Solved Very Minor Desktop Icon issue

Zinoviev · May 3, 2023

gela99 said:
I've noticed this happens a lot when Windows Web Experience Pack is getting location. As soon as location is found, the screen unlocks. Just an observation.

WIndows web experience pack is tied to widgets right? I've been opening the widgets panel to make the icons usable. As soon as it loads the tiles the icons are usable.
Takes longer if i don't open it.

OAT · May 3, 2023

Zinoviev said:
WIndows web experience pack is tied to widgets right? I've been opening the widgets panel to make the icons usable. As soon as it loads the tiles the icons are usable.
Takes longer if i don't open it.

Yes, it seems that way, doesn't it? I don't think they've worked out the kinks yet.
If you add PhoneLink and/or Messenger to the widgets, it gets worse as more delay incurs.

spapakons · May 3, 2023

What if you disable location?

Zinoviev · May 3, 2023

spapakons said:
What if you disable location?

I have it allready disabled

marodor50 · May 3, 2023

It looks like a ghost window. It happens in the same place where the Widgets window normally appears

Zinoviev · May 3, 2023

marodor50 said:
It looks like a ghost window. It happens in the same place where the Widgets window normally appears

Yea that's what i noticed too. It's just the widget area that is the issue. Outside of it everything works fine.

spapakons · May 3, 2023

Can you disable widgets? If you use a local account instead of a Microsoft Account widgets don't work. You can use alternative applications, such good old Gadgets from Windows 7. Install 8gadgetpack.

marodor50 · May 3, 2023

spapakons said:
Can you disable widgets? If you use a local account instead of a Microsoft Account widgets don't work

I'm on a local account , the Widgets still work

Zinoviev · May 4, 2023

I haven't been able to disable widgets either. Local account or not.

spapakons · May 4, 2023

Haven't you used your Microsoft Account to use the widgets? Try logging off from their settings.

marodor50 · May 4, 2023

2 PCs on windows 11.Laptop microsoft account and desktop on local.They have the same problems with the icons on the left side of screen.
This problem started in early February

spapakons · May 4, 2023

If you were asked for a Microsoft Account to enable widgets, try logging off and the issue might resolve. I use my Microsoft account strictly for keeping the score in Windows store games, such as Microsoft Mahjong. I simply use my account on another computer to sync my progress. Nothing else. Not even in Office.

marodor50 · May 6, 2023

gela99 said:
I've noticed this happens a lot when Windows Web Experience Pack is getting location. As soon as location is found, the screen unlocks. Just an observation.

I just noticed that too. Definitely it's a problem related to widgets when it updates the location ,the left part of the screen no longer works. The place where Widgets normally appear

spapakons · May 6, 2023

In that case, why let location to auto? Isn't there any way to manually set the location so it gets it instantly without the delay?

gela99 · May 6, 2023

I disabled it and still have the issue...

spapakons · May 6, 2023

I was talking about globally set the location to manual so any application trying to get the current location doesn't take much time.

marodor50 · May 6, 2023

spapakons said:
I was talking about globally set the location to manual so any application trying to get the current location doesn't take much time.

Already done, look at this site. All have already been tried,Setting up the Default Location in Windows 11

How to set and configure Location Services in Windows 11:

https://www.digitalcitizen.life/location-services-windows-11/

duckworth · May 10, 2023

So I was able to confirm this is related to Widgets. I was able to use Process Explorer to find the process of what was blocking the desktop icons. This is the process that was identified:

FYI, I have Widgets taskbar disabled in settings.

marodor50 · May 13, 2023

Completely uninstalling the Widgets feature of W11 is the only solution I have found. No more problems with the icons
I don't care about widgets

How to completely uninstall Widgets feature on Windows 11 - Pureinfotech

To remove Widgets completely on Windows 11, open PowerShell (admin) and run the "Get-AppxPackage *WebExperience* | Remove-AppxPackage"

pureinfotech.com

SYAK90 · May 22, 2023

Hello guys my name is Walter and I just joined this community, I was having this exact same issue, I try to find a solution online but there was none, so I read almost all the post in this thread, and this one:

duckworth said:
So I was able to confirm this is related to Widgets. I was able to use Process Explorer to find the process of what was blocking the desktop icons. This is the process that was identified:

View attachment 59874

FYI, I have Widgets taskbar disabled in settings.

Give me an idea to fix it (which I did), I use Ccleaner since 2009 and I don't have any problems with it, so I tried to uninstall the Microsoft Edge WebView2 with Ccleaner but it wasn't possible, then as I saw that is releated with Edge, I tried to uninstall Edge first with the same result, so I was trying to find online some way to uninstall WebView2 and even with the commands wasn't possible, then I found a youtube video to how to uninstall Edge completely, here is the video:

At the beginning I wasn't sure to use that program (RevoUninstaller) on my PC or even install it at all, but then I said... "F*ck it, if my system dies, I just reinstall Windows 11 and forget about this annoying issue until MS fix it", well I downloaded the portable version and followed the steps on the video, first I uninstall Edge and before I restart the system I repeat the process uninstalling the WebView2, then followed the steps as the video indicates, after that I restart my PC one more time and leave it on idle to about 40 mins to check if the issue was fixed or not and voila there was no problem at all. Today I tested it again but leaving my PC on idle more time, I turned on my PC at 10am and leave it on idle, go out and go back to my house at 2pm (4 hours), check if I can click or open any icon on my desk and everthing work normal, no more 5 seconds of waiting to work.

So for me that was the way to fix this problem, I don't use Edge at all so I deleted completely because as I see it both (Edge and WebView2) are releated so if I leave Edge is possible that in a future minor update, Edge restore the WebView2 and the problem come back.
You can try it and check if work for you, RevoUninstaller give the option to create a restore point before uninstall anything, I din't use tha option because if something went wrong I was planning to reinstall Windows 11 agian.

PS: If you can't see Edge in the list of RevoUninstaller, go to options and enable "show system components"