Windows is the most popular and widely used operating system. There are many features worth exploring on Windows. Moreover, most applications, either bloatware or installed, can be accessed by utilizing the start button to navigate to the desired application. The start menu is the supermarket of Windows. By clicking on the start button, you can navigate anywhere. Be it your hard disk drive where your data is stored or your recycle bin where your deleted items are dumped. You can access important locations and settings from here. You can do everything from the start menu from shutting down your system, putting it to sleep, or restarting it.
So, it is crucial to have a functioning Windows Start Button. But, sometimes, you might have noticed some abnormality. Even after clicking the start button several times, it does not open. You might notice that it freezes at times. Also, the common problem is that it takes too long to open. The latter is common but we need to find a solution for the first issue. It will be frustrating as some persons only how to access most of the locations on their PC and laptop from here.
Navigating through the search bar can be an alternative. But it is important to note that this feature is available only on some versions of Windows. So, the smooth functioning of the start button is vital.
Here we will learn the possible reasons why the start button is not working. Then we will discuss how to fix this issue.
Why Does the Start Button Not Work Sometimes?
There might be several reasons why the start button is not working and why you can’t access the start menu:
- Every application has temporary files which contain some data, these are cache files. Apart from this, several other files are required for the functioning of an application. A possible reason why the start button of Windows is not working is that the required files may be corrupted or outdated.
- The virtual assistant Cortana, on Windows 10 and 11, can be used to access the start menu. But if it’s own files are outdated or corrupted, you will not be able to access the start menu.
- There might be some bug or a glitch interrupting the start button’s usual functioning. Bugs always create problems on any application. Sometimes they are caused by an error in the coding, usual while developing and programming an app. Bugs can affect the performance of apps. Moreover, severe bugs can result in apps crashing.
- If you have not updated Windows, problems can also arise.
- Some versions of Windows can create problems with the start button.
- Windows explorer is an important application. It is a file manager which comes in complementary with the Windows operating system. If the fundamental files of Windows explorer are corrupted, or it is not updated, this might affect the functioning of the start button.
How To Fix Start Button Not Working Issue?
Here are some possible solutions:
Check For Windows Updates
This is the most basic thing which you should try first to fix the start button issue. Press the Windows key+I and this will open the Windows Settings.
Here search for, “Updates and Security”. After opening updates, check for the updates. It will take some time. If any update is available, proceed with it. It might be due to an old version of some component, causing the start button not to work. Completing this task might resolve the issue.
Restart The Windows Explorer Process
First, open the task manager. Press ctrl+shift+esc key. This will open the task manager. Now, on the top, you will see many options. Click on “Processes”. Afterwards, navigate to Windows Explorer. Right-click on it and go for “Restart”option.
Search For Corrupt Files
By pressing the Windows+R key, Run will open. In the search bar, type “cmd”. Now open cmd by running it as an administrator. You can do this by pressing Control + Shift + Enter to run/open it as an administrator.
Now, write the following commands. After each command, hit the enter key:
- exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
- sfc /scannow
- exit
After this, your work is done.
Use Powershell
Open the Run dialog box as detailed in the above-mentioned step. In the search bar, type “Powershell” and click “ok”.
A blue screen would appear, now type the following command in it: “Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register ‘$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml’}” without the double quotes.
After hitting the enter button, the process will start. This process will install some useful and necessary files.
Rebuild the Index
This is one of the solutions, which should definitely help.
- First, open Run as we had done in the above two solutions. In the search box, type “control/name Microsoft.IndexingOptions” and click on “ok”.
- A dialog box will open as soon as you hit the ok button. Here you can see “modify”, click on it.
- Go to “Show all location”.
- Deselect all the options under ”control/name Microsoft.IndexingOptions” and click on “ok”.
- Go to the “Advanced” option, which you will see on your screen.
- Finally, a dialog box will appear, in that type “Rebuild”.
Registry
In this solution, you will have to create a new registry. Follow the below steps for that:-
- Open Run by pressing the Windows+R key.
- In the search bar, type “Regedit” and proceed.
- Now a window will open, in this type the following: “Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced”.
- Now, right-click anywhere on the screen, click on “New”.
- Now click on “DWORD(32-bit) Value”.
- Now name the new file as “EnableXamlStartMenu”.
- Finally, restart your system.
Clear Cortona Temporary Files
- Open the command prompt. You can do this by pressing the Windows+R key. Type “cmd” in the search box.
- Run this application as an administrator as mentioned previously above.
- Type this command and hit enter:
CD/d”%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy” Taskkill /F /IM SearchUI.exe RD /S /Q Settings
Dropbox
For this option, you can either uninstall DropBox or you can fix it. The below mentioned steps will help you to do it:-
- Open the Run application
- Type “regedit” in the search bar and then hit enter. A new window will open
- In this window, at the top, type or copy the following into the location path: “Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WpnUserService”, without the quotes.
- After pressing enter, over in the right side of the window, there will be a file with the name “Start”.
- For this file, double click or right click on it and select modify, then enter the data value as “4” and click on ok.
Resolving the start button issue is very important. Here we discussed why it happens and how to fix this issue on Windows. There are many possible reasons for this error. Sometimes refreshing or resetting can also resolve this issue but ensure to make back ups as this is a last resort option. The above-mentioned solutions should help you in resolving the issue.
Experiencing difficulties with your Device, check out our “How To” page on how to resolve some of these issues.
