When I first encountered the issue of Windows 11 freezing while Alt-Tabbing from games, it was incredibly frustrating. It seemed like no matter what game I was playing or how many times I tried Alt-Tabbing, the system would freeze and become unresponsive. After researching extensively and trying various fixes, I finally managed to resolve the problem. Here’s a detailed guide on how I tackled this issue, and hopefully, it will help you if you’re facing the same problem.Initially, I started by understanding the nature of the problem. It wasn’t just a one-time occurrence; the freeze issue happened consistently whenever I tried to switch between applications during a game. This led me to believe that it wasn’t necessarily related to the games themselves but rather to the way Windows 11 handled these transitions.The first step I took was to check for any updates for Windows 11. I went to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and made sure that my system was running the latest version. Sometimes, these kinds of issues are resolved in newer updates, and I found that updating my system did indeed fix some of the performance issues, though it didn’t completely resolve the Alt-Tab freezing problem.Next, I delved into the graphics drivers. Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can often cause freezing issues. I visited the websites of my GPU manufacturer—NVIDIA and AMD—to download the latest drivers. After installing these, I noticed some improvement. I also used the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to completely remove the old drivers before reinstalling the new ones. This ensured that no remnants of the previous drivers were causing conflicts.Another potential solution that I explored was adjusting the game’s settings. Sometimes, games running in full-screen mode can cause issues when Alt-Tabbing. I tried changing the game’s display mode to borderless windowed or windowed mode, which can sometimes mitigate the freezing problem. In most cases, this adjustment did improve the situation, as it reduced the strain on the system when switching between tasks.I also took a closer look at the system’s performance settings. I went to Settings > System > Performance Options and made sure that the system was set for best performance. This included disabling unnecessary visual effects and ensuring that the system’s resources were optimized for performance rather than aesthetics. This tweak did help to some extent by reducing the load on the system during Alt-Tab transitions.Another important aspect I considered was background applications. Sometimes, other applications running in the background can interfere with game performance. I opened the Task Manager and closed any non-essential applications and processes before launching my games. This step made sure that there were fewer processes competing for system resources, which likely contributed to smoother transitions when Alt-Tabbing.Furthermore, I investigated any potential conflicts with third-party software. Some applications, especially those that run in the background or have overlays, can cause compatibility issues with games. I temporarily disabled or uninstalled software like Discord, MSI Afterburner, and other overlay programs to see if they were contributing to the freeze issue. Disabling these applications often resulted in fewer freezes and smoother performance.I also made sure that my system’s hardware was functioning correctly. Overheating or hardware malfunctions can sometimes cause system instability. I monitored my CPU and GPU temperatures using hardware monitoring tools to ensure they were within safe operating ranges. Additionally, I ran a memory diagnostic to check for any issues with the RAM. Ensuring that the hardware was in good condition helped to rule out physical problems as a cause of the freezes.Lastly, I looked into advanced system settings and configurations. I adjusted the virtual memory settings, increasing the page file size to give the system more virtual memory to work with. This adjustment can help alleviate issues related to memory management, which might be contributing to the freezing problem.By combining these steps, I was able to resolve the Windows 11 freeze issue when Alt-Tabbing from games. The ultimate solution was a combination of updating drivers, adjusting settings, managing background applications, and ensuring the system’s overall health. I hope this guide helps others facing similar issues, as it took some trial and error to pinpoint the exact cause and find a solution that worked.
Fix: Windows 11 ‘Freeze Issue’ When Alt-Tabbing From Any Game [Guide]
