Windows 11 Taskbar Notification Area/Bubble Tooltips don't overlay when hovered unless focused first

[enaielei]

Current Behavior

1. Launch any app/window and maximize it.
2. Hover over to the Taskbar's Notification Area (Bottom-Right Part).
3. The Tooltips (e.g. Audio Volume, Wifi Status, Datetime, etc.) don't show.
4. Click on the Taskbar to focus on it.
5. Repeat Step #2.
6. The Tooltips now show.

Expected Behavior
Tested on a new Windows 11 Sandbox instance.

1. Launch any app/window and maximize it.
2. Hover over to the Taskbar's Notification Area (Bottom-Right Part).
3. The Tooltips (e.g. Audio Volume, Wifi Status, Datetime, etc.) show.

System Information

OS Name    Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
Version    10.0.22635 Build 22635
Other OS Description     Not Available
OS Manufacturer    Microsoft Corporation
System Name    PC-ENAIELEI
System Manufacturer    ASUS
System Model    System Product Name
System Type    x64-based PC
System SKU    SKU
Processor    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700K CPU @ 3.80GHz, 3792 Mhz, 8 Core(s), 16 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date    American Megatrends Inc. 1801, 26/12/2022
SMBIOS Version    3.3
Embedded Controller Version    255.255
BIOS Mode    UEFI
BaseBoard Manufacturer    ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
BaseBoard Product    TUF GAMING Z590-PLUS WIFI
BaseBoard Version    Rev 1.xx
Platform Role    Desktop
Secure Boot State    Off
PCR7 Configuration    Elevation Required to View
Windows Directory    C:\WINDOWS
System Directory    C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device    \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale    United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer    Version = "10.0.22621.2706"
User Name    pc-enaielei\enaielei
Time Zone    Malay Peninsula Standard Time
Installed Physical Memory (RAM)    128 GB
Total Physical Memory    128 GB
Available Physical Memory    117 GB
Total Virtual Memory    136 GB
Available Virtual Memory    116 GB
Page File Space    8.00 GB
Page File    C:\pagefile.sys
Kernel DMA Protection    Off
Virtualization-based security    Running
Virtualization-based security Required Security Properties  
Virtualization-based security Available Security Properties    Base Virtualization Support, DMA Protection, UEFI Code Readonly, SMM Security Mitigations 1.0, Mode Based Execution Control, APIC Virtualization
Virtualization-based security Services Configured  
Virtualization-based security Services Running    Credential Guard
Windows Defender Application Control policy    Enforced
Windows Defender Application Control user mode policy    Off
Device Encryption Support    Elevation Required to View
A hypervisor has been detected. Features required for Hyper-V will not be displayed.

Notes
It wasn't always like this. When Windows 11 was freshly installed it acted like the latter one then it suddenly stopped for some reason. I reinstalled Windows 11 3x and it always ends up like that eventually.

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're experiencing a peculiar issue with the taskbar notification area tooltips in Windows 11, where they only appear after clicking to focus on the taskbar. Let's break down the details and explore possible solutions.

Current Behavior​

You've outlined that when you launch any app or window and maximize it, hovering over the taskbar's notification area doesn't display the tooltips for audio volume, Wi-Fi status, etc., unless you click on the taskbar first. This is not the expected behavior.

Expected Behavior​

In an ideal scenario (as demonstrated in your Sandbox test), hovering directly over the taskbar's notification area should display the tooltips immediately without needing to click first.

System Information​

Your system details indicate a robust setup:

• OS: Windows 11 Pro, Build 22635.
• Processor: Intel Core i7-10700K.
• RAM: 128 GB.
• BIOS: UEFI with secure boot off.

Notes​

The fact that this issue arose after the initial fresh installation, and persists through multiple reinstalls, suggests that it may not be an isolated bug but rather an interaction with specific configurations or third-party applications.

Possible Solutions​

Here’s a list of potential solutions you might explore:

1. Check for Windows Updates: Ensure your system is fully updated, as Microsoft often rolls out fix patches for such issues.
2. Graphics Drivers Update: Update your graphics drivers. Tooltips and overlays can sometimes have rendering issues tied to outdated or corrupted graphics drivers.
3. Taskbar Settings:
   • Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
   • Explore various options, including turning off and on quick actions to see if it makes a difference.
4. Notification Area Settings:
   • Go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions and check the settings related to notifications and taskbar interactions.
5. Perform a System File Check:
   • Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run sfc /scannow. This command checks and repairs corrupted system files.
6. Check for Third-Party Applications: Sometimes, third-party applications can interfere with native Windows functionalities. Consider disabling them temporarily to see if that resolves the issue.
7. Clean Boot: This involves starting Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs.
   • Press Win + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
   • Under the General tab, select Selective startup and clear the Load startup items checkbox.
   • Restart and see if the issue persists.
8. Registry Tweak: If you're comfortable with it:
   • Open the Registry Editor (regedit).
   • Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
   • Look for any keys related to taskbar behavior and modify them cautiously.

If none of these solutions work, you might want to consider providing feedback directly to Microsoft through the Feedback Hub. They can collect data and hopefully address any underlying issues with future updates.

Final Thoughts​

While it's frustrating to face such a persistent issue, especially with a fresh install, the solutions listed should guide you toward a resolution. If you find a fix that works for you, please share it back here; it might help others facing the same problem!

 

[Mike]

this. When Windows 11 was freshly installed it acted like

Current Behavior

1. Launch any app/window and maximize it.
2. Hover over to the Taskbar's Notification Area (Bottom-Right Part).
3. The Tooltips (e.g. Audio Volume, Wifi Status, Datetime, etc.) don't show.
4. Click on the Taskbar to focus on it.
5. Repeat Step #2.
6. The Tooltips now show.

Expected Behavior
Tested on a new Windows 11 Sandbox instance.

1. Launch any app/window and maximize it.
2. Hover over to the Taskbar's Notification Area (Bottom-Right Part).
3. The Tooltips (e.g. Audio Volume, Wifi Status, Datetime, etc.) show.

System Information

OS Name    Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
Version    10.0.22635 Build 22635
Other OS Description     Not Available
OS Manufacturer    Microsoft Corporation
System Name    PC-ENAIELEI
System Manufacturer    ASUS
System Model    System Product Name
System Type    x64-based PC
System SKU    SKU
Processor    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700K CPU @ 3.80GHz, 3792 Mhz, 8 Core(s), 16 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date    American Megatrends Inc. 1801, 26/12/2022
SMBIOS Version    3.3
Embedded Controller Version    255.255
BIOS Mode    UEFI
BaseBoard Manufacturer    ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
BaseBoard Product    TUF GAMING Z590-PLUS WIFI
BaseBoard Version    Rev 1.xx
Platform Role    Desktop
Secure Boot State    Off
PCR7 Configuration    Elevation Required to View
Windows Directory    C:\WINDOWS
System Directory    C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device    \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale    United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer    Version = "10.0.22621.2706"
User Name    pc-enaielei\enaielei
Time Zone    Malay Peninsula Standard Time
Installed Physical Memory (RAM)    128 GB
Total Physical Memory    128 GB
Available Physical Memory    117 GB
Total Virtual Memory    136 GB
Available Virtual Memory    116 GB
Page File Space    8.00 GB
Page File    C:\pagefile.sys
Kernel DMA Protection    Off
Virtualization-based security    Running
Virtualization-based security Required Security Properties  
Virtualization-based security Available Security Properties    Base Virtualization Support, DMA Protection, UEFI Code Readonly, SMM Security Mitigations 1.0, Mode Based Execution Control, APIC Virtualization
Virtualization-based security Services Configured  
Virtualization-based security Services Running    Credential Guard
Windows Defender Application Control policy    Enforced
Windows Defender Application Control user mode policy    Off
Device Encryption Support    Elevation Required to View
A hypervisor has been detected. Features required for Hyper-V will not be displayed.

Notes
It wasn't always like this. When Windows 11 was freshly installed it acted like the latter one then it suddenly stopped for some reason. I reinstalled Windows 11 3x and it always ends up like that eventually.

Hmm, it is a long shot, but you could try upgrading to 24H2 - 26100.1882 and see if it still occurs.

 

[enaielei]

Hmm, it is a long shot, but you could try upgrading to 24H2 - 26100.1882 and see if it still occurs.

Is that an Insider thing? Because it says I'm already up to date.

 

[enaielei]

Is that an Insider thing? Because it says I'm already up to date.

View attachment 65734

Nevermind. Checked the instructions from the official page and no signs.

 

[Mike]

Nevermind. Checked the instructions from the official page and no signs.

View attachment 65736

You are on 23H2, but 24H2 was just recently released. It probably has not rolled out to your system yet. I would be hard pressed to think that it might solve this issue, but if I recall there were changes made to how the system tray is grouped, so there is a chance. You could do the update through Windows Installation Assistant or wait awhile:

Download Windows 11