{"id":2779,"date":"2023-06-29T17:03:25","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T17:03:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/?p=2779"},"modified":"2025-10-16T20:51:56","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T20:51:56","slug":"windows-10-start-menu-not-working","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/windows-10-start-menu-not-working\/","title":{"rendered":"[FIXED] Is the Windows 10 Start Menu Not Working?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Windows 10 Start menu not working is a common problem that prevents users from quickly accessing their apps, folders, and contacts. If the Windows 10 Start menu won’t open on your PC, you\u2019re lucky to be on this page.<\/p>\n

There are more than a few ways to fix an unresponsive Windows Start button or a frozen Windows 10 Startup menu , and you\u2019ll find them all in our guide.<\/p>\n

Windows 10 Start Menu Not Opening<\/h2>\n

Windows Start menu<\/a> issues take a variety of forms and often depend on the specific system configuration. The Start button could disappear completely or apps and widgets in the Start menu could go missing.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, the Start menu doesn\u2019t show up even after multiple presses on the Windows logo key. All of these issues can be frustrating for users.<\/p>\n

There are many reasons why the Start menu can stop working but the good news is there\u2019s always a solution. If you\u2019re looking for a universal fix, you may end up waiting for a long time.<\/p>\n

Not even Microsoft is completely sure how to completely stop Start menu errors from appearing after each Windows 10 update. However, you can apply various solutions<\/a> to different problems and get your favorite menu back up and running. In terms of the common causes of Start menu errors, third-party programs are often the worst culprits.<\/p>\n

An over-aggressive antivirus tool or PC optimizer can cause unintended issues. A Start menu glitch could also occur because of a faulty installed update. If system files or system services associated with the Start menu get corrupted, it can cause some functions to stop working.<\/p>\n

How to Repair the Windows 10 Start Menu Not Working<\/h2>\n

Fix 1. Perform a PC Restart<\/h3>\n

In many cases, the Windows 10 Startup menu will start working again after a restart or two. In certain situations, the Start menu glitch happened because the Start menu process got stuck in memory.<\/p>\n

Rebooting the system clears the RAM<\/a> and everything starts afresh. Even though it\u2019s the easiest and simplest method, it isn\u2019t suitable for all situations. Also, make sure to save all your work before attempting a reboot, especially if you\u2019re using the power button to initiate a shutdown.<\/p>\n

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Use Ctrl + Alt + Delete<\/code> > Power<\/em> > Restart<\/em> to reboot the PC if you can\u2019t access the Start menu . <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n

Fix 2. Unhide the Taskbar<\/h3>\n

Sometimes, you can\u2019t access the Windows 10 Start menu because its button isn\u2019t visible on the taskbar. This could be because the taskbar itself is hidden.<\/p>\n

To rectify this Start menu issue , simply unhide the taskbar. Here are the steps to do so:<\/p>\n

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  1. Hold down the Windows logo key and hit the I key<\/code> to directly open Settings<\/em>.<\/li>\n
  2. Navigate to Personalization > Taskbar.<\/em><\/li>\n
  3. On the right, enable the option to\u00a0Lock the taskbar.<\/em><\/li>\n
  4. Disable the\u00a0Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode <\/em>or Automatically hide the taskbar in tablet mode<\/em>\u00a0option.<\/li>\n
  5. After making these changes, the taskbar, and hence the Start<\/em> menu icon, will be visible again.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    \ud83d\udccc Related: <\/strong>How to Reset Taskbar in Windows 10\/11?<\/a><\/p>\n

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    Fix 3. Restart the Start Menu Process<\/h3>\n

    Similarly to how rebooting the computer can fix certain issues, restarting the Start menu process can also make your Windows 10 Start menu issue go away.<\/p>\n

    The Windows 10 Startup menu has its own process, certainly in the latest versions of Windows 10. This process is known as StartMenuExperienceHost.exe<\/a>. You will find it running when you open Task Manager.<\/p>\n

    Killing the Windows 10 Start menu process will force it to restart. This should help with the Start menu issue.<\/p>\n

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    1. Right-click any empty space on your taskbar and select Task Manager<\/em>.<\/li>\n
    2. Navigate to the Processes<\/em> tab.<\/li>\n
    3. Scroll down the Background Processes<\/em> section and locate Start<\/em>.<\/li>\n
    4. Right-click Start<\/em> and select End Task<\/em>.<\/li>\n
    5. Restart the StartMenuExperienceHost.exe<\/em> process.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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      The operation above will relaunch the Windows 10 Startup menu process. Now check if the Start menu issue is resolved.<\/p>\n

      Fix 4. Restart Windows Explorer<\/h3>\n

      It\u2019s possible that a Windows Explorer issue is affecting the Start menu as well. You can restart Explorer and see if that helps.<\/p>\n

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      1. Use\u00a0Ctrl + Shift + Esc<\/code>\u00a0to open Task Manager<\/em>.<\/li>\n
      2. Choose the Processes<\/em> tab.<\/li>\n
      3. Scroll down to Windows Explorer.<\/em><\/li>\n
      4. Right-click the process and select Restart<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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        Fix 5. End Local Security Authority Process<\/h3>\n

        To fix your \u2018not working\u2019 Windows 10 Start menu , try ending Local Security Authority Process<\/a>:<\/p>\n

        Ctrl + Alt + Del<\/code> -> Task Manager -> Processes -> Local Security Authority Process -> Right-click on it -> End Task<\/em><\/p>\n

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        Does the Windows 10 Startup menu issue persist? Keep working your way down \u2013 your fix is just around the corner.<\/p>\n

        Fix 6. Update Windows<\/h3>\n

        Needless to say, Microsoft routinely releases updates to the Windows 10 OS<\/a>. Most of these are regular security patches and bug fixes. There are some performance updates thrown in to eliminate glitches that cause slowdowns. Installing a recent update can help with issues like the Start menu not opening on Windows 10. In a situation where the Windows 10 Start menu not working problem happened because of a previously installed update, a fresh one may fix the error.<\/p>\n

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        1. Use Windows Key + I<\/code>\u00a0to open Settings<\/em>.<\/li>\n
        2. Navigate to Update & Security > Windows Update.<\/em><\/li>\n
        3. Hit the\u00a0Check for updates<\/em>\u00a0button.<\/li>\n
        4. Download and install all available updates.<\/li>\n
        5. Your PC will likely reboot after the update. Now check that the Start<\/em> menu is working normally.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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          \ud83d\udccc Also read: <\/strong>How to Get And Use Windows 10 Media Creation Tool<\/a><\/p>\n

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          Fix 7. Update Graphics Drivers<\/h3>\n

          It\u2019s possible that issues with your graphics driver are affecting how the system renders the Windows 10 Startup menu. Though uncommon, this can\u2019t be totally discounted if your graphics or audio drivers aren\u2019t up to date.<\/p>\n

          Simply update the relevant driver(s) and check how the Start menu responds. You can do this easily via Device Manager<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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          1. Hold down the Windows logo key and hit the X<\/code> button.<\/li>\n
          2. Select Device Manager<\/em>.<\/li>\n
          3. In Device Manager<\/em>, navigate to where the graphics\/audio card is. Usually, this is Sound, video and game controllers<\/em>\u00a0but it may be under another option.<\/li>\n
          4. Right-click the device and select Update driver.<\/em><\/li>\n
          5. On the next screen, select the Search automatically for drivers<\/em>\u00a0option.<\/li>\n
          6. Windows will download and install the latest version.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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            \ud83d\udccc Also read: <\/strong>[EASY GUIDE] How to Update Device Drivers on a Windows 10 PC?<\/a><\/p>\n

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            This is a cool method to update your drivers. The catch is you\u2019ll have to update them one by one. For a faster, more reliable method, you can give Auslogics Driver Updater<\/a> a try:<\/p>\n