The Windows Start menu is a useful feature to access all the apps, settings, and data saved on the computer. It is used frequently by users while working/studying on Windows 10. However, the Start menu may fail to work suddenly: the Start menu won’t open at all or the Start menu freezes and stops working. How can you fix the Start menu issue?
It would be quite frustrating when you suddenly find the Windows 10 Start menu won’t open. Since then, you don’t know how to access some programs/apps or how to finish some tasks. Can you troubleshoot Start menu not working? How can you fix it yourself?
MiniTool Power Data Recovery TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
How to Fix Start Menu Won’t Open/Start Menu Not Working Windows 10
You should try the following solutions at once whenever your Start menu won’t open Windows 10. What about the Start menu not working? These solutions also work for it.
You can customize Windows 10 Start menu as you like.
Solution 1: Restart Window 10 Computer
Many problems occurred randomly on your computer can be solved simply by a restart. So you should try to fix Start menu won’t open Windows 10 by restarting the PC first.
- Shut down the computer.
- Wait for a few minutes.
- Power on the computer again and try to open Start menu.
If this failed, you can try to initiate a full shutdown.
- Search for Command Prompt on your Windows 10 PC.
- Right click on it and select Run as administrator.
- Type shutdown /s /f /t 0 and hit Enter.
- Wait for the command to take effect.
Solution 2: Restart Windows Explorer
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc on the keyboard to open Task Manager.
- Click More details if you’re in the small window (optional).
- Make sure the Processes tab is checked.
- Browse the list to find Windows Explorer.
- Right click on it and choose Restart.
How to fix when Windows Explorer not responding/stops working?
Solution 3: Check and Repair Corrupt Files
Step 1: open Windows PowerShell via Task Manager.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
- Select File from the menu bar.
- Click Run new task from the submenu.
- Type powershell.
- Check Create this task with administrative privileges.
- Click OK or hit Enter.
Step 2: run SFC and DISM.
- Type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
- Wait for the command to finish.
- Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and hit Enter.
- Wait for the process to end.
You can also run CMD to execute SFC scan and DISM.
Solution 4: Modify Sign-in Options
- Press Win+I to open Settings.
- Select Accounts.
- Shift to Sign-in options in the left pane.
- Scroll down to the Privacy section.
- Turn off Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up my device and reopen my apps after an update or restart.
What if the Windows button or Start button not working on Windows 10?
Solution 5: Create a New User Account
- Open Task Manager.
- Click File and select Run new task.
- Type net user NewUsername NewPassword /add.
- Check Create this task with administrative privileges and hit Enter.
After that, you should restart Windows 10 -> log in with the new user account -> go to check the Start menu not working Windows 10 issue. If it is fixed, you should transfer all your files and settings from the old account.
Solution 6: Edit Registry
- Press Win+R to open Run.
- Type regedit and hit Enter.
- Click Yes in the UAC window (optional).
- Copy & paste Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WpnUserService into the address bar of Registry Editor and hit Enter.
- Double click on Start in the right pane.
- Change the Value data to 4 (from 2).
- Click on the OK button to confirm.
- Close Registry Editor and restart your computer.
If all the above methods failed, you should try the following fixes for Windows 10 Start menu won’t open.
- Start Application Identity service
- Update Windows 10
- Reset this PC
- Reinstall Windows apps
- Troubleshot Dropbox issue
- Troubleshot AMD graphics driver issue