Windows 11 Start menu not working? Here’s the fix! 2024

Are you struggling with a malfunctioning Start menu on your Windows 11 device? Nothing can be more frustrating than not being able to access the essential features of your computer. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this blog post, we’ll guide you through some easy fixes to resolve any issues with your Windows 11 Start menu. Whether it’s a glitchy interface or unresponsive icons, these solutions will help restore seamless functionality and get things back on track. So without further ado, let’s dive into the troubleshooting options and fix that Start menu once and for all!

Windows 11 Start menu not working? Here's the fix!

Restart the Windows Explorer

Restarting the Windows Explorer is one of the easiest solutions to fix a malfunctioning Start menu on your Windows 11 device. It can help refresh the system and restore any glitches that may be interfering with its functionality.

To restart the Windows Explorer, you need to open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Then, locate “Windows Explorer” in the Processes tab and select it, then click on “Restart.” Your screen will flicker for a moment, but don’t worry; this is entirely normal.

Once you’ve restarted Windows Explorer, check if your Start menu is working correctly. If not, try some other fixes we’ll discuss later in this article.

It’s worth noting that restarting Windows Explorer won’t erase any data or settings from your computer. Instead, it merely stops and starts certain processes necessary for proper system functioning.

Restarting the Windows Explorer could resolve many critical errors affecting different parts of your operating system beyond just fixing issues with your start menu. Therefore it should always be one of our go-to solutions when troubleshooting problems with our devices running on windows 11

Restart Windows background services

If your Windows 11 Start menu is still not working after restarting the Windows Explorer, then you may need to restart some of your background services. These services are responsible for running various system processes and functions, including the Start menu.

To begin with, press “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” on your keyboard to open the Task Manager. Under the “Services” tab, locate all services related to “Windows Explorer,” right-click on them and select “Restart.”

If that doesn’t work, try restarting other important background services such as “Shell Hardware Detection,” “Application Identity,” and “User Manager.” Simply locate these services in the Task Manager’s Services tab, right-click on them one by one and select Restart.

By doing this process of restarting your background services, you can ensure that everything is running smoothly without any hiccups or glitches that could affect your Start menu functionality. So if nothing else seems to be working thus far, give it a try!

Update your graphics drivers

Outdated graphics drivers can cause a host of issues on your system, and one of them is a malfunctioning Start menu. If you’ve tried restarting Windows Explorer and background services to no avail, updating your graphics drivers might be the solution.

Firstly, right-click on the Start button and select “Device Manager.” In the Device Manager window that opens up, expand the “Display adapters” category. Right-click on your graphics card driver and select “Update driver.”

You’ll then be asked whether you want Windows to search for an updated driver automatically or if you have a specific location in mind. Choose whichever option suits you best.

If Windows does find an updated driver, it will download and install it automatically. Otherwise, visit your computer manufacturer’s website or graphic card manufacturer’s site to look for a compatible update.

Once done with updating your graphics drivers, restart your PC to enable changes made by the new drivers.

Re-register the Start menu Shell experience packages

If your Windows 11 Start menu is not working, one of the solutions you can try is re-registering the Start menu Shell experience packages. This process will essentially reset the Start menu to its default settings and hopefully fix any issues.

To re-register the packages, you can use a PowerShell command. First, open PowerShell as an administrator by searching for it in the taskbar search and then right-clicking on “Windows PowerShell” and selecting “Run as administrator.”

Once in PowerShell, enter the following command: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.

InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

This command will re-register all of your installed apps’ package files, including those related to the Start menu.

After running this command, restart your computer and check if your Start menu is now functioning properly. If not, there are other troubleshooting steps you can try to get it up and running again.

Re-registering the Shell experience packages may seem like a small step compared to some of the other fixes available but sometimes that’s all it takes to resolve certain issues with Windows 11.

Rebuild the Windows search index

If your Windows 11 Start menu is not working, rebuilding the search index could be a potential solution. The search index is what allows you to find files and apps quickly through the Start menu. However, if it’s corrupted or outdated, it can cause issues with the functionality of the Start menu.

To rebuild the search index in Windows 11, open up Settings and click on “Search” from the left-hand navigation panel. Then click on “Searching Windows” and scroll down until you see “Advanced Search Indexer settings.” Click on this option and then select “Advanced” from within that window.

Next, click on the “Rebuild” button under Troubleshooting. This will wipe out your current search index and create a new one from scratch.

It’s important to note that rebuilding your search index can take some time depending on how much data you have stored on your computer. It’s also possible that certain files may not be indexed immediately after rebuilding.

If your Start menu still isn’t working after attempting to rebuild the search index, don’t worry – there are other potential solutions you can try!

Remove Start menu tweaks

Sometimes we like to customize our Start menu with different tweaks and modifications. However, these changes can sometimes cause the Start menu to malfunction. If you’ve made any customizations to your Start menu, try removing them.

To do this, you’ll need to go into the settings app and navigate to “Personalization.” From there, select “Start” and then turn off any options that may be causing issues such as hiding certain apps or disabling live tiles.

If you’re not sure which tweak is causing the problem, it’s best to revert back all of your previous customization settings. This will reset your Start menu back to its default state.

While customizing your computer can be fun, it’s important to remember that certain modifications can cause issues with performance. By removing any unnecessary tweaks on your start-up menu will help improve functionality in Windows 11.

Try one of these generic Windows fixes

If none of the previous solutions worked for you, it’s time to try some generic fixes that have been known to solve a range of Windows issues.

Firstly, run the System File Checker tool by typing “sfc /scannow” in an elevated Command Prompt. This will scan your system files and repair any corrupted ones.

Secondly, check your disk for errors using the built-in Disk Check utility by right-clicking on your drive in File Explorer and selecting Properties > Tools > Check.

Thirdly, perform a clean boot to eliminate any conflicting programs or services that may be causing Start menu issues.

Fourthly, create a new user account with administrative privileges and see if the Start menu works properly on this new account.

Consider performing a system restore to revert back to a previous state where everything was working correctly.

Keep in mind that these generic fixes may not work for everyone and it’s best to proceed with caution when making changes to your system.

Try a third-party Start menu

The Windows 11 Start menu not working issue can be frustrating, but there are many ways to fix it. You may need to try several solutions before finding one that works for you. However, if all else fails and you still can’t seem to get your Start menu up and running again, don’t worry! There are plenty of third-party Start menus available on the market that offer a variety of features and customization options.

Some popular third-party options include Classic Shell, Open-Shell, and Start10. These programs not only provide an alternative solution when the native start menu is malfunctioning but also allow users greater control over their desktop experience by providing more customization options than Microsoft’s default tools.

Whether you choose to go with a third-party start menu or stick with Microsoft’s built-in option after fixing any issues using our helpful tips above; we hope this guide has helped resolve your Windows 11 Start Menu issues!

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