Fix: Windows 11 ‘Freeze Issue’ When Alt-Tabbing From Any Game

If you’re encountering freezing or stuttering when Alt-Tabbing out of games in Windows 11, follow these optimized troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue:

1. Force Borderless Windowed Mode (Quick Fix)

Most games handle Alt-Tab better in Borderless Windowed mode (avoids fullscreen handshake delays):

• Open the game’s Video/Display settings and switch from Fullscreen to Borderless Windowed.
• If the game lacks this option, use third-party tools like Borderless Gaming (available on Steam or GitHub).

2. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations

Windows 11’s fullscreen optimizations can conflict with games:

• Right-click the game’s .exe file > Properties > Compatibility tab.
• Check “Disable fullscreen optimizations” > Apply.
• Repeat for the game’s launcher (e.g., Steam, Epic).

3. Update GPU Drivers

Outdated drivers are a common culprit:

• NVIDIA: Use GeForce Experience or download manually.
• AMD: Use AMD Adrenalin or auto-detect tool.
• Intel: Update via Intel DSA.
• Optional: Clean install drivers with Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to remove conflicts.

4. Tweak Windows 11 Graphics Settings

• Disable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS):
  • Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Default graphics settings.
  • Turn off “Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling” and restart.
• Disable “Optimizations for windowed games”:
  • In the same menu, toggle off this experimental feature.

5. Adjust Game Mode & Xbox Game Bar

• Disable Game Mode:
  • Settings > Gaming > Game Mode > Toggle Off.
• Turn off Xbox Game Bar:
  • Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar > Toggle Off.

6. Disable Overlays and Background Apps

• Discord, Steam, NVIDIA/AMD overlays, and RGB software (e.g., iCUE, Razer Synapse) can freeze games when Alt-Tabbing.
• Disable overlays in each app’s settings.
• Use Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to close unnecessary background apps.

7. Disable MPO (Multi-Plane Overlay) – NVIDIA Users

NVIDIA’s MPO can cause Alt-Tab crashes:

• Download and run NVIDIA’s MPO Fix Script or manually edit the registry:
  • Create a .reg file with:
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Dwm] "OverlayTestMode"=dword:00000005
  • Run the file and restart.

8. Adjust Virtual Memory (Page File)

Insufficient virtual memory can cause freezes:

• Press Win + R > Type sysdm.cpl > Advanced > Performance Settings > Advanced > Change.
• Uncheck “Automatically manage” > Set Custom size:
  • Initial = 1.5x RAM | Max = 3x RAM (e.g., 16GB RAM → 24576 MB / 49152 MB).
• Click Set > OK and restart.

9. Check Power & USB Settings

• Power Plan:
  • Set to “High performance” in Settings > System > Power & battery.
• USB Selective Suspend:
  • Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
  • Under USB settings, disable “USB selective suspend setting”.

10. Test Clean Boot

Identify software conflicts:

• Press Win + R > Type msconfig > Services > Check “Hide Microsoft services” > Disable all.
• Open Task Manager > Startup tab > Disable all startup apps.
• Restart and test Alt-Tabbing. Re-enable services/apps gradually to find the culprit.

11. BIOS/UEFI & Chipset Updates

• Update your motherboard BIOS (check manufacturer’s website).
• Install the latest chipset drivers (AMD/Intel) for better system stability.

12. Advanced: Registry Tweak for TDR Issues

If freezes persist, adjust the GPU timeout detection:

• Press Win + R > Type regedit > Navigate to:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers
• Create a DWORD (32-bit) value named “TdrLevel” and set it to 0.
• Restart your PC.

13. Reinstall or Reset the Game

• Verify game files (Steam/Epic) or reinstall the game.
• Reset in-game graphics settings to default.

Final Checks

• Test with a new Windows user profile (corrupted profiles can cause issues).
• Check Event Viewer (Win + X > Event Viewer) for crash logs under Windows Logs > System.
• If using HDR, disable it temporarily (Settings > System > Display > HDR).

If the problem persists, it might indicate deeper hardware/software conflicts. Consider resetting Windows 11 or seeking professional diagnostics. Let me know if you need more details! 🛠️