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is there a kb to fix gdi leak problem on windows 11's system button's tooltip display?

hbhdcaxytl kdf 40 Reputation points
2026-05-06T02:58:10.47+00:00

in windows 11, when hover mouse pointer on system button( minimize, close), when the tooltip displayed and dismissed after a while, the process's GDI handle count increased by 1 or 2 permanently.

Using WINDBG tool, i found that when creating the tooltip by calling USER32!__xxxTooltipCallback, USER32!CreateTooltipWindow, USER32!GetCursorHeight is called to get the current cursor's height to calculate the tooltip's position. And once USER32!GetCursorHeight is called , the GDI handle count increased.

USER32!GetCursorHeight called USER32!_GetIconInfo@8 to get the current cursor's infomation, and according to the page https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/winuser/nf-winuser-geticoninfo

when GetIconInfo function called, the caller must call DeleteObject to release [the hbmMask and hbmColor or members of ICONINFO], and GetCursorHeight dosen't call DeleteObject.

Windows development | Windows API - Win32

Answer accepted by question author

Taki Ly (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 1,500 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-05-06T07:15:29.3833333+00:00

Hello @hbhdcaxytl kdf ,

Thank you for the detailed information.

I have tested and successfully reproduced this issue on my end using WinDbg. By observing the Task Manager, I can confirm that every time the mouse hovers over the Close (X) or Minimize button to trigger the tooltip, the GDI object count increases and never decreases.

I have also checked the "Known issues" and "Resolved issues" sections on the Windows Release Health dashboard, but currently, there is no mention or KB article regarding this specific problem.

So, I recommend that you submit this issue to the Windows engineering team via the Feedback Hub (or press Windows key + F). This is the way to get this bug reported to the product team so they can investigate and release a fix in a future update.

Hope this clarifies your question. If you found my response informative or helpful, please consider providing feedback following this guide.

Thank you.

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AI answer

2026-05-06T02:58:25.1933333+00:00

There is no KB article in the provided material that documents a GDI leak in Windows 11 related to system-button tooltips or USER32!GetCursorHeight.

From the documentation in context:

  • GetIconInfo creates bitmaps in the ICONINFO structure and requires the caller to delete hbmMask and hbmColor with DeleteObject when they are no longer needed. This is consistent with the general GDI object management guidance, which states that bitmaps must be destroyed with DeleteObject and that there is a per-session and per-process GDI handle limit.
  • CreateIconIndirect copies the bitmaps from ICONINFO and requires the caller to later destroy the resulting icon with DestroyIcon, while still managing and deleting the original bitmaps separately.
  • The Direct2D debug messages D1102 and D1103 describe patterns of unreleased resources and leaked handles in general, but they are diagnostic messages, not a KB or fix for a specific Windows 11 USER32 leak.

The context confirms the correct contract for GetIconInfo and GDI object lifetime, but does not provide any hotfix, KB number, or documented workaround for a Windows 11 GDI leak in system-button tooltips. Based on the available information, the behavior described would need to be treated as a potential OS bug and escalated through official support channels, but no specific KB is listed here.

References:

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