Clicking through windows

Question

Approximately after last big creator update, I noticed that some windows become "click-through", that is, when I try to click something in a window, what is actually clicked is behind it (which is invisible until you click it).

If it's another window that was behind it comes to the top, if it's desktop and you manage to double click an icon - that app will come up, etc. The click to the visible window on top do not register.

So far it happened to Google Chrome and Steam. It happens appropriately once a day, I was not able to determine what causes it. If you close the affected app and re-open it the effect goes away.

Any idea how I could track down, why this keeps happening?

Update: Just to avoid answer that suggest to "reboot" or "reinstall windows", here is what I tried:

• Antivirus check - pass
• chkdsk check - pass
• SFC /Scannow - pass
• Windows Update - latest

PC is being re-booted regularly.

Answer 1

I have that bug too. Only fix afaik is downgrading to a pre 1709 version. A temporary workaround is hitting Win+D twice or reloading the vga driver with CTRL+Shift+Win+B or minimizing and maximizing the affected windows.

Answer 2

Try to use DISM.EXE to check/repair system files:

1. Scan to check for corruption:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

2. Check to see whether any corruption has been dethatched:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

3. If it is repairable, type below command(make sure that system built-in Windows Update is working as below command using Windows Update to provide the files that are required to fix corruptions):

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

>So far it happened to Google Chrome and Steam.

If it happens on specific software/program, try to have an reparation installation, or re-installation and check the result.

Answer 3

Have had the same issue recently on Win 10 1803 with a Logitech G403 mouse on a Surface Book 2 - sometimes touch input would work nevertheless, sometimes it wouldn't. Win+L, then signing back in works for me to restore functionality - so does Ctrl+Alt+Del, then simply dismissing the screen that opens.

Answer 4

I just now had this happen to me in audacity and was able to make it start responding again by alt-tabbing through all my programs a couple times and ending up in audacity again. Not a very good solution, but it worked in a pinch.

Answer 5

You might have to do a fresh re-installation of Windows to fix the error. Or you can run chkdsk (check disk) which checks your system for errors. To do this, press (Win Key + R), type cmd and press enter. As soon as the Command Prompt window pops up, type chkdsk and press enter. It might take a while for the utility to check your whole system.