Black rectangle with shapes popping up on screen

The Music Tree 0 Reputation points
2026-09-07T20:07:57.8466667+00:00

There's a black rectangular box with different squares within them that pops up and doesn't go away. It goes away after restarting the computer or after like 20 minutes. I can't click it or move it or do anything to it.

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Windows for home | Windows 11 | Display and graphics
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  1. Ferdinand Nanalig 32,825 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-07T22:25:31.54+00:00

    Hi! Let me help you.

    Do you see it as soon as you log in to Windows?

    That's the Windows 11 Snap Layouts flyout getting stuck on the screen — the box that normally pops up when you hover over the maximize button, letting you pick a window layout. It's supposed to disappear once you move your mouse away or click elsewhere, but yours is freezing in place.

    Please follow the steps below;

    First, restart Windows Explorer;

    Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, find Windows Explorer in the Processes tab, right-click it, and choose Restart.

    And then Toggle Snap Windows off and on;

    Go to Settings > System > Multitasking. Turn the Snap windows toggle off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-09-07T20:08:14.1766667+00:00

    That overlay matches the Windows display mode switcher. It appears when Windows + P is triggered and shows the projection options.

    Since it stays on screen for a long time and cannot be clicked, try these steps in order:

    1. Cycle and dismiss the display switcher
      • Press Windows + P once.
      • Press P again to move through the display modes.
      • Press Enter to select one.
      • This can clear a stuck display-mode overlay.
    2. Reset the graphics driver
      • Press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B.
      • A beep or brief screen flicker indicates the reset worked.
    3. Open the security screen
      • Press Ctrl + Alt + Del.
      • If the security screen appears, the display may recover from there.
      • From there, Task Manager can be opened and Windows Explorer can be restarted.
    4. If the screen is flickering or acting oddly, check Task Manager behavior
      • Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then open Task Manager.
      • If Task Manager flickers too, the display driver is likely involved.
      • If Task Manager does not flicker while the rest of the screen does, an incompatible app is more likely.
    5. Force restart if it becomes stuck again
      • Press and hold the power button for 20 seconds.

    If this started recently and keeps returning, one accepted Microsoft Q&A resolution is to use Windows Recovery Environment and try:

    • Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Uninstall Updates > Uninstall latest quality update
    • If that does not help, System Restore to a point before the issue started

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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