Start Menu Not Working in Windows 10: How to Fix It

If your Windows 10 Start Menu won't open or respond, don't worry! This is a common issue, and there are several ways to troubleshoot and resolve it. Follow these steps to get your Start Menu back up and running.

1. Restart Your Computer

The simplest solution is often the most effective: try restarting your computer. Sometimes, a simple reboot can fix temporary system glitches.

2. Restart Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer (Explorer.exe) manages the desktop and Start Menu interface. Restarting it can resolve many interface issues:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
  2. Find Windows Explorer in the list of processes.
  3. Right-click it and select Restart.

3. Check for Windows Updates

Microsoft often fixes issues like this in system updates. To check for updates:

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
  2. Navigate to Update & Security.
  3. Click Check for updates and install any available updates.

4. Use PowerShell Commands

If the Start Menu is still not working, try using a PowerShell command to fix it:

  1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
  2. Go to File > Run new task.
  3. Type powershell and check the box for Create this task with administrative privileges.
  4. In the PowerShell window, enter the following command and press Enter: 
    Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
  5. After the command completes, restart your computer.

5. Create a New User Account

If the problem persists, it may be caused by a corrupted user profile. Try creating a new user account:

  1. Open Task Manager and go to File > Run new task.
  2. Type cmd and check Create this task with administrative privileges.
  3. In the Command Prompt, type the following command: 
    net user NewUsername NewPassword /add
  4. Restart your computer and sign in with the new account.

6. Reset Windows 10

If nothing has worked so far, you may need to reset your Windows 10 system. This should be a last resort, but it can fix deep system issues:

  1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
  2. Click Get started under the Reset this PC section and follow the instructions.