Weird gaps in Windows Explorer on Windows 11

from Stardock Forums

With a number of Windowblinds themes in Windows 11, Explorer has a weird gap at the top of the navigation and content areas, or between the menu bar / toolbar and the content areas.  I can see through it to the window underneath. 

Weirdly, I can't seem to capture the peek-through in a screenshot, perhaps due to some leak-prevention code in Windows.

Note that I'm using a scaling factor of 200% on my main monitor, because it's 4K at 27 inches.  For that size and resolution, 100% would be unreadable and 150% would be blurry.

Code
  3. Windows 11 Professional 25H2 (26100.ge_release.240331-1435)
  5. WindowBlinds 11.06 (021 x64 - Windows 11 Edition) - 64 bit OS
  7.  
  9. Window titlebar blur features are enabled on this operating system
  11.  
  13.         Wblind.dll                2025/04/08 08:53:23
  15.         Wblind64.dll              2025/04/08 08:53:49
  17.         Wbsrv.dll                2025/04/08 08:53:33
  19.         WB11Config.exe            2025/09/10 09:37:10
  21.         Wbload.dll                2025/04/08 08:54:38
  23.         Screen10.exe              2025/04/08 08:54:45


Mac Classic theme:

Sakura theme: (look closely just to the right of the up arrow on the scrollbar)

eXperience 11 theme: "Windows Classic (Win11)"

eXperience 11 theme: "Watercolor (XP Beta Build 2250) (Win11)"

Watercolor XP Theme (with window maximized):

windowblinds
2,340 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Unfortunately, I don't have any of these themes mentioned here. Perhaps you can post a link in Wincustomize.com so I can download and verify your issue.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

eXperience 11: https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds/9262/

Mac Classic: Seems to come with Windowblinds 11, but I'm not sure exactly which build number.

Watercolor XP: https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds/3178/

Sakura: I could've sworn it was a Master Skin on this site, as claimed by a dead link in a suite, but it's gone.
The closest I can find is a remake by LightStar on another site, but I refuse to pay again, because nuking the downloads for something I already paid for is incredibly rude, even if the old download is obsolete.

The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Here is what I get on my system with eXperience 11 with Substyle: "Windows Classic (Win11)" with 200% scale on 27" 4K monitor. I can't find the "see through it to the window underneath". But, do know that I am on WB 11.07. Perhaps, try update your WB to this latest version, reboot and retest it.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting DanaGoyette, reply 2

Sakura: I could've sworn it was a Master Skin on this site, as claimed by a dead link in a suite, but it's gone.
The closest I can find is a remake by LightStar on another site, but I refuse to pay again, because nuking the downloads for something I already paid for is incredibly rude, even if the old download is obsolete.

This was a Master Skin by vStyler. Stardock discontinued that program. Lightstar is managing vStyler's skins on his site: https://lightstardesign.com/

Perhaps pm him re your prior purchase.

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Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

I have also tested Watercolor XP by Binary, look like this skin did not define title bar for maximized Windows properly. It was last updated in 2003. Since the image for maximized window was not define. WB probably use normal top frame image which was made short vertically than what it should, hence those uncovered area, get see through.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 4

LightStar is managing vStyler's skins on his site: https://lightstardesign.com/

Perhaps pm him re your prior purchase.

I was going to mention the same thing Doc. Thanks. Going to check the skin today for those issues, but I don't remember it having them. I would imagine it's because of using 200% scaling though, and possibly something Microsoft is doing wrong.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting LightStar, reply 6

I was going to mention the same thing Doc. Thanks.

Yw, Tom.

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Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Well, I just checked Sakura in Windows 11 and since I get rid of explorer tabs using Windhawk, I turned everything off in Windhawk off and rebooted. There is nothing wrong at all with the maximized windows in Windows 11 when I check them. It must be using the 200% scaling or something else causing this issue DanaGoyette, Since you are having this issue with many different skins, try going back to 100% scaling, reboot and check.

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