Win 11 File Explorer search box text size shrunk

Latest release/update of Start11 reduces Windows 11 File Explorer search box text size

from Stardock Forums

Start11 Ver. 1.41

Windows 11 Pro ver. 22H2 OS Build 22621.1344

Dell XPS 15 & 17 i9 machines

Hi

Following new Start11 install on two Windows 11 machines (one a Win10 to 11 new build upgrade, the second out-of-the-box), I have isolated an issue that affects the search text that appears in Windows File Explorer. The Search text is now extremely small, and changing screen resolution and the text size in Windows does not improve matters.

Screen capture of File Explorer post Start11 update

For info, the version of Explorer on both machines is:

Windows 11 Explorer version

I first found this issue while rebuilding the XPS 15 machine three days ago, and even rebuilt it with Start11 as the first program to be installed following the OS, to be sure of the cause.

At first I thought the issue was specific to this machine.

However, this morning, I allowed Start11 to do an upgrade on my XPS 17 machine, and the upgrade has resulted in the same issue in File Explorer.

Thoughts?

file explorer windows 11 start11 search text size start menu products
15,378 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. But, I can't reproduce your issue on my system.

Need to know more on your system. Monitor resolution and scaling (100%, 150%, 200%) setting.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

3840 x 2160 on both machines, with 150% scaling using remote monitors and 200 or 225% using inbuilt display. Reducing resolution and/or increasing/decreasing scaling do not solve this issue.

Display adaptors for the 17" laptop are Intel Iris XE and NVIDIA RTX 3060, while the 15" is fitted with Intel UHD 630 and NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti.

Cheers

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
I have forwarded your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

I believe this issue was reproduced internally. And, Dev has pick it up, Hopefully it get resolve soon.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #6 from Stardock.net Forums Top

The text size issue just happened randomly days after I updated the app. I just resolved it by uninstalling and reinstalling the current release.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks both for getting back to me.


Following nealstockwell's advice, I first did a reinstall keeping my old settings.

Win11 Explorer after Start11 reinstall using previous settings:

Win11 Explorer after Start11 reinstall using previous settings

So as you can see, this did not fix my issue.

If, however, I do a reinstall but do not keep the settings I used for Start11, then the text in Win11 Explorer returns to normal size.

Win11 after Start11 reinstall without my old settings:

Win11 after Start11 reinstall without using settings

So the question now is, which of my former settings caused the change in search text size - and is it reversible without having to uninstall, reset and reinstall the app?

I'm not going to have the time to go through debugging this right now, but would be interested to see what others discover.

Cheers

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

It isn't linked to any particular settings, it is an issue exposed by Start11 when on 22H2 moment 2 (build 22621.1344 and higher).

We have this resolved internally and the next update will contain the fix.

Thanks to everyone who reported this, a most unusual issue indeed!

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Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Thankyou. I'll now go and reconfigure my Start11 menu back to how it was.

On this point, are the settings held in the Registry or does the app save settings to a single file that we can backup (and subsequently restore) should we ever be confronted with diagnosing another glitch? Or do you just advise setting system Restore Points before every update of the app?

Cheers

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

The beta fixed this issue with the text size, but recent search history is also missing on my machine i.e. when you click on the search box the drop-down of what you had searched for previously is missing.

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting itsgra, reply 12

The beta fixed this issue with the text size, but recent search history is also missing on my machine i.e. when you click on the search box the drop-down of what you had searched for previously is missing.
End of itsgra's quote

Are you sure that works without Start11 as a quick check on the latest build of Windows without Start11 isn't showing any history either.

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 13


Quoting itsgra,
reply 12

The beta fixed this issue with the text size, but recent search history is also missing on my machine i.e. when you click on the search box the drop-down of what you had searched for previously is missing.



Are you sure that works without Start11 as a quick check on the latest build of Windows without Start11 isn't showing any history either.

End of Neil's quote

Sorry, you're correct doesn't work anymore in any case with or without Start11 installed.

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting lamontcranston65, reply 15

I have this same issue as well.
End of lamontcranston65's quote

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Need to know, which version of Start11 you have installed?

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting lamontcranston65, reply 17

1.41. Installed 1.43 beta and the problem went away
End of lamontcranston65's quote

Great, glad it went away.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting John, reply 19

Same here. DL'ed the new v1.43 this morning and the problem is corrected. 

👍


End of John's quote

Great, glad to hear it.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

Like others here, the text size issue came back on all my systems, but following others' experiences here, yesterday I installed the latest 1.43 update, and found it didn't fix the issue on its own. So I then checked for a Windows update and found KB5023778 waiting in the wings (Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems), and lo and behold - my issue is now fixed. Yay !!!

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

Glad to hear that.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top

Sorry if I'm crossing the streams here, but I'm having this issue and my most-common denominator is Fences (V4.10).  Did the fix for Start get migrated to Fences by any chance?  

Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting ogretech, reply 23

Sorry if I'm crossing the streams here, but I'm having this issue and my most-common denominator is Fences (V4.10).  Did the fix for Start get migrated to Fences by any chance?  
End of ogretech's quote

The issue was specific to that version of Start11.  Fences shouldn't have this issue.