Turn off Pop-Ups in Where Winds Meet : Solved

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The exploration pop-up bug in Where Winds Meet happens when you unlock Shadowstride or Thousand Mile Flight before fully exploring the starter region. These exploration pop-ups repeat every few seconds because the game thinks you’re entering “unexplored traversal zones.”

The issue keeps triggering during long-distance movement and fast mobility skills.

Quick Fix

Fully complete the remaining exploration nodes in the first zone, then restart the game to clear the repeated exploration pop-ups.

Fix 1: Complete the Missing Exploration Nodes

The exploration pop-ups happen because the first zone isn’t fully explored. Shadowstride and Thousand Mile Flight continuously hit incomplete map triggers, causing nonstop notifications.

Clearing those nodes removes the triggers entirely.

Steps:

  1. Open Map → Exploration Progress.
  2. Find any grey or unvisited exploration points.
  3. Travel to each missing node.
  4. Finish until the zone hits 100%.

Testing Step:
Use Thousand Mile Flight—if the pop-ups vanish, the zone is fully synced.

Root Cause:
Traversal skills cross hidden “exploration boundaries,” triggering reminders until the zone is complete.

Fix 2: Turn Off Exploration Assist

Exploration Assist forces the game to show pop-ups whenever you’re near uncompleted areas. Disabling it instantly removes most on-screen exploration reminders.

The system continues tracking exploration but stops showing alerts.

Steps:

  1. Go to Settings → Gameplay.
  2. Find Exploration Assist.
  3. Turn it OFF.
  4. Restart the game.

Testing Step:
Travel across open world—no pop-ups should appear.

Root Cause:
Exploration Assist overchecks traversal zones when mobility skills are active.

Fix 3: Disable Tutorial & Guidance Notifications

When tutorial flags stay active, the game thinks you’re still learning traversal. This causes repeat pop-ups every time you cross a boundary.

Turning off guidance removes these alerts.

Steps:

  1. Open Settings → Interface.
  2. Disable Tutorial Prompts, Guidance Messages, and Movement Tips.
  3. Save settings.
  4. Reload the zone.

Testing Step:
Use Shadowstride—the screen should stay clean.

Root Cause:
Tutorial flags remain active even after unlocking advanced movement skills.

Fix 4: Switch Zones to Reset the Exploration Script

Some players get the pop-ups only in the first zone. Switching zones resets the exploration event layer so the game stops spamming notifications.

This is an easy fix when the problem is region-specific.

Steps:

  1. Teleport to another region or town.
  2. Move around with your mobility skill.
  3. Return to the original zone.
  4. Check if pop-ups persist.

Testing Step:
If pop-ups disappear in the new region, your original zone needs reset.

Root Cause:
Zone metadata becomes outdated after learning new traversal abilities.

Fix 5: Complete Any Movement Tutorial Quests

If the movement tutorial chain is incomplete, the game continues showing exploration reminders. Finishing these hidden quests clears the tutorial state.

Completing these quests also syncs traversal progression properly.

Steps:

  1. Open Quests → Tutorial / Movement.
  2. Check for incomplete traversal quests.
  3. Complete each required task.
  4. Re-enter the open world.

Testing Step:
Move with Shadowstride—tutorial pop-ups should stop.

Root Cause:
Unfinished mobility tutorials force the system to keep sending exploration prompts.

Fix 6: Reset UI Layout to Clear Exploration Pop-Up Triggers

The exploration pop-ups can be caused by a corrupted UI layer. Resetting the interface forces the game to rebuild the pop-up logic tied to Shadowstride and Thousand Mile Flight. This helps when notifications appear even in zones you already explored.

Resetting UI is especially effective when fast movement repeatedly triggers frozen UI event boxes.

Steps:

  1. Open Settings → Interface.
  2. Select Reset UI Layout.
  3. Confirm and apply.
  4. Reload the current region.

Testing Step:
Use Thousand Mile Flight—if the UI stays clean, the reset worked.

Root Cause:
UI event layers get stuck in a tutorial state, looping exploration pop-ups.

Fix 7: Disable Pop-Up Categories in Accessibility Settings

Some exploration pop-ups fall under broader categories of on-screen notifications. Disabling their category reduces or eliminates repeated alerts from fast traversal.

This method hides the pop-ups even if exploration remains incomplete.

Steps:

  1. Go to Settings → Accessibility.
  2. Lower or disable On-Screen Pop-Up Types.
  3. Apply the new settings.
  4. Restart the game.

Testing Step:
Sprint or glide through the zone; notifications should be suppressed.

Root Cause:
Accessibility filters manage notification layers tied to exploration triggers.

Fix 8: Clear Shader Cache to Refresh Lighting & Exploration Checks

The exploration pop-up issue can visually appear faster or more aggressively if lighting and shaders are desynced. Clearing shader cache resets environmental triggers the game uses during traversal.

This reduces false “movement discovery” pop-ups.

Steps:

  1. Open Settings → Graphics.
  2. Select Clear Shader Cache.
  3. Restart the game.
  4. Return to the affected zone.

Testing Step:
Glide or Shadowstride through open terrain—fewer pop-ups should appear.

Root Cause:
Corrupted shaders confuse lighting and boundary triggers that exploration uses.

Fix 9: Change Graphics Preset to Rebuild World Boundaries

The exploration pop-ups can be tied to broken world-boundary loading. Switching graphics presets forces the engine to reload terrain markers that mobility skills rely on.

This can stop the “boundary spam” triggered by Thousand Mile Flight.

Steps:

  1. Go to Settings → Graphics.
  2. Choose a different preset (Low/Medium/High).
  3. Apply and wait a few seconds.
  4. Switch back to your preferred preset.

Testing Step:
Perform long-distance traversal and see if boundaries stop triggering pop-ups.

Root Cause:
Graphics presets rebuild level-of-detail boundaries that exploration uses.

Fix 10: Reduce FPS Cap to Stabilize Boundary Detection

At very high or uncapped FPS, traversal skills can register multiple boundary crossings per frame. Lowering the FPS stabilizes detection, reducing exploration pop-ups.

This is effective for players using Shadowstride with high refresh monitors.

Steps:

  1. Open Settings → Graphics → Display.
  2. Set FPS Limit to 60, 90, or 120.
  3. Save and reload the area.

Testing Step:
Use Thousand Mile Flight; if fewer notifications appear, FPS was multiplying triggers.

Root Cause:
Uncapped FPS can run exploration checks multiple times per tick.

Fix 11: Switch to a Different Server or Channel

The exploration pop-up bug may occur only on specific server instances. Switching channels forces your character into a new instance with refreshed boundary data.

This helps when you see pop-ups only in one region.

Steps:

  1. Go to Server / Channel Selection.
  2. Pick another channel.
  3. Load in and test traversal.

Testing Step:
If pop-ups stop in the new channel, the old instance was corrupted.

Root Cause:
Individual server channels sometimes store outdated exploration metadata.

Fix 12: Finish Any Remaining Zone-Specific Side Quests

Certain zones don’t mark exploration as complete until relevant side quests are done. Incomplete quests can keep the pop-ups active during traversal.

Completing these ensures the zone’s exploration state updates.

Steps:

  1. Open Quests → Side Quests for the region.
  2. Track any that relate to travel, scouting, or discovery.
  3. Complete them fully.
  4. Return to the first zone.

Testing Step:
Move across the zone—pop-ups should stop once the quest flags update.

Root Cause:
Side quests control hidden exploration flags required for pop-up suppression.

Fix 13: Verify Game Files to Repair Exploration Logic

Corrupted map or region data can cause the exploration system to fire incorrectly. Repairing the game files restores missing exploration boundaries.

This helps especially after updates.

Steps:

  1. Open your launcher.
  2. Select Verify / Repair Game Files.
  3. Wait for the scan.
  4. Restart the game.

Testing Step:
Try Shadowstride after repair—pop-ups should be reduced or gone.

Root Cause:
Broken region files cause the game to think areas are unexplored forever.

Fix 14: Reset Navigation Settings to Default

Navigation assist settings tie directly into exploration guidance. Resetting them refreshes the zone boundary checks tied to mobility skills.

This resolves frequent prompts when crossing terrain edges.

Steps:

  1. Go to Settings → Gameplay → Navigation.
  2. Press Reset to Default.
  3. Apply and restart the game.

Testing Step:
Fly or sprint across the zone—pop-ups should calm down.

Root Cause:
Navigation assistance keeps forcing boundary checks unless reset.

Fix 15: Trigger a Cutscene or Short Story Segment

Cutscenes reset world-time and exploration logic. Starting a short event often breaks the pop-up loop and refreshes the exploration layer.

This is useful when the bug persists after many resets.

Steps:

  1. Start any short quest or interaction.
  2. Watch through the brief cutscene.
  3. Exit and return to open world.
  4. Use your traversal skills again.

Testing Step:
If pop-ups stop after the cutscene, the world-state refresh fixed it.

Root Cause:
Story events reload the exploration and movement scripts that are bugged.

Do the pop-ups stop once you fully explore the beginner zone or hit a certain map completion threshold?

Yes — many movement pop-ups are linked to early-zone exploration milestones, and they often stop once you fully uncover the beginner area.
The game uses these prompts to teach traversal mechanics, so when you reach a certain discovery percentage, the system no longer thinks you need reminders.

Players usually notice the pop-ups disappear after:

  • Reaching a specific exploration percentage
  • Unlocking all key landmarks in the starter zone
  • Finishing the intro movement tutorials tied to the region

If you still see pop-ups long after exploring, it often means one tutorial flag didn’t clear.
Completing or revisiting any missed discovery points typically removes the prompts.

Is there a hidden toggle in the UI or tutorial settings that controls movement-ability prompts?

Some games include a quiet toggle that disables tutorial reminders, especially movement-related abilities like dashing, gliding, or wall-running.
If this exists in your settings, it’s usually buried under UI guidance, pop-up tips, or tutorial assist options.

Players often report the prompts vanish after adjusting:

  • Tutorial guidance settings
  • Beginner-assist tips
  • Ability reminder toggles
  • General UI hint settings

If the toggle is off by default, you may still see pop-ups until the game decides you’ve learned the mechanic.
Toggling tutorials off and then back on can also force the system to reset its behavior.

Do these messages disappear after relogging or changing world instances?

Yes — when pop-ups keep looping even after you’ve learned the ability, it’s usually a client-side flag failing to clear.
Relogging forces the tutorial state to refresh, and switching to a new world instance reloads all hint triggers.

Players say the prompts stop after:

  • Relogging once
  • Switching channels or instances
  • Teleporting to a major city
  • Loading into a fresh zone

If the pop-up instantly disappears after any of these actions, the issue was a stuck tutorial flag rather than actual progression.
This is one of the most common fixes.

Are other players getting nonstop pop-ups specifically after unlocking Shadowstride or Thousand Mile Flight?

Yes — many players report that movement tutorials bug out right after unlocking advanced abilities like Shadowstride or Thousand Mile Flight.
These upgrades expand your traversal kit, but the tutorial system sometimes mistakes them as “new movement actions” and re-triggers beginner prompts.

Common signs include:

  • Pop-ups repeating every time you move quickly
  • Prompts appearing in zones where they never showed before
  • Messages re-looping after upgrading movement skills

It’s not tied to your skill use — it’s the tutorial system refreshing incorrectly after unlocking mobility abilities.
This usually clears after a reset or after redoing the initial movement teaching area.

Could the pop-ups be tied to unfinished tutorial quests rather than actual exploration progress?

Yes — if you skipped or partially completed a tutorial quest, the game may think you still haven’t learned basic movement.
Even if you explored the map fully, any unfinished tutorial step can keep the pop-ups alive.

These include:

  • Intro movement quests
  • Ability-learning tasks
  • Early shrine or waypoint interactions
  • NPC tutorials you walked away from

Completing the missing step instantly clears the reminder triggers.
This is one of the most common reasons players see endless pop-ups despite high exploration progress.

Does completing a nearby discovery point or landmark silence the notifications?

Yes — many pop-ups stop once you trigger the nearest discovery point, landmark, or small exploration node the game expects you to visit.
These prompts are often tied to invisible “teaching zones” that only deactivate when you physically register the landmark.

Players usually see notifications disappear after completing:

  • Local shrines or lookout points
  • Small lore markers around villages
  • Intro exploration nodes tied to movement tutorials

If you skip a nearby landmark, the system keeps reminding you to explore even if the rest of the map is already revealed.
Walking directly to the closest missing discovery point often silences the prompts instantly.

Are the pop-ups triggered by entering unscouted fog areas even if fast-travel points are already unlocked?

Yes — some games treat fog-of-war edges as their own trigger zones, separate from fast-travel unlocks.
Even if your teleport points are active, entering a partially fogged border can retrigger exploration messages.

This happens most often when entering:

  • Outer edges of beginner zones
  • Half-revealed forests or cliffs
  • Transition corridors between regions

The system sees the fog and assumes you’re still learning traversal, so it fires the tutorial reminder.
Fully clearing the fog or walking the border manually usually prevents the pop-ups from reappearing.

Is there a known bug where traversal skills repeatedly retrigger location tips?

Yes — advanced movement skills can confuse early-zone triggers.
Abilities like leaps, teleports, or gliding sometimes cause the game to think you’ve “entered the zone incorrectly,” restarting location tips.

This bug commonly appears after unlocking:

  • Shadowstep-type dashes
  • Long-distance flight abilities
  • Teleport or blink movement

Because these skills move you too quickly, the map scripts misfire and replay tutorial prompts.
A relog or walking the zone normally often resets the trigger completely.

Do the notifications stop once you manually walk through the unexplored zone instead of using movement abilities?

Yes — many pop-ups disappear only when you physically walk through an area instead of flying, teleporting, or dash-moving across it.
High-mobility skills often skip the detection boxes that mark the area as “explored.”

Players report fixes after:

  • Walking through the zone on foot
  • Avoiding dashes until the flag clears
  • Slowly crossing the region’s boundary markers

Once the detection box registers your presence, the pop-ups typically vanish for good.

Could this be connected to your minimap zoom level or exploration filter settings?

Yes — minimap filters can affect how the game interprets exploration progress.
If the map hides certain icons or compresses fog boundaries, the system may think you haven’t fully explored the region.

This is most noticeable when:

  • Minimap zoom is too far in
  • Exploration icons are filtered out
  • Fog-of-war edges appear differently in your UI

Changing the zoom level or resetting map filters often realigns detection boxes with your actual progress.
Once the game recognizes the explored area correctly, the pop-up spam usually stops.

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