Visual bug when opening windows on home PC driving me crazy.

AgathePower · Mar 12, 2026

Yeah, this is occasional and unpredictable. That's probably why Microsoft hasn't seen or fixed it since 2022.
On multiple monitors, I can see rectangular outline flashing on left monitor when I open a window/dialog box on right monitor. It is painted at coordinates (0,0).

When all animations/shadows effects are enable, the outline is a clearly visible empty drop shadow.

spapakons · Mar 12, 2026

What if you disable all visual effects? Transparency, fades, animations, everything fancy except the mouse course and icon shadows? Does the "ghost" still appears? To disable them go to Settings, Accessibility, Visual Effects and also Settings, System, About, click on Advanced System Settings and go at the Performance tab.

PS: The word "ghost" reminded me of the visual trail of old green monochrome monitors due to slow phosphor decay. Every movement in the game left a visual trail for about a second or less. Much like when you enable mouse trail in Windows, but imagine that everywhere, in the text, in the game character, everything that moves on the screen. Quite annoying and confusing some times.

AgathePower · Mar 12, 2026

spapakons said:
What if you disable all visual effects? Transparency, fades, animations, everything fancy except the mouse course and icon shadows? Does the "ghost" still appears? To disable them go to Settings, Accessibility, Visual Effects and also Settings, System, About, click on Advanced System Settings and go at the Performance tab.

PS: The word "ghost" reminded me of the visual trail of old green monochrome monitors due to slow phosphor. Every movement in the game left a visual trail for about a second or less. Much like when you enable mouse trail in Windows, but imagine that everywhere, in the text, in the game character, everything that moves on the screen. Quite annoying and confusing some times.

This exactly what I did post #35.

spapakons · Mar 12, 2026

I guess there is no immediate fix. Running an older version of Windows is not ideal, but if you want, you could do it and test newer version in a virtual machine to see if there is any improvement. Another option would be to try a different monitor? Not sure if it will help, but you could try connecting the PC to your TV via HDMI and check.

AgathePower · Mar 12, 2026

This is the last 25H2 version on post #35. I'm writing same responses over and over again.

AgathePower · Mar 12, 2026

I'm not trying to find a solution, I try to report the issue to someone who can contact Microsoft.

spapakons · Mar 12, 2026

I would tell you to use the Feedback app, but your comment will be likely be ignored. You can also post in Microsoft Community, but expect the first replies to only suggest what you have already tried. First replies come from level 1 personnel that knows only the very basics, less than you and me, and consult a general guide or AI to respond. They don't have their own experience on the subject. You need to get level 2 support (more experienced personnel) to see any useful replies. Eventually you will, after some generic replies. That's why this forum is for. To share experiences and help each other faster than "official support".

Edwin · Mar 12, 2026

AgathePower said:
On multiple monitors, I can see rectangular outline flashing on left monitor when I open a window/dialog box on right monitor. It is painted at coordinates (0,0).

It's probably a DummyDWMListenerWindow.

glasskuter · Mar 12, 2026

My opinion is not a popular one, but it's mine.

I believe when one uses multiple 3rd party apps to change the GUI, one gets unexpected results. I also believe jacking with a themes gets unexpected results. The apps and user changes can conflict with each other.
The only alterations I have made to my windows are from Brink's tutorials. I built my own Win11 theme in a Windows 7 VM. I use no third party apps but if I did I would use only one. I have not had one GUI issue since 2021 when 11 hit the market.

spapakons · Mar 12, 2026

To prevent conflicts of customization apps make sure you update them to the latest version whenever there is one. Also Vive Tool can turn off some modern Windows functions that conflict with old apps. As I explain on another thread I installed some recent Windows updates and the Classic Explorer component of Open Shell disappeared. This provides legacy colorful cut/copy/paste and other icons top left of each File Explorer window. I could not make it work unless I run Vive Tool to disable some modern stuff.

AgathePower · Mar 13, 2026

There is no customization/3rd party apps to change GUI, because the issue also appears in Windows setup OOBE phase. The videos I posted demonstrate the presence of the glitch before any Windows account creation. Nothing is installed on the machine except Windows.

By the way, the glitch seems to have been fixed in 26h1.

Watch 2026-03-13 09-00-52 | Streamable

Watch "2026-03-13 09-00-52" on Streamable.

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AgathePower · Mar 13, 2026

Edwin said:
It's probably a DummyDWMListenerWindow.

Oh, maybe, however I forgot to mention that the outline also has the same size as the window that was about to appear. I don't know if that changes anything.

Edwin · Mar 13, 2026

Download and run WinLister, invoke the application you're talkin about, it'll show you what it is...

And, if you Display Hidden Windows, you'll see there are hundreds!

AgathePower · Mar 13, 2026

Edwin said:
Download and run WinLister, invoke the application you're talkin about, it'll show you what it is...

View attachment 165750

And, if you Display Hidden Windows, you'll see there are hundreds!

View attachment 165751

I could try using this tool, but since the ghost outline appears ~1 ms before the actual window, it might be tricky.

AgathePower · Mar 13, 2026

As I mentioned, the issue was fixed in version 26h1. More specifically, today I discovered that it's between Insider Preview builds 27842 (the bug is present) and 27881 (it is no longer present).

spapakons · Mar 13, 2026

AgathePower said:
As I mentioned, the issue was fixed in version 26h1. More specifically, today I discovered that it's between Insider Preview builds 27842 (the bug is present) and 27881 (it is no longer present).

Which means in the worst case it will be fixed in standard version 26H2, but a more optimistic scenario is it will be fixed sooner at a new standard build of 25H2. Anyone else having the same issue just install all Windows updates (except drivers) and cross your fingers... For drivers I prefer to download the latest official version directly from manufacturer. If it is a graphics driver I prefer the latest version directly from nVidia or Intel or AMD. In the rare case there is a warning that the graphics card is customized and you should use OEM drivers, then and only then I would download it from manufacturer as they usually provide an older version. I don't trust Windows Update for drivers and I would use it as a last resort if I cannot find an official driver.

AgathePower · Mar 13, 2026

spapakons said:
Which means in the worst case it will be fixed in standard version 26H2, but a more optimistic scenario is it will be fixed sooner at a new standard build of 25H2. Anyone else having the same issue just install all Windows updates (except drivers) and cross your fingers... For drivers I prefer to download the latest official version directly from manufacturer. If it is a graphics driver I prefer the latest version directly from nVidia or Intel or AMD. In the rare case there is a warning that the graphics card is customized and you should use OEM drivers, then and only then I would download it from manufacturer as they usually provide an older version. I don't trust Windows Update for drivers and I would use it as a last resort if I cannot find an official driver.

Yep, but drivers have nothing to do with the issue. Nvidia or VMware SVGA give the same result.

spapakons · Mar 14, 2026

I said to install all Windows updates except drivers. Don't trust Windows Update for drivers, always manually download the official ones from manufacturer. Especially for graphics drivers, I don't trust the manufacturer either. I prefer the official ones directly from nVidia/Intel/AMD.

So install all non-driver Windows updates and eventually the bug will be fixed. That's what I meant.

AgathePower · Mar 14, 2026

The issue has nothing to do with the drivers. The issue appears on some builds, doesn't appear on others builds. Using Nvidia card, VMware Workstation, VMware Fusion doesn't change anything.

Drivers are totally unrelated with the problem. Installing them or not, will not fix or don't fix the issue.

spapakons · Mar 14, 2026

Once again, the issue is fixed in the special version Windows 11 26H1, so it is safe to assume some future Windows update of standard version 25H2 will also fix it. So install all Windows updates, except drivers, and eventually it will be fixed. That's all I am saying. I don't think it is too difficult to understand. Just install all updates and one of them will fix it.

Visual bug when opening windows on home PC driving me crazy.

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