitor software like DisplayFusion? If so, and you disable it, does it then work as expected?

If you set your scaling to default, restart Windows Explorer

Does it then function as expected?

If you have your scaling to any factor, does restarting Windows Explorer ever resolve it?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

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Thanks- it was the display scaling and it works ok when set to 100 or 125 instead of the 110 I had it set on. I have had it at the same scale for a long time though and Start11 worked fine until a month or two ago so not sure what changed.

I do run DisplayFusion too but had disabled it and rebooted but it didn't make a difference. I only have one monitor though due to the 57" and just used some of the other features on it but not taskbar changes.

Is there a hope that an odd display scale may work in a later version or am I stuck with mine either too small or too big?

Thanks,

Hunter

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sdRohan

Join Date 10/2012

+727

Quoting HPVWU,

reply 23

I do run DisplayFusion too but had disabled it and rebooted but it didn't make a difference. I only have one monitor though due to the 57" and just used some of the other features on it but not taskbar changes.

What 'other features'? If you disable them, does it work as expected?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

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Thanks Sean but while I was troubleshooting early on, I shut DisplayFusion completely down and stopped the services after a reboot but S11 was still having the same problem so it didn't look like it was having any effect. I was running both just fine before my problems started too. S11 is still working ok on the 100% display scaling with DisplayFusion running too. I might try to change the display scaling back to see if it works when the next final release version is done just to see if it still has the problem for reference but it's working on now, it's just that the display scale is smaller than I would prefer so I wished it worked like before.

Thanks,

Hunter

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