Why do Snap Layouts stop appearing when I hover over the maximize button?

Since restarting Explorer temporarily fixes it, the hover interaction may be getting stuck. That alone does not mean the Windows shell is corrupted.

The next time it happens, try Win + Z with the affected window selected, then test hovering over the maximize button in Notepad.

• Win + Z works, but hovering fails in every app: the layouts are still available; the problem is with the hover trigger. Use Win + Z as the immediate workaround.
• Hovering works in Notepad but not the original app: update that app. Apps with custom title bars can handle the maximize button differently, so repairing Windows is unlikely to be the right fix.
• Both methods fail across apps: the problem is broader than the hover action.

For a lasting fix, first fully exit any third-party window manager, snapping utility or title-bar customization tool, including its tray process. Keep it disabled long enough to cover the period when the problem normally returns. If Snap Layouts stays reliable, update that tool or disable its window-management feature.

If you do not use those tools, or it still happens with them closed, install available Windows updates. If the issue began immediately after a particular update, include that KB number and your Windows build in a Feedback Hub report, along with the Win + Z/Notepad test results.

There is no single permanent fix established by these symptoms. Win + Z can avoid repeated restarts while you narrow down whether this is an app-specific issue, a software conflict or an Explorer problem.