He was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and a ruling Count of Hohenzollern-Hechingen.
In 1388, he regained the town of Hechingen, which bishop Friedrich of Strasbourg had held.
Friedrich XI died in 1401, and was buried in the Hohenzollern crypt in Stetten Abbey.
Before 12 January 1377, Friedrich XI married Adelheid (d. 1413), a daughter of Count Hugo of Fürstenberg-Zindelstein.
Johann died childless in the Battle of Sempach of 1386, and Friedrich XI inherited Bräunlingen from him, which gave rise to a lengthy dispute with the main line of the Fürstenberg family.