How to Fix Start Menu Issues in Windows 11 and 10

The Start menu is how most people open apps, settings and files, so when it won't open, freezes or ignores the Windows key, the whole PC feels broken. The fixes below start with the quickest and move on to deeper repairs. They work on Windows 11 and Windows 10; where the steps differ, both are given.

You don't need the Start menu for any of them. These keyboard shortcuts still work when Start doesn't: Ctrl + Shift + Esc opens Task Manager, Windows key + I opens Settings, Windows key + R opens the Run box, and Windows key + X opens the same menu you get by right-clicking the Start button.

1. Restart Your PC

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A restart clears out anything that's stuck and installs updates that are waiting for one.

1. Save your work and close your apps.
2. If Start won't open, right-click the Start button or press Windows key + X, then select Shut down or sign out > Restart.

Expected result: after you sign back in, the Start menu opens when you press the Windows key.

2. Restart Windows Explorer

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Microsoft's Start menu troubleshooting guide lists explorer.exe among the processes whose crashes can affect Start. Restarting it takes a few seconds and doesn't need a full restart.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Find Windows Explorer, right-click it and select Restart.
3. If it isn't listed, select File > Run new task, type explorer.exe and press Enter.

Expected result: the Start menu opens when you press the Windows key.

3. Install the Latest Windows Updates

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Microsoft's first question when Start isn't working is whether the PC has the latest feature and monthly updates, and whether the problem started right after an update. Microsoft has fixed several Start menu problems in later updates.

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. On Windows 11, select Windows Update > Check for updates. On Windows 10, select Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.
3. Install everything that's available and restart when asked.

Expected result: Windows Update says you're up to date, and Start opens after the restart.

4. Repair System Files With DISM and SFC

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Windows has two built-in tools that check for missing or corrupted system files and repair them. Run them before the deeper fixes below.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, select File > Run new task, type powershell, tick Create this task with administrative privileges and select OK.
2. Type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and press Enter. Keep the space before each "/". It can take a few minutes.
3. When it says "The operation completed successfully", type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
4. Wait for "Verification 100% complete", then type exit and restart your PC.

See our guide to repairing system files with System File Checker for more detail.

Expected result: the scan reaches 100%, and Start opens after the restart.

5. Check That the Start Menu Is Registered for Your Account

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In Windows 11 and recent versions of Windows 10, the Start menu is an app package called Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost. If it isn't registered for your user account, Start won't open for you. Microsoft's troubleshooting guide gives these checks.

1. Press Windows key + R, type powershell and press Enter. Don't run this one as administrator.
2. Type Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost and press Enter. If you see details such as the package name and version, it's registered and you can skip to section 6.
3. If nothing comes back, check whether the package is still on the PC for other accounts. Open PowerShell as administrator (press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, select File > Run new task, type powershell and tick Create this task with administrative privileges), then run Get-AppxPackage *StartMenu* -AllUsers. If details come back, the package exists on the PC.
4. Go back to the normal (not administrator) PowerShell window, type this on one line and press Enter:
   Add-AppxPackage -Path "C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\AppxManifest.xml" -Register -DisableDevelopmentMode
5. Sign out and back in, or restart.

Run the register command from a normal window, not an administrator one. Otherwise, Microsoft notes, the package is registered to the administrator account instead of yours. On Windows 10 version 1809 and earlier, the Start menu package is Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost instead.

Expected result: the Get-AppxPackage command now returns the package details, and Start opens.

6. Make Sure Background Tasks Infrastructure Service Is Running

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Microsoft lists a stopped Background Tasks Infrastructure Service as a cause of a Start menu that doesn't respond on Windows 10, and says the service is required for a stable Start menu.

1. Press Windows key + R, type services.msc and press Enter.
2. Find Background Tasks Infrastructure Service and double-click it.
3. Check that Startup type is Automatic and that the service is running. Don't change other services.

Expected result: the service shows as Running with Automatic startup.

7. Test in Safe Mode to Rule Out Other Apps

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Microsoft suggests restarting into Safe mode to see whether a third-party app or driver is getting in the way. Safe mode starts Windows with default settings and basic drivers.

1. Open Advanced startup: on Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Recovery; on Windows 10, Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. Next to Advanced startup, select Restart now.
2. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
3. After the restart, press 4 or F4 to start in Safe mode.
4. Try the Start menu. To leave Safe mode, just restart.

If Start works in Safe mode, Microsoft says your default settings and basic drivers probably aren't the cause. Look at the apps and drivers you installed recently, and turn off or uninstall them one at a time until Start works normally again.

Expected result: you know whether the problem comes from Windows itself or from something you installed.

Still Not Working? What to Try Next

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If the Start menu package is missing for every account, Microsoft says the quickest fix is to go back to a configuration that worked, and that there's no supported way to reinstall the Start menu files on their own.

• Roll back a recent change: if Start broke after an update, a new app or a driver, use a System Restore point from before it happened. Your personal files aren't affected.
• Uninstall the update: removing a Windows update keeps your files and apps, though some updates can't be uninstalled.
• Reset this PC: reinstalls Windows. You can keep your personal files, but your apps and settings are removed.
• Taskbar or desktop problems too? See our guide to fixing File Explorer issues.