Fix: Windows 10 Start Menu and Cortana Search not Working

The Windows 10 is proving to the best ever Windows, so far. It has been receiving a gripping positive response, but unfortunately, things did happen. Several users faced an odd issue, where the Start Menu and Cortana Search would not open, on clicking the Start button.

Obviously, the Start menu marked a welcome return in the Windows 10. It holds several new features and there is a dozen of ways, it works uniquely. But unfortunately, the Windows 10 Start menu has some issues, when the Windows updates are being installed.

To fix various Windows 10/11 problems, we recommend Outbyte PC Repair:
This software will repair common computer errors, protect you from file loss, malware damage, hardware failure, and optimise your computer for peak performance. In three simple steps, you can resolve PC issues and remove virus damage:

  1. Download Outbyte PC Repair Software
  2. Click Start Scan to detect Windows 10/11 issues that may be causing PC issues.
  3. Click Repair All to fix issues with your computer's security and performance.
    This month, Outbyte has been downloaded by 23,167 readers.

Here are a few ways to fix the issues and these workarounds can also fix Cortana problems too. Keep in mind that none of these offers a guaranteed fix. But you try these simple tricks, for a possible solution for the Start Menu and Cortana Search, not working in Windows 10 issue.

Making the Windows 10 Start Menu and Cortana Work Again

Boot the System to “Safe Mode” to fix the Start menu and Cortana Critical Error

Method-1

  • Start by logging into your Windows 10 PC, and press Window key + R to open the run prompt. Then type “msconfig” in the run command box and click Ok.

Fix Start Menu Cortana 1

  • Click on the Boot tab, and tick on Safe boot. Then click on Apply and Ok.

Fix Start Menu Cortana 2

  • To begin the update process, tap on the Yes option to restart your system. Wait for a while, until the process is completed.
  • Once restarted, Sign-in to your PC in the Safe mode, and Just follow the first two steps again. But instead of selecting Safe Mode, just uncheck the Safe boot
  • That’s it! Now the Start menu and Cortana should work normally.

Method-2

  • Press the Power icon, hold the Shift key down and select the restart options.
  • Once you’re within the Windows Recovery Environment, select Troubleshoot
  • Followed by this, the Advanced options screen will be opened, and there you will see the numerous options. Tap the Startup settings and Restart your PC.
  • When your system restarts, the Startup settings page will show various options. You can press 5 or F5 for enabling the Safe Mode
  • As usual, sign-in your PC in the Safe mode and check whether the Start menu is working perfectly. If it works, then return back to the Normal mode.

Use PowerShell Command

  • Right click on the taskbar and click the Task Manager option to open it. If the taskbar is not accessible then press Shift+Ctrl+Esc buttons together, it will open the Task Manager.

Fix Start Menu Cortana 3

  • In the window opened, choose the File menu, and choose the Run new task option from the drop-down menu.

Fix Start Menu Cortana 4

  • Type powershell in the Open text box and then tick the option of Create this task with administrative privileges.

Fix Start Menu Cortana 5

  • Now, in the window, opened following it, copy & paste the following command

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}

Fix Start Menu Cortana 6

  • Wait until the Powershell executes the command and ignore the errors that may pop-up. When it is finished, try hitting the Start menu; hopefully, it will start working.

Additional Steps

If the above methods don’t resolve the Start Menu and Cortana Search, not working in Windows 10 issue, then try these additional steps. If you’re running a third-party antivirus, then we recommend you to uninstall it, as it may also provide a workaround, for this problem. Additionally, you can even create a new local administrator account, which might solve any possible issues with Cortana.

On the whole, all these aforementioned tricks might resolve the Start menu and Cortana issues in the Windows 10. We will update you if there are any newer solutions to fix it.

Leave a Comment