Share this article
Improve this guide
Fix: Start menu not working in Windows 10 & 11
6 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
Share this article
Improve this guide
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more
Key notes
The Start menu is one of the most important additions in Windows, and the reason why many people love it. But, out of the blue, many users report that their Start menu is not working.
And the only thing we know, for now, is that this issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible. Actually, there are two possible scenarios.
First: you’re facing a minor Start menu issue, which is probably caused by some third-party software, and could be resolved easily.
Second: your system is affected by widely-reported Start menu bugs, unnoticed by Windows 10 and 11 developers, and they still don’t have a proper solution.
So, let’s talk about both scenarios and see if there’s anything you can do, or you’re just forced to sit and wait for Microsoft to deliver the patch through the Windows Update.
What makes the Start menu stop working?
OK, so before worrying about the broken Start menu, we should go and determine the cause of the problem.
There’s a possibility that your system isn’t affected by the critical bug, and something else is preventing your Start menu from working.
There are two known solutions (if the critical bug is not an issue), a registry tweak and a simple PowerShell command.
How can I fix Start menu problems in Windows 10 & 11?
1 Reinstall Start menu using PowerShell
2. Add a new subkey in the Registry
3. Enter Safe Mode
4. Disable your antivirus
You probably already know by now that third-party antivirus programs can interfere with some Windows 10 features.
So, to make sure it doesn’t render the Start menu unusable, you should try disabling your antivirus temporarily.
If the Start menu works with the antivirus off,consider a better antivirus solutionor switching to Windows Defender.
5. Restart the Local Security Authority process
6. Disable Internet Explorer
You probably don’t use Internet Explorer. This is perfect because Windows 10’s legacy browser may cause the Start menu issues but you can fix that with the solution above.
7. Check for the latest Windows updates
As Windows 10 continuously receives updates, Microsoft delivers various patches for various problems through Windows Update. So, just make sure your system is up to date.
8. Switch to an administrator account and delete the TileDataLayer folder
Some users also reported that switching to another administrator account and deleting the TileDataLayer directory also resolves the problem.
How can I fix the Start menu in Windows 11?
The new OS comes with a lot of new features and improved design but the truth is that it’s not so different from Windows 10.
Although the Start menu is central and it looks different in Windows 11, you will discover that a lot of the solutions above will work perfectly here too.
All the shortcuts we used for Windows 10 are identical in the new OS and all the menus correspond.
However, if you stumble into any issues,our dedicated guide on how to fix the Windows 11 Start menuwill help you fix it quickly.
If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, just let us know in the comments down below.
More about the topics:Fix Start Menu,windows 10,Windows 11
Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
When he’s not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.
User forum
32 messages
Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes
Comment*
Name*
Email*
Commenting as.Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Ivan has delved deep into understanding the Windows OS, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
