Windows 10 Start Menu search results weird font

Question

Hi,

After installing some software, not exactly sure which one, probably CorelDraw, Start Menu started to show search results with weird font. These are actually two fonts on the same list. Please find attached a screenshot from my affected user account with, as a comparison, screenshot from other newly created user on the same machine.

At the left image please see for e.g. "Notepad++" - the one in the middle of the lost, where there is a direct comparison to the the other account on the right with proper fonts. While the top result "Best result" seems to be displayed with proper font.

Same for Sticky Notes. The Start Menu itself still loks ok, and there are no other issues.

Yes, I could create a new user and move wverything there but there is a lot of to be moved, including some apps installed as a user only, VS, github, configuraition and much much more. So I am looking for a way to solve this.

This is what I have tried so far:

1. Unistalled all the software installed on the day I noticed it.
2. Check with multipoe tools for viruses & malware - nothong found
3. sfc /scannow
4. dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
5. restore default font settings
6. Repair all Windows apps via Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost | foreach {Add-AppxPackage -register "$($_.InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode}
7. Reinstalled Windows Windows 10 installation media, using option to retain user files and applicaitons

How to tackle this issue?

Answer 1

Hello,

You can check your font settings: Open the Start Menu and type in 'fonts'. Check the fonts for that user and compare them with other users to see if there are any differences. Fonts are installed per user, so there may be some variations between different users You can check fonts list via this link : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/typography/fonts/windows_10_font_list

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Answer 2

I have checked all fonts and they look identical (including its versions), with special attention to SegoeUI as this one is used as I do understnad by Windows GUI. Then I have reset the default font settings by Control Panel, but also by registry entry (+ system reboot).

None unfortunatelly worked.

Registry entry used:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Font Management]

"Auto Activation Mode"=dword:00000001

"InstallAsLink"=dword:00000000

"Inactive Fonts"=-

"Active Languages"=-

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Font Management\Auto Activation Languages]

Answer 3

Just to let you know, the issue is solved.

Not sure 100% if it is connected, but around the time I have installed latest Windows 10 updates KB5046714 & KB5048292 few days ago, fonts came back to normal (the right screenshot). I have not done any other changes to my PC, nor software installations over last days.

Quite strange, but at least solved.