The Desktop Window Manager (DWM.exe) is a system process that helps with displaying the graphical user interface (GUI) and provides various visual effects such as transparent windows, live taskbar thumbnails, and more. If this process stops working, Windows may bug you with the «Desktop window manager stopped working and was closed» error message.
If you’re seeing the error for the first time, restart your PC and see if the error appears again. If it comes back, go ahead with the following troubleshooting tricks to fix it.
1. Run an SFC Scan
Corrupted or damaged system files on your PC can cause the Desktop Window Manager process to malfunction and stop working. Thankfully, Windows includes a handy System File Checker (SFC) utility that can help you fix those system files. Here’s how to run it.
- Press the Win key, type in cmd, and select Run as administrator.
-
In the console, run the following command:
sfc /scannow
SFC will perform a full scan of your system and replace any damaged system files with their cached version. Wait for the scan to complete and then restart your PC.
2. Run the Check Disk Utility
If the SFC scan fails to find any problems, you can run the Check Disk utility. it will scan and repair your primary drive for file system errors and bad sectors.
Follow these steps to run the check disk utility:
- Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
- Use the left pane to navigate to This PC.
- Right-click on your primary drive and select Properties.
- Navigate to the Tools tab and click the Check button in the Error checking section.
-
Select Scan drive to initiate the process.
This process might take a while. If Windows detects any errors, it will prompt you to restart your computer to repair the file system.
3. Rotate the Second Screen
Such issues can also arise if you have a dual-monitor setup and have recently switched the secondary display’s screen orientation to portrait mode. You can try changing the second screen to landscape mode and rebooting your PC to see if that helps. This solution may sound unconventional, but several users managed to fix the issue with this method.
4. Update or Roll Back the Graphics Card Driver
If your current graphics card driver is having issues running properly, it can cause the Desktop Window Manager to stop working. If that’s the case, you can try updating the graphics card driver to fix this issue.
Here’s how:
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box. Type devmgmt.msc in the Open field and press Enter.
- Double-click on Display adapters to expand it.
-
Right-click on your graphics card driver and select Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for drivers. Windows will scan for available driver updates and download them.
Windows will sometimes fail to find any updates, despite there being some available. As such, if Windows finds nothing, check out our guide on how to update your graphics card on Windows for more methods you can try.
Alternatively, if the Desktop Window Manager issues only started after a recent driver update, it’s likely that the newer update is messing things up. In that case, check our guide on how to roll back a driver on Windows for more information on how to resolve this issue.
5. Scan for Malware
Viruses and other malicious programs can affect the Desktop Window Manager process and prevent it from working correctly. To check for this possibility, you can scan your PC for malware.
You can use Windows Defender or another antivirus you have installed on your system for this. If you don’t have one, check out how to scan for viruses without buying antivirus software.
6. Install Windows Updates
You’d be surprised how many problems you can avoid by simply keeping Windows updated to the most recent version. So, if you haven’t updated Windows in a while, now might be a good time to do so.
Here is how to update Windows:
- Press Win + I to open Settings.
-
Navigate to the Windows Update tab and click on Check for updates.
Download and install any pending Windows updates and then see if the issue is still there.
7. Create a New User Account
Another reason why Desktop Window Manager may stop working abruptly is if your current user account files are corrupt. In that case, you can create and switch to a new user account to fix this issue. Here’s what you’ll need to do.
- Open Start and click the gear-shaped icon to open Settings.
- Navigate to Accounts > Other users.
- Click the Add account button.
-
In the Microsoft account window, click on I don’t have this person’s sign-in information and follow the on-screen prompts to create a new user account.
Sign in with your newly created account, and check if the Desktop Window Manager stops working again.
8. Troubleshoot the Issue With a Clean Boot
Third-party programs and services running on your PC can disrupt Windows processes and cause such problems. Booting your PC in a clean boot state allows you to use your computer with only essential drivers and programs.
If the Desktop Window Manager process runs normally during a clean boot, it’s likely that a third-party app or program is causing the problem. If you’d like to learn more about the topic, check out our guide on how to perform a clean boot on Windows and follow the steps listed there.
9. Perform a System Restore
Lastly, if all else fails, performing a system restore may be your last option. This will allow you to restore Windows to an earlier state before the issue first appeared. Of course, you can only use this method if you’ve previously created a restore point. If you’re not sure, here’s how to check if system restore is enabled on your PC.
- Press Win + S to open the search menu.
- Type in Create a restore point in the search box, and select the first result that appears.
- Under the System Protection tab, click on System Restore.
- Click Next.
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Select a restore point before the issue first appeared and hit Next.
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Review all the details one more time before hitting Finish.
Windows will restart and revert to the specified restore point. Hopefully, this will resolve the issue.
Fixing the Desktop Window Manager Process
There are several reasons why the Desktop Window Manager process might stop working on Windows. Fortunately, fixing these issues is not tough. The above-listed solutions should help you get the Desktop Window Manager up and running in no time.
How to restart Windows Explorer
- Open Task Manager. If you right-click on the task bar at the bottom of the screen, Task Manager should appear as an option.
- In Task Manager, click on the field labeled “Windows Explorer.”
- In the bottom right corner of Task Manager, click the button labeled “Restart.”
How do I restart GDM?
Either from GUI and TTY console CTRL + ALT + F2 execute sudo systemctl restart gdm command. However, if you have deployed LightDM display manager in that case execute sudo systemctl restart lightdm command.
How do I restart my Linux desktop environment?
If your desktop can still respond to your keyboard, press Alt + F2 , type the single letter r on the pop-up window, and press Enter . This will restart your desktop environment without much fuss.
How do I restart my GNOME desktop?
Gnome Shell has a built-in restart function.
The only downside is that this doesn’t work with wayland, so we have to use “Xorg” for it to work. To restart the Gnome Shell session while everything is frozen, we will start pressing the key combination Alt + F2.
Can you restart Desktop Window Manager?
Restarting the Desktop Window Manager Service
Note: You can also press the Windows Key + R to access the Run dialog. Step 2: Type services. msc and press enter. Step 3: Locate the entry for Desktop Window Manager Session Manager, right click it, and select Restart.
How do I reload DWM?
Restart dwm
dwm can now be restarted without destroying other X windows by pressing the usual Mod-Shift-Q combination.
What is GDM command in Linux?
GDM is the GNOME Display Manager , which provides a graphical login environment.
How do I start GDM from command line?
Starting the GNOME desktop environment from the command line
- Start command: sudo /etc/init.d/gdm3 start start gnome environment.
- Stop command: To put the desktop environment to a stop/halt, run the following command: sudo /etc/init.d/gdm3 stop stop gnome environment.
- Restart command:
How do I start the Linux GUI?
Contents
- How to Install a desktop and start GUI on Ubuntu. Pre-requisites. Update the server. Install tasksel utility manager.
- Install a Desktop Environment on Ubuntu. Select a Display Manager. Install display manager. Verify the default display manager. Choose a Desktop Environment. Install GNOME Desktop Environment on Ubuntu.
How do I restart the Ubuntu Window Manager?
This will kill all your programs.
- hit Ctrl + Alt + F2.
- login.
- sudo service lightdm restart.
How do I reset my Gnome environment?
Open the drop-down of Tweaks menu at the top bar of your Desktop. You will get an option “Reset to defaults” and click on it. This will prompt for the final confirmation to complete Gnome reset to its original settings. Click the OK button to complete your task.
How do I start Gnome Shell from terminal?
Shell Eval s ‘Meta. restart(“Restarting…”)’ This is a single command – triple click the line to select it. Since this is what GNOME Shell does when running Alt + F2 and typing r , this is the best way of restarting GNOME Shell from the command line.
How do I fix Desktop Window Manager has stopped working?
Has the Desktop Window Manager Stopped Working on Windows? Try These Fixes
- Run an SFC Scan.
- Run the Check Disk Utility.
- Rotate the Second Screen.
- Update or Roll Back the Graphics Card Driver.
- Scan for Malware.
- Install Windows Updates.
- Create a New User Account.
- Troubleshoot the Issue With a Clean Boot.
Can I restart dwm?
How do I close dwm in Linux?
Utilities
- Shift + Alt + Enter – Launch a terminal.
- Shift + Alt + c – Kills a window.
- Alt + p – dmenu.
- Alt + J or Alt + K – Move to another terminal.
- Alt + Enter – Toggles Windows between stack and master.
- Shift + Alt + q – Quit dwm.
What is GDM Fedora?
Fedora Switch Display Manager – GDM / SDDM / LXDM / LightDM / KDM / XDM. Updated on December 6, 2021 by JR 9 comments. Display manager is a graphical login manager which starts a session, simply asks username and password to login desktop.
How do I start GUI mode in Linux?
How to switch boot target to GUI (graphical UI)
- Open the Linux terminal application.
- Again, for remote Linux servers, use the ssh command.
- Find which target unit is used by default: systemctl get-default.
- To change boot target to the GUI mode:
- Make sure you reboot the Linux box using the reboot command:
How do I switch between GUI and terminal in Linux?
To switch back to text mode, simply press CTRL + ALT + F1 . This will not stop your graphical session, it will simply switch you back to the terminal you logged in at. You can switch back to the graphical session with CTRL + ALT + F7 . Joseph R.
Does Linux have a UI?
A. Short answer: Yes. Both Linux and UNIX have GUI system.
What does Alt F2 do in Ubuntu?
Alt+F2: Run console
This is for power users. If you want to run a quick command, instead of opening a terminal and running the command there, you can use Alt+F2 to run the console.
Why there is no refresh option in Linux?
Linux doesn’t have a “refresh” option because it never gets stale. Windows gets stale, and needs to be refreshed from time to time. If you don’t refresh Windows often enough, it might even crash! It’s good to reboot Windows anyway – just refreshing it over and over isn’t enough.
What does Dconf Reset do?
This command resets all of your user configuration settings to the factory defaults. It will not remove any files from your drive.
What is Dconf in Linux?
dconf is a low-level configuration system and settings management tool. Its main purpose is to provide a back end to GSettings on platforms that don’t already have configuration storage systems. It depends on GLib. It is part of GNOME 3 and is a replacement for GConf.
How do I manually start gnome?
You can use these 3 commands:
- To start Gnome: systemctl start gdm3.
- To restart Gnome: systemctl restart gdm3.
- To stop Gnome: systemctl stop gdm3.
How do I restart Xorg?
You can try pressing Ctrl + Alt + Backspace to restart X.
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The DWM provides a smooth and seamless experience when opening and closing windows, switching between applications and using Aero Glass effects. However, the Desktop Window Manager stopped working for some users, causing visual glitches, freezes, or even crashes.
DWM is a critical component of the Windows operating system responsible for handling the display and visual effects of windows on the screen.
In this article, we’ll explore ways to resolve this article.
Why has Desktop Window Manager stopped working?
There could be several reasons why the Desktop Window Manager (DWM) service has stopped working. Some common causes include the following:
- Driver issues – Outdated or faulty graphics card drivers can cause the DWM service to stop working.
- System updates – Windows updates can sometimes cause compatibility issues with the DWM service.
- System files corruption – Corrupted system files can prevent the DWM service from functioning correctly.
- Third-party software – Certain third-party software, such as antivirus programs, can interfere with the DWM service.
- Low system resources – The DWM service requires a significant amount of system resources, and if the system needs more resources, it may stop working.
You can try the recommended solutions below if you are experiencing issues with the Desktop Window Manager.
What can I do if Desktop Window Manager has stopped working?
1. Run a system scan
- Press the Windows Key, type command, right-click on the app, and select Run as administrator.
- In the command prompt, type the script below and hit Enter.
sfc /scannow
- Wait for the command to run entirely, then restart your computer.
You can repair damaged Windows files by running a system scan. To perform this task, you need a Windows setup CD or DVD.
Performing a system scan is not something one should try to fix manually unless skilled, so it is best to leave these things to dedicated third-party software.
2. Enable the Desktop Window Manager
- Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
- Find and then right-click Desktop Windows Manager Session Manager, and select Start.
- Right-click on the Desktop Windows Manager Session Manager again, and choose Proprieties.
- Go to the General tab, and set the Startup type to Automatic.
- Click OK to save changes.
3. Perform a Clean Boot
- Press Windows + R, type in MSConfig, and hit Enter.
- Go to the Services tab.
- Check the box labeled Hide All Microsoft Services, and select Disable all.
- Go to the Startup section, and select the Open Task Manager.
- Right-click on all displayed apps and select Disable one by one.
- Exit the Task Manager, and click OK on the System Configuration window.
- Restart your PC, and check if anything has changed.
When performing a clean boot, the system looks for conflicts between programs to identify the root causes of your technical issue.
4. Check for Windows updates
- Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
- Click Update & Security.
- Click the Check for updates button.
Accessing the Windows Update Settings is easy since all you need to do is follow the above steps.
Ensuring your Windows PC is up to date means having your OS in optimal condition. In addition, the latest updates might offer repairs for errors you are dealing with.
Windows Update will find and list the most recent updates if there are any.
5. Try to create a new user account
- Press the Windows key + R to open Run, type netplwiz, and press Enter.
- In the User Accounts window, click the Add button.
- Select Sign in without a Microsoft account.
- Select Local Account, type in the details for the new account, then click Next and Finish.
- Restart your PC, and log in with the new account.
Creating a new account is a quick and simple alternative to reinstalling your OS. However, your user account could be corrupted, and you should try creating another account and see if it works.
6. Run a system restore
- Press the Windows Key + S, type Create a restore point, and select Create a restore point from the list.
- In the System Properties window, click on the System Restore button.
- Press on the Next button to proceed.
- Check the Show more restore points option, if available, or choose your restore point and click Next to proceed.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
If System Restore is turned off, you cannot use this feature, so be aware before starting the process.
This isn’t the only issue, and if this process stops working, it can be due to Desktop Window Manager high memory usage.
If our solutions helped you out, or you have other working solutions, feel free to leave a comment in the section below; we will be happy to check them out.
Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer.
She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies — AI and DNA computing in particular.
Prior to joining the WindowsReport team, she worked in the corporate world for a number of years.
Are you facing the dwm.exe stopped working issue? Your home screen window isn’t functioning normally, nor is the window connected to the second monitor. You can’t even refresh it properly. The Start Menu lags slow and glitches whenever you open a new window. The animations buffer, and the look is just unbearable. You can feel the slowness of loading or even doing a simple task. So, what is the problem with your system? The culprit could be that the Desktop Window Manager stopped working and was closed. If you are also dealing with the same problem, you are at the right place. We bring a perfect guide to help you fix the same.
Table of Contents
In simplest terms, the Desktop Window Manager or dwm.exe is like the middle man, where it receives any complex tasks from other people (programs). It delivers to you while filtering out all the complications with producing the finest outcomes. In short, it is responsible for the smooth animation and transparency of the window, the start menu animated rotating cube or tiles including images shown on the News tile, stability of high-resolution display, and overall smoothness. As a result, instead of going directly to the screen, every program has to go through the Desktop Windows Manager, which creates the picture you see on your screen. It takes the information and projects it on the screen.
What are the Reasons for Desktop Window Manager Stopped Working Issue?
If you’ve been wondering what are the reasons for the said issue, the following are some possible causes. Below are the reasons:
- Desktop Window Manager service being disabled
- Issues with Hard disk
- Corrupt or missing system files
- Malware attack
- Outdated graphic card or GPU error
- Outdated Windows OS
Method 1: Basic Troubleshooting Methods
Follow these basic troubleshooting methods at first to fix dwm.exe stopped working issue.
1. Perform Clean Boot
Using a clean boot, you can start the computer and conduct diagnostic tests to figure out which stages in the regular boot process are incorrect. Through this method, we can detect the primary cause behind the Desktop Window Manager stopped working issue. Read our guide on How to Perform Clean Boot in Windows 10 to do the same.
Once you have booted your computer in safe mode, check if the issue persists. If so, uninstall any of the latest programs or applications you have added to your system.
2. Update Graphics Card Driver
The system graphic card driver may not be working properly for several reasons, including an outdated version or a configuration incompatible with the latest system upgrade. Read our guide on 4 Ways to Update Graphics Drivers in Windows 10 and implement the same.
3. Roll Back Graphics Card Driver
To roll back is to return to an earlier version. It’s possible that the most recent version of the graphic card driver isn’t completely compatible or isn’t operating as smoothly as an earlier or previous version. This can also impact the functionality of the Desktop Window Manager. Read our guide on How to Rollback Drivers on Windows 10 and follow the steps to implement the same.
Also Read: How to Tell If Your Graphics Card is Dying
4. Update Windows
It is always a good idea to keep your system up to date, as Windows is infamously known for its bugs, crashes, viruses, and corrupt files. With new updates, they come up with new improvements and fixes. Read our guide on How to Download and Install Windows 10 Latest Update and implement the same.
Note: Please remember that the new update will take some time to install, depending on your Internet speed and system requirements. Also, do not turn off the device while installing.
Method 2: Enable Desktop Window Manager
For the desktop to perform properly, the Desktop Window Manager service should be running in the background. Follow the below steps to ensure its running:
1. Press Windows + R keys together to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type Services.msc and hit the Enter key to open Services window.
3. Double-click on the Desktop Window Manager service.
4. Under the Startup type drop-down menu, select Automatic.
Note: If the Service status is Stopped, click on the Start button. If the Service status is Running, click on Stop and Start it again.
5. Click on OK and reboot the PC.
Also Read: Fix Windows Update Service Could Not be Stopped
Method 3: Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
Still, if you can’t figure out what’s wrong and want to fix the Desktop Window Manager stopped working and was closed issue, let the troubleshooter find and fix the problem using the in-built troubleshooter. Follow our guide on How to Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter to fix dwm.exe stopped working issue in your PC.
Method 4: Run Disk Utility
The utility tool CHKDSK, also known as Check Disk, is used to diagnose and correct issues on hard drives that may have resulted from sudden crashes, malware, viruses, and corrupt files. Follow the below steps to perform the Check Disk process:
1. Press Windows + E keys simultaneously to open File Explorer.
2. Right-click on the Disk drive partition you need to check and click on Properties.
3. On the Properties window, switch to the Tools tab and click on the Check button under the Error checking section.
4. Click on Scan drive or Scan and repair drive in the next window to continue.
5A. If everything is fine, then close the properties window.
5B. If there are any issues, follow the next method to repair system files.
Also Read: Fix The Disk Check Could Not be Performed Because Windows Cannot Access the Disk
Method 5: Repair System Files
Misconfigured files can cause various issues with dwm.exe, and these can be repaired using the inbuilt utilities of your Windows 10 PC, namely System File Checker and Deployment Image Servicing and Management. The System File Checker or SFC scan fixes all the missing and corrupted system files. Use our guide, How to Repair System Files on Windows 10, and follow the steps as instructed to repair all the corrupt files on your computer.
Wait for the commands to be executed and check if the issue has been resolved.
Method 6: Run Malware Scan
A virus or malware infection can cause the Desktop Window Manager stopped working. A quick scan can detect and remove them from the affected system. Hence, you are advised to scan your computer as instructed in our guide: How do I Run a Virus Scan on my Computer?
Also, if you want to remove malware from your computer, check our guide, How to Remove Malware from your PC in Windows 10.
Also Read: 26 Best Free Malware Removal Tools
Method 7: Rotate Screen of Second Display
Suppose you are using more than one monitor. In that case, there is a connection between dwm.exe stopped working and the secondary display’s screen orientation, which could result from changes made to the graphic card settings or changing the display’s screen orientation from landscape to portrait. This issue can be fixed by switching the screen orientation back to landscape mode. Here’s how to do that:
1. Right-click on your Desktop screen. Select Display settings.
2. Select the 2nd display.
3. Scroll down to set the screen orientation to Landscape.
Method 8: Turn Off Aero Peek Feature
I’m 100% sure that you have used it a few times but are still unaware of its function name, Aero Peek. Remember hovering at the bottom right corner of the window to hide every app on the screen? Yup, that’s Aero Peek. However, most users have complained a few times regarding usage of it with the clash of Desktop Windows Manager. Follow the below steps to solve dwm.exe stopped working problem.
1. Right-click on the Taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
2. Turn Off the toggle for the Peak to preview option.
Note: Even after switching it off, you can still use the Aero Peek function. Now, all you need to do is that instead of hovering, if you click at the bottom right corner, it will hide all the apps. Click on it again and back to the same window.
Also Read: Fix Intel RST Service Is Not Running in Windows 10
Method 9: Reoptimize Hard Disk
It’s always better to keep things neatly organized, whether they’re clothes in your closet or files on your hard drive. With time and increasing file sizes, the hard drive piles up many redundant items that consume a lot of space. Here’s how to optimize your hard disk:
Note: Please keep in mind that this method only applies to HDDs and not SSDs as SSD requires a different procedure.
1. Click on Start, type Disk. Select Defragment and Optimize Drives option and hit the Enter key.
2. Select the Disk and click on Optimize.
3. Finally, reboot the PC once the process is finished.
Method 10: Create New User Account
Sometimes using a user account for a long time can cause this issue. You need to switch to another account. You can create another local user account and sign in to your existing account after some time. Read our guide on How to Create a Local User Account on Windows 10 to implement the same.
Method 11: Perform System Restore
System Restore is used to restore the system state to a previous time by selecting the restore point, made automatically or manually, to recover from problems. Basically, this will undo all the errors and can also fix Desktop Window Manager stopped working problem.
Note: Your files won’t be affected by this in any way. However, any software or drivers installed will be removed after the restore point’s creation time. Therefore, before restoring, please thoroughly check and backup your data files.
Read our guide on How to Create a System Restore Point in Windows 10 and implement the same.
Also Read: Fix There is a System Repair Pending Which Requires Reboot to Complete
Method 12: Reset PC
This process resembles a factory reset for your device. This will restore Windows to its original state, free of errors and damaged files. It wipes out the previous Operating System, the data stored in programs, settings, and all of your personal files. And a new OS will be installed with all the updates installed. Yet, you can reset Windows 10 without losing any data.
Note: It is always advisable to create a backup of important files and data.
Follow our guide on How to Reset Windows 10 Without Losing Data to fix dwm.exe stopped working issue.
Once you have repair installed on your PC, your Operating System will be updated to its latest version.
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- 14 Best Desktop Search Engines For Windows 10
We hope that this guide was helpful and you were able to fix Desktop Window Manager stopped working issue. Let us know which method worked for you the best. If you have any queries or suggestions, feel free to drop them in the comment section below. Also, let us know what you want to learn next.
Desktop Window Manager is for the first time introduced in Windows Vista and it is available in Windows 7 and Windows 8. What is the purpose of Desktop Window Manager? Desktop Window Manager is used to compose the desktop. Through desktop composition, Desktop Window Manager enables visual effects on the desktop and various features including glass window frames, 3-D window transition animations, Windows Flip and Windows Flip3D, and high-resolution support.
The Desktop Window Manager runs as a Windows service and can be enabled or disabled through Services tool. If is not working properly, you will see an error on your Desktop: Desktop Window Manager stopped working and was closed.
This issue occurs on operating systems from Windows Vista to Windows 8. There are different reasons why this error occurs, including a problem with the service, a problem with the operating system, the conflict between files, malware infections, and others.
We created 17 methods which will help you to solve this issue. So, let’s start.
Method 1: Try to rotate the second screen
Are you using more than one monitor? Did you do some changes on the graphics card like changing rotation settings by using graphics card software? If your answer is not for both questions, please read next method. But, if your answer is yes for one or both questions you should continue to read this article. Few users encouraged this issue after they changed second screen rotation to portrait mode. What was the right solution for this problem? You should try to change rotation screen to landscape mode and problems should disappear. After you do this changes, please restart and test your Windows machine.
Method 2: Perform a Clean Boot in Windows
This is one of the best methods how to check is there a conflict between two applications or is there an issue with some application. Clean boot provides booting your Windows without application services or driver services, so it will eliminate suspiciously is there a conflict between Desktop Windows Manager and another application. After you do clean boot, and issue is still there, we are recommending you to check another method, because there is not any conflict between Desktop Windows Manager and another application. If the issue is not there, it means some applications are conflicting with Desktop Windows Manager. How will you know which application is conflicting with Desktop Windows Manager? We recommend you to test one by one application and restart your Windows. You can find more information in links which are included in the text below.
Method 3: Check Desktop Window Manager service
If service is not started, that means application or tool will not work. The same situation is with Desktop Window Manager. In this method, we will show you how to configure Desktop Window Manager service through Service tool. We will show you how to do it on Windows 7 Pro, and the same procedure is compatible with another operating system.
- Hold Windows logo and press R
- Type services.msc and press Enter to open Services
- Navigate to Desktop Window Manager Session Manager Properties service. This service provides Desktop Window Manager startup and maintenance service.
- Right click on Desktop Window Manager Session Manager Properties service and choose Properties
- Choose General tab
- Under Startup type, choose Automatic and then click Start. If the status is already running, click the Stop button and confirm with Yes to stop the service. Restart the service by clicking the Start button.
- Click Apply and then OK
- Close Services tool
- Restart and test your Windows machine
If you do not need Desktop Windows Manager and disabling of this service will not decrease your productivity or make some problems to your work, you can disable Desktop Windows Manager. You will need to follow the procedure above, and instead of choosing Startup type: Automatic, you need to choose Manual.
Method 4: Change version of graphics card driver
Updating or downgrading graphics driver can be a potential solution for this problem. What will you do depends on your last action? If you updated your graphics card driver and Desktop Window Manager stopped to work, you will need to rollback graphics card driver to the previous version, by following method 2.But, if you did not update your graphics card driver, it is the right time to do it. You can update graphics card driver, by following method 3.
Method 5: Turn of Aero Peek
Aero Peek is here since Windows 7 and it is located on the right side of Taskbar. If you move your mouse to the right side on the Taskbar, Windows will hide all opened applications and documents and it will show your Desktop. In this method, you will need to disable Aero Peek, by following method 1. The procedure is compatible with Windows 7 and Windows 8.
Method 6: Defragment hard disk
If you are using your machine for a long time, files on your hard disk get fragmented which slows down your Windows machine. The best solution for this is to do disk defragmentation using Disk Defragmenter. Disk Defragmenter is integrated into Windows and you can access it using different ways. We will show you one way which is compatible with all operating systems. If you are using SSD (Solid State Drive), please read next method, because SSDs are working in different ways as HDDs, and you do not need to defragment SSDs. We will show you how to defragment a hard disk WD 320 GB SATA II on Windows 7 Pro.
- Hold Windows logo and press R
- Type dfrgui and press Enter to open Disk Defragmenter
- Click Defragment disk
- Wait until Windows is finished disk defragmentation
- Close Disk Defragmenter tool
- Restart and test your Windows machine
Method 7: Perform a System Restore
Implementation of backup and restore strategy is a crucial action for home and business environment. There are different solutions for Windows or data recovery, and one of them is System Restore. What can you with System Restore? If System Restore is enabled on your Windows machine, you can revert the operating system to the previous state when everything worked without any problems. Please note that you can not restore your Windows machine to the previous state if System Restore is turned off. Please read how to perform a System Restore, by following method 17.
Method 8: Run Windows Update
Updating your operating system, drivers and applications are one of the crucial steps you need to do on your Windows machine. Microsoft is using term Patch Tuesday (Update Tuesday) which means that Microsoft releases updates every second or fourth Tuesday of each month. If you are not running Windows update, malware can infect and damage your operating system, software or data because security patches are not installed. In this method, you will need to run Windows Update on your machine. Please read how to run Windows Update, by following method 1.
Method 9: Scan your hard disk for malware
No one likes malware because it is destructive and can be really powerful in destroying operating system, applications, drivers or data. In this method, you will need to scan your hard disk for malware using Malwarebytes. If you do not use Malwarebytes, you will need to download and install it on your Windows machine. Please read how to run Malwarebytes, by following method 10. Also, we are recommending you to scan your hard disk for malware using Avira Antivir or Microsoft Defender. You will find more information how to run Avira Antivir or Microsoft Defender on method 5. After you finished removing malware from your machine, you will need to restart and your Windows machine.
Method 10: Run Check Disk
When your hard disk is not working properly because of file corruption or bad sectors, you should do a check disk. Check disk is a utility which will help you to find bad sectors, and fix them in case there are fixable. You will need to run check disk through Command Prompt by the following method 14. This method is compatible with the operating system from Windows Vista to Windows 7.
Method 11: Run SFC /SCANNOW
System File Checker (SFC) is a command line utility integrated into Windows that checks for system file corruption. In case SFC found some issues with system file corruption, SFC will try to fix them. SFC includes additional commands as SCANNOW. SCANNOW scans integrity of all protected system files and repairs files with problems when possible. In this method, you will need to run SFC /SCANNOW. This method is compatible with the operating system from Windows Vista to Windows 7.
Method 12: Repair Windows installation
Sometimes due to the malware infections, file corruption or something other your Windows installation can be damaged. The best way to fix is it by repairing Windows installation. For this method you will need to reconfigure BIOS or UEFI and boot your Windows from Windows DVD, and after that run Windows repair. The same procedure is compatible with Windows Vista and Windows 8.
Method 13: Update Windows 7 to Service Pack 1
If you are using Windows 7 without SP1, you will need to download and install proper SP1 for your Windows 7. Based on operating system architecture you are using, you will need to download 32-bit or 64-bit SP1. Windows 7 SP1 is available on Microsoft Download Center. If you are not using Windows 7, please read next method. You can read more information how to update Windows 7 to Service Pack 1, by following method 5.
Method 14: Create new user account
Your user account can be corrupted and one of the problems which can occur is a problem with Desktop Window Manager. You can solve this issue by creating a new account. You do not need to reinstall the operating system to create another user account, you can do it using your current user account. Please note, you will need Administrator privilege because Standard user account is not allowed to create user accounts. Also, you will need to move your data to a new user account. You can read instructions how to create a new user account by following method 14. The procedure is the same or similar on another operating system from Windows Vista to Windows 8.
Method 15: Change version of BIOS or UEFI
We talked so many times about BIOS or UEFI, and if you read our articles, you should know what is the purpose of BIOS or UEFI. In this method, you will need to change the version of your BIOS or UEFI. At first, we are recommending you to update your BIOS or UEFI to the newest version. If that does not solve the issue, please try to downgrade version of BIOS or UEFI. How will you do it? There are a lot of articles which can teach you how to change the version of your BIOS or EUFI. Pleas read instructions how to change version of BIOS or UEFI. Before changing version of BIOS or UEFI, we are recommending you to read the technical documentation of your motherboard.
Method 16: Upgrade operating system
I hope you are not using Windows Vista because it is not anymore supported by Microsoft. So, we are recommending you to upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 7 or newer operating system. Few users solved their problem by upgrading their operating system to a newer version.