Windows 10 is one of the best operating systems that has ever been made, primarily because of its adaptability with different PC and laptop manufacturers. However, because of its complex code, it often causes glitches and bugs, which can be frustrating to the users. Windows 10 Start Menu not working is one of those common issues that users face on Windows 10 OS.
Start Menu makes its return in Windows 10 after its exit in Windows 8. It has been an integral part of the Windows OS UI and used for fulfilling many purposes for a long time. Windows 10 Start button not working can be really irritating since most of the features and options of Windows 10 are accessible from the Start button only.
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Fortunately, fixing the start button not working problem is not a big deal. There are several fixes you can try that are easy to implement.
Let us walk through the methods to fix the Windows 10 Start Menu not working issue.
Check for the Windows Update
Generally, Microsoft fixes such issues through update patches. So, before following any of the troubleshooting methods, it is better to check for the Windows updates.
Open Windows Settings.
Choose Update & Security
On the right-pane, under the Windows Update heading, click on Check for updates.
Update the pc, if any update is found.
Restart Windows Explorer
Start Menu not working can be easily fixed by restarting the Windows Explorer. It is because Start Menu is the part of the Windows Explorer, and when your restart the Explorer, you are force restarting the Start Menu as well. Here are the steps to do that:
- Right-click on the taskbar and select the Task Manager.
- Search for Windows Explorer, right-click on it, and choose Restart.
This would restart the Windows Explorer and Start Menu along with that. The Windows 10 start button not working problem should be solved.
Restart the PC in Safe Mode
Restarting the PC in Safe Mode can resolve the Windows 10 Start Menu not working problem since, in Safe Mode, most of the system processes are rebooted.
- On the Windows Search box, search for Run and launch it by clicking its icon.
- Type msconfig and press the enter key.
- Under the System Configuration window, switch to the Boot tab and choose Safe boot from the Boot options. Click Apply and OK.
- On the Safe Mode, follow the same procedure and reboot the system in the normal mode.
Check if the Windows 10 Start Menu is working or not. If not, move to the next solution.
Fix Corrupted Files
The Windows 10 Start button not working can also be caused because of corrupted system files. System File Check or SFC command can be used on the Windows command line applications, i.e., Command Prompt and Windows PowerShell, to check for the corrupted files. Those corrupted files can be fixed by using the DISM command. Here are the steps for that:
- On the Windows search box, type Command Prompt, right-click on its icon, and choose Run as Administrator.
- On the command line window, type the sfc /scannow command and press the enter key.
- The process would take some time to complete.
- After the process is completed, type the DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth command on the command line window and hit the enter key.
- Let the process complete
Running both these commands would fix the corrupted system files and possibly the Windows 10 Start Menu not working issue with it.
Reset All Apps
If the Start Menu button is still not working, it might be because one or multiple Windows applications are misbehaving and causing the problem. In such a case, you can Reset All Apps with a single command. Note that resetting the apps would also reset all your data, so do it cautiously. Follow these steps to reset the apps:
- Launch the Windows PowerShell with the administrative rights
- Type or Copy/Paste this command and hit the enter key: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
- Let the process finish.
Add New User Account
If the Windows Button not working problem still exist, it is better to create a new Windows 10 user account and start working on that. Creating a new user account is pretty straightforward. Here are the steps for that:
- Open the Windows PowerShell as the administrator.
- On the command line window, type net user “new username” “password” /add. Replace “new username” with the username of your choice and “password” with your password.
- Press the enter key to proceed with the command and create a new Windows 10 user account
Bottom Line
Since Windows 10 users are dependent on the Start Menu, the Windows 10 Start button not working issue can be frustrating. By following the fixes listed in this guide, you can quickly get rid of the problem. If the problem persists even after following every solution, then the last option is to reset the computer to default.
There could be multiple reasons for the Windows 10 Start Button being dysfunctional. It could be because of an outdated system, corrupted files, or more such reasons.
There are several fixes for the Windows 10 Start Menu not working problem. The fixes include updating the windows, restarting Windows Explorer, create a new Windows 10 user account, and more. Follow this guide for the detailed steps.
Peter is an Electrical Engineer whose primary interest is tinkering with his computer. He is passionate about Windows 10 Platform and enjoys writing tips and tutorials about it.
