Windows 11 Problems I Hit as a Content Creator on Ryzen
The problems I hit on early Windows 11 with a Ryzen editing PC, what has been fixed since, and a troubleshooting checklist if you still see them.
Key takeaway
Many early Windows 11 problems on Ryzen were fixed by updates. Install Windows updates and the AMD chipset driver, turn off Fast startup if shutdowns misbehave, and retest.
In this article6 sections · 6 min read
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I edit videos all day, so my PC has to be stable. After about a week on the first release of Windows 11 with my Ryzen system, I ran into problems I never had on Windows 10. I wrote this down at the time so other creators knew what to watch for.
Windows 11 has had many updates since then, so I have also added what changed and what to try if you see the same symptoms today.
Update: what changed later
Several of the problems below were tied to the early Windows 11 release. AMD and Microsoft released fixes through Windows updates and AMD chipset drivers, and Microsoft brought back taskbar drag and drop in version 22H2. Later, I ran a real export test and found Windows 11 rendered faster than Windows 10 on my Ryzen system. You can read that in my Windows 10 versus 11 render test.
So treat this article as a record of the early experience, plus a troubleshooting guide if you still run into these issues.
Then and now
Early Windows 11 versus today
Performance problems I saw
- Half shutdowns. After heavy work, the monitor turned off but the PC kept running. Normal restarts were fine, so the hardware was not the cause.
- Apps refusing to open. While Illustrator was loading, no other app would open until it finished.
- Freezes. Premiere Pro froze mid-edit and even the mouse stopped moving.
Workflow problems
- You could not drag files onto taskbar icons.
- Switching between many folders and apps sometimes did not respond.
If you see these problems today
Try these in order. Each one is safe and easy to undo.
- Install all Windows updates, including optional ones, under Settings, Windows Update.
- Install the latest AMD chipset driver from AMD's website, not only the one Windows provides. It includes the power settings that tell Windows how to use Ryzen cores well.
- Update your graphics driver. For editing, a Studio driver is usually the more stable choice.
- Turn off Fast startup if shutdowns misbehave. Open Control Panel, Power Options, Choose what the power buttons do, click Change settings that are currently unavailable and untick Turn on fast startup. Fast startup saves part of the system to disk at shutdown, and it is a common cause of half shutdowns.
- Update the motherboard BIOS if the board maker lists stability fixes. My guide on updating your BIOS safely walks through it.
Troubleshooting order
Five fixes for a Ryzen PC on Windows 11
For the taskbar drag and drop problem
Run winver. If you are on version 22H2 or newer, taskbar drag and drop is back. If you are still on 21H2, see two ways to drag and drop without the taskbar.
My advice back then, and now
At the time, I said that if you multitask a lot or rely on your PC for work, wait until these issues are fixed before upgrading. I liked the Windows 11 design, but for content creation it was not ready for me, so I planned to go back to Windows 10.
My advice today is simpler. Windows 10 support has ended, so staying on it is no longer a good long-term option for a work PC. Upgrade to an up-to-date version of Windows 11, install the AMD chipset driver, and test your main editing apps before a big project. If something misbehaves, the checklist above solves most of it.
