I will try that, thanks

so it has done it again (it's sometimes been inconsistent) and I finally remembered to get a screenshot of it, and had time to reply here.  

1. Windows 11 Pro Version 24H2 OS build 26100.4652

2. Start11 version 2.53, and I just double checked that it's the latest version (according to the checker in the app)

3. The line through the icons is very thin, but is most noticeable through explorer, and you can see the behavior of the start button. 

On a side not I also tried using the default start button, and the line would still show up, but with the default start button it would line up with itself.

Please advise next steps, thanks!

--edited to add having time to reply here.

Yes each time it does this I have to turn start 11 off and on again for it to go back to normal. 

I don't have any other programs that would alter the start menu or task bar

it does get rid of the line, but it makes the start button the default one.  Am I going to have to do that every time I start my computer?

if this is another application running in the background controlling the taskbar, then it's a windows 11 thing that's installed with the OS.  Start11 was one of the first things I installed when I set this laptop up when I got it.

where it's became an inconsistent issue that doesn't happen every single time I start my laptop, I'm unsure of how revealing installing on a Sandbox will be, as it's not guaranteed that it would've happened anyway.

Is there a Windows 11 app I can check for that could be controlling the taskbar?  

well after doing that the line didn't appear that time I started it, but start11 didn't work at all, and the stock start menu persisted, even after restarting.  I had to go back in config and re enable just the start11 and then restart for start11 to work.

You should enable one Start up at a time and see which one is causing the issue. Might need to have multiple restart to actually see it.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

BTW, have you tried the latest Start11v2.55 beta? If not yet, please go to your account product download page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products. It should be listed there. Uninstall, reboot immediately, install the new one and reboot immediately again right after installation is done. Retest and report back.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I know as soon as I send this it'll change, but it seems so far that installing the beta version has solved my issue.  I'll reply here if anything changes though.

Thanks for your help!

It seems something isn't functioning properly in your system.

The root cause of the instability is unclear at this point. If Start11 is responsible, the issue would typically occur immediately—not sporadically or only after a Windows update.

Also, if this were a widespread problem, it should be affecting all users running Start11 v2 on the latest Windows 11 update.

As a next step, I recommend scanning your system using the following commands to check for any integrity issues:

• sfc /scannow — Learn more about System File Checker
• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth — Guide to repairing a Windows image using DISM

These tools can help identify and potentially resolve system-level problems.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I think the taskbar setting had something to do with it, occasionally (maybe once a week at most) I use an android tablet as a second screen, which is a touch screen.  I wonder if it was caching something relating to that causing it to mess up. 

I've just turned it to disable touch screen mode, if I still have problems I will try the sfc and DISM.  Thanks!!