Snipping tool freezing my laptop when using the draw feature?

Pierrau Stefan 20

The main problem is that when I am using the Snipping tool and using the drawing feature my screens become frozen after a few seconds of drawing.

I can exit the freeze by detaching the extended screens but if I trigger the bug with only the main laptop screen I am stuck and have to restart my laptop.

I am pretty sure that this problem started after the update of my OS, the current OS version is W11, ver.23H2, 22631.6783 that was available from 2026-03-10 at Microsoft. So probably it was installed on my computer a few weeks ago (end of mars or beginning of April) when the problem started.

and since I also tried a clean boot start-up and the problem was remaining I assume that the problem is related to the OS update only. Ther is a new OS version for my computer: 22631.6936 that may fix this problem, some words around graphical updates ... but this update is not jet released by the IT department at my company.

I have tried all know fixes.

I have done all 15 point according to the support ticket "My screens become frozen when drawing in the snipping tool for Windows 11. How to fix this" and I have done a clean boot start-up.

But the problem still persists.

What is your recommendation?

My set-up is:

Computer: HP EliteBook 640 14 inch G11 Notebook PC IDS Base Model

OS: Windows 11, version 23H2, 22631.6783 (released: 2026-03-10)

System Information regarding the display and graphics:
[Display]

Item Value

Name Intel(R) Graphics

PNP Device ID PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_7D45&SUBSYS_8C86103C&REV_08\3&11583659&0&10

Adapter Type Intel(R) Graphics Family, Intel Corporation compatible

Adapter Description Intel(R) Graphics

Adapter RAM 2,00 GB (2 147 479 552 bytes)

Installed Drivers C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iigd_dch.inf_amd64_76787e203cb9b607\igd9trinity64.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iigd_dch.inf_amd64_76787e203cb9b607\igd10iumd64.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iigd_dch.inf_amd64_76787e203cb9b607\igd10iumd64.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iigd_dch.inf_amd64_76787e203cb9b607\igd12umd64.dll

Driver Version 32.0.101.8508

INF File oem920.inf (MTL_w11_IG section)

Color Planes Not Available

Color Table Entries 4294967296

Resolution 1920 x 1200 x 60 hertz

Bits/Pixel 32

Memory Address 0x18000000-0x18FFFFFF

Memory Address 0x0000-0xFFFFFFF

IRQ Channel IRQ 4294967243

Driver C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERSTORE\FILEREPOSITORY\IIGD_DCH.INF_AMD64_76787E203CB9B607\IGDKMDN64.SYS (32.0.101.8508, 28,15 MB (29 516 424 bytes), 2026-03-30 10:00)

Pierrau Stefan 20 Reputation points

2026-04-20T05:57:59.66+00:00

Should the values be hexadecimal or decimal? All values is less than 10 so maybe it does not matter :)
VPHAN 43,075 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-20T06:04:52.5366667+00:00

Of course, all the values we configured are single digits between zero and nine, it does not matter whether you select hexadecimal or decimal.
DAB74 0 Reputation points

2026-04-22T14:17:52.7366667+00:00

I have exact same symptoms, though it doesn't seem to have the same issue if I connect directly to external monitor with HDMI cable, if that is of any use.

Happens either directly in snipping tool or any redline / markup function within MS office. Timing of this matches what the original user submitted, latest updates seem to have created the issue.
Stanbridge 0 Reputation points

2026-06-03T02:29:07.7033333+00:00

Happens to me if using "Ballpoint Pen" tool after contiguous drawing for ~2 seconds or more. Does NOT happen when using the "Highlighter" tool.

It sometimes takes multiple attempts unlplugging and plugging back in my or both of my monitors to recover.

Started happening after a windows update a couple of months ago at a guess.

My setup:
OS Name: Microsoft Windows 11 Enterprise

Version: 10.0.22631 Build 22631

System Model: Dell Pro 14 Plus PB14250

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) Ultra 7 268V, 2200 Mhz, 8 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s)

BIOS Version/Date: Dell Inc. 2.9.0, 25/11/2025

Note: Windows Key, Ctrl, Shift, and B simultaneously does not recover it for me.
Magnus Rummey 0 Reputation points

2026-09-07T10:32:13.6966667+00:00

I had exactly the same bug.

The bug vanished for me when updating to Windows 11, version 25H2

13 answers

VPHAN 43,075 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-20T09:04:32.54+00:00

Pierrau Stefan

Lowering the power efficiency slider will not disable Panel Self Refresh. That specific slider controls a different feature called Intel Display Power Saving Technology, which dynamically alters your screen brightness and contrast based on the content you are viewing. Panel Self Refresh is a hardware-level protocol that dictates whether the graphics card temporarily stops sending rendering frames to the physical monitor entirely, which is the exact mechanism conflicting with the Windows Ink drawing tools.

The complete absence of the Panel Self Refresh toggle in your interface confirms the complications introduced by the generic Intel driver update. In recent generic driver branches, Intel often hides these advanced power toggles or migrates them to a completely different utility called Intel Arc Control, effectively locking users out of crucial hardware configurations when using the standard Command Center application.

Because the software interface prevents us from manually disabling this power state, we must execute the driver reversion strategy discussed previously. Please open the Windows Device Manager, expand the Display adapters section, right-click your Intel Graphics device, and select Properties to click the Roll Back Driver button. If that button is greyed out, you must visit the official HP support portal, search for your specific EliteBook 640 G11 model, and download their certified Intel Video Driver package. Installing that manufacturer-approved driver will overwrite the generic installation and restore the proper hardware synchronization protocols required to stop the drawing overlay from freezing your system.

VP
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Pierrau Stefan 20 Reputation points

2026-04-20T09:47:33.9866667+00:00

Hi and thanks again!
The roll back driver was greyed out ....
and now I feel I cannot put in more time to this.
My company support team are sending me a new computer instead.

So thank very much you for very professional help on a complex problem.
I have learned a lot but I need to spend my time on my main assignments :)

How can I give you my thanks in the best way for you? By hitting the Accept answer button or Did this solve your problem button?

VPHAN 43,075 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-20T09:49:43.2033333+00:00

You can hit "yes" next to the question "is this answer useful" if you find the answer useful :) Happy to help and have a nice day :)
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VPHAN 43,075 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-20T10:22:21.0666667+00:00

Pierrau Stefan

You can hit "yes" next to the question "is this answer useful" if you find the answer useful :) Happy to help and have a nice day :)
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John Gamborg 0 Reputation points

2026-05-12T05:11:22.1333333+00:00

I have encountered a similar issue with the Intel Graphics 32.0.101.8508 driver on a Lenovo, where the Draw feature in Word or the annotation in OneNote freezes the screen. Upgrading the driver doesn't fix the issue and the Intel Graphics Command Center is not being installed, so I don't have access to the other options described above.

However, completely uninstalling the driver and using the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter resolves the issue. I'm aware that there may be limitations to other features by doing that, but it was good to confirm what caused the issue. I have tried looking for older versions of the Intel Graphics driver, but I can't find any on the official website to test with.
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Snipping tool freezing my laptop when using the draw feature?

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