Windows 10 start menu button not working? (7 solutions)
This tutorial will show you step by step what to do when the Windows 10 start menu button isn't working.
Is the start menu not opening when you click on the start menu button?
Here are 7 things you can try to fix the problem.
Related: Windows 11 start menu not working? Here's how to fix it!
Restart the “Start” process
This method only works for Windows 10 version 1903 and later versions.
1. Open Windows Task Manager.
Three ways to open Task Manager:
- Right-click on the taskbar and choose Task Manager.
- Right-click on the start menu button and choose Task Manager.
- Press the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys on your keyboard and choose Task Manager.
2. Click on More details located in the bottom left corner of the Task Manager window to view all options.
3. In the Processes section, you right-click on Start, and then click on End task.
Or you can also click on Start to select this process, and then click on the End task button in the bottom right corner of the window.
Windows 10 will automatically start the “Start” process again.
5. Close the Task Manager window.
Check if the Start menu is working now. If not, then try the next solution.
Restart the “Windows Explorer” process
1. Open Windows Task Manager.
Three ways to open Task Manager:
- Right-click on the taskbar and choose Task Manager.
- Right-click on the start menu button and choose Task Manager.
- Press the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys on your keyboard and choose Task Manager.
2. Click on More details located in the bottom left corner of the Windows Task Manager window.
3. In the Processes section, you right-click on Windows Explorer, and then you click on Restart.
Or you can also click on Windows Explorer to select this process, and then click on the Restart button in the bottom right corner of the window.
4. Close the Task Manager window.
Check if the Start menu is working now. If not, then try the next solution.
Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool
1. Open Windows Command Prompt as administrator.
Three Ways to open Windows Command Prompt as administrator:
- Press the Windows + X keyboard keys at the same time and then click on Command Prompt (Admin).
- Right-click on the start menu button and then click on Command Prompt (Admin).
- Enter cmd in the Windows search bar or Cortana, then right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
2. When the User Account Control (UAC) window appears, you click Yes.
Note: Depending on your settings, you might need to enter your administrator password first and then click Yes.
The Command Prompt window will appear.
3. Type (or copy and paste) the following command:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
4. Press the Enter key on your keyboard.
5. Wait for the process to finish.
6. Close the Command Prompt window.
7. Restart your computer.
Check if the Start menu is working now. If not, then try the next solution.
Windows Powershell
1. Open Windows PowerShell.
Three ways to open Windows PowerShell:
- Press the Windows + R key on your keyboard, enter powershell and then press Enter.
- Enter powershell in the Windows search bar or Cortana and then click on Windows PowerShell when it appears.
- Right-click on the start menu button and choose Command Prompt (Admin), then enter powershell and then press Enter.
2. Type (or copy and paste) the following command:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard.
4. Wait for the process to finish.
Note: Some errors may appear (in red), but you can ignore them.
5. Close the PowerShell window.
Check if the Start menu is working now. If not, then try the next solution.
System File Checker Tool
1. Open Windows Command Prompt as administrator.
Three Ways to open Windows Command Prompt as administrator:
- Press the Windows + X keyboard keys at the same time and then click on Command Prompt (Admin).
- Right-click on the start menu button and then click on Command Prompt (Admin).
- Enter cmd in the Windows search bar or Cortana, then right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
2. When the User Account Control (UAC) window appears, you click Yes.
Note: Depending on your settings, you might need to enter your administrator password first and then click Yes.
The Command Prompt window will appear.
3. Type the following command:
sfc /scannow
4. Press the Enter key on your keyboard.
The System File Checker tool will scan all protected system files, and replace corrupted files with a cached copy.
This process may take a while.
5. Wait for the process to finish.
Note: If the System File Checker tool is unable to fix corrupt files, then go to the following page: How to Solve the “SFC Unable to Fix Corrupt Files” Problem in Windows 10.
6. Close the Command Prompt window.
Check if the Start menu is working now. If not, then try the next solution.
Batch file
1. Open Windows Notepad.
Two ways to open Notepad:
- Type notepad in the Windows search bar or Cortana and then click on it when it appears.
- Press the Windows + R, in the Run box, you type notepad or notepad.exe and then press Enter.
2. Type (or copy and paste) the following lines in Notepad:
taskkill /f /IM explorer.exe start explorer.exe exit
3. Click on File located on the top left corner.
4. Click on Save As.
A “Save As” window will appear.
5. Select a location on your computer where you want to save the batch file (e.g., Documents, Desktop, etc.).
6. At File name, you enter a name for the batch file with an .bat extension at the end (e.g., start-menu-fix.bat).
7. At Save as type, you select All Files.
8. Click on the Save button at the bottom right.
9. Close the Notepad window.
10. Double-click on the batch file.
Check if the Start menu is working now. If not, then try the next solution.
Windows 10 “Fresh start” option
Sometimes the best thing you can do is to start fresh.
Fortunately, Windows 10 comes with a feature that allows you to reinstall and update Windows in just a few clicks.
This feature is called “Fresh start”.
This feature will keep your personal files and some Windows settings, but it will remove your installed programs.
Before you start, you should first backup your files, and if you have paid software, then you should also retrieve and backup the license keys.
1. Open Windows Security.
Two ways to open Windows Security:
- Click on the Windows Security icon located in the system tray.
- Type windows security in the Windows search bar or Cortana and then click on it when it appears.
2. Click on Device performance & health.
3. Under Fresh start, you click on Additional info.
4. Click on the Get started button.
5. When the User Account Control (UAC) window appears, you click Yes.
Note: Depending on your settings, you might need to enter your administrator password first and then click Yes.
6. Click on Next.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Windows.
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