Some Windows 11 users have reported a recurring graphical glitch where desktop icon text incorrectly becomes bold after unlocking the computer. While disabling all animation effects can serve as a temporary workaround, this guide provides more permanent solutions to resolve the issue properly.
Table of Contents
Solution 1: Rebuild the Font Cache (Recommended Fix)
Corrupted font cache files are a common cause of text rendering issues in Windows. Rebuilding the cache forces the system to regenerate these files, often resolving the problem permanently.
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type
services.msc, and press Enter. - In the Services window, scroll down to find Windows Font Cache Service.
- Right-click on it and select Stop.
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the following path (you may need to show hidden files): C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\FontCache
- Delete all the files within the FontCache folder. Do not delete the folder itself.
- Restart your computer. The service will restart, and the font cache will be rebuilt automatically.
Solution 2: Adjust Visual Performance Settings
Instead of disabling all animations, you can target specific settings that are known to be related to this bug.
- Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter to open System Properties.
- Go to the Advanced tab and click the Settings… button under the Performance section.
- In the Visual Effects tab, try one of the following:
- Toggle Drop Shadows: Uncheck the box for “Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop.” Click Apply, then re-check the box and click Apply again. This can reset the text rendering.
- Disable Specific Animations: Uncheck the box for “Animate controls and elements inside windows.” This often fixes the bug without sacrificing other visual effects like the taskbar animation.
Solution 3: Run the System File Checker
This command scans for and repairs corrupted Windows system files, which can be an underlying cause of graphical glitches.
- Open the Start Menu, type “cmd”, right-click on Command Prompt, and select “Run as administrator.”
- In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow
- Allow the scan to complete and then restart your computer.
Solution 4: Update Windows and Graphics Drivers
Ensure your system is running the latest software, as this bug may be patched in a recent update.
- Windows Update: Go to Settings > Windows Update and click “Check for updates.”
- Graphics Drivers: Visit the official website for your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest drivers for your specific model.
More Topics
- Windows 11 – How to Fix a Start Menu That Cannot Be Clicked
- Windows 11 Debloat Scripts – How They Can Cause Problems and Fix Them
- Windows 11 – How to Stop Your Mouse From Waking Up Your PC
- Windows 11 – How to Fix a New PC Stuck on an Update Screen
- Windows 11 – How to Fix ‘Device Needs to Be Repaired’ Error After Reinstallation
- RTKVHD64.sys – How to Uninstall The Realtek Audio Driver
- How to Fix Windows 11 Update Installation Failures
